HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee - 05/24/2021
South Burlington Bike & Pedestrian Committee
Special Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 24, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m.
Meeting was held virtually
Committee Attendees: Shawn Goddard (Chair), Cathy Frank (Vice-Chair), Nic Anderson (Clerk), Bob Britt,
Donna Leban,
Committee Members Absent: Dana Farr, Amanda Holland, Havaleh Gagne,
Other Attendees: Ashley Parker (City Liaison), Marla Keene (City Development Review Planner)
1. Welcome and clarification of meeting procedures
2. Changes or additions to the agenda.
a. None
3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda.
a. None
4. Special Topic-O’Brien Development -Old Farm Rd to Hinesburg Rd Bike/Ped connection -All (7:05
p.m.)
a. Objective: Review counter proposals from O’Brien Development Team & vote on our
formal feedback for the next DRB Meeting on Wednesday, 5/26
b. Shawn understands they would like to strike the multi-use path down Old Farm Road to
Hinesburg
c. Marla detailed four proposals.
i. Option 1 is Advisory Bike Lane - not supported by the City due to coming off a
state highway and Proposing rec path along future industrial road to Tilley Dr
ii. Option 2 is rec path on west side of Old Farm Road
iii. Option 3 is rec path on east side
iv. Option 4 is bike lanes on both sides
d. Nic asked if Obrien own the rights to the Pizzagalli property to Tilley Dr?
e. No, but have agreement with Pizzagalli.
f. Marla went out today and sold on East side of Old Farm Road. Could connect well to
Tilley Dr
g. Shawn asked if they propose a crossing at Old Farm Road.
h. Bob asked about timing of installing the possible rec path to Tilley Dr
i. Marla – Industrial is last phase so would need to make sure it was done earlier.
j. Bob asked about path up below recreation center and what phase that was.
k. Marla – Would be in third planned residential phase. Likely would be doing road
improvements at same time. Would argue it could be done without the road
l. Donna – Asked about east side of Old Farm Road section. Has Right Of Way but are
there existing trees. Looks bad to cut down mature trees to build a rec path.
m. Marla – 66ft ROW. Line of scrub on east side. Within scrub look to be 3 mature trees in
possible good health and three in poor. Two oaks and a maple. Would likely be on the
hook for doing some landscaping on front yards. There are utility lines but feel the path
could weave around the poles.
n. Shawn asked if there were issues with Tilley Dr path connector.
o. Marla – Not bad, but just think that it will cost more to do the path on the east side as
the Tilley Dr path could be easier. We already have an easement for the connecting road
so could do that path on our own later. Lou’s Bridge also helps as a commuter route
through to Kimball and Williston.
p. Donna – Need to have a path along Old Farm Road. Not sure why there is a possible
lawsuit. Perennial issue?
q. Marla – They previously asked for the road to be closed. On the west side they are 10ft
from ROW. There is plenty of items within the City ROW which would be more of an
issue with removing. Two houses on East.
r. Donna – Makes sense to have on East and intuitively be on the right.
s. Shawn – Asked about connection to Tilley Dr along 116 from Old Farm Road
t. Marla – Own a lot of ROW in front of the place on the corner of Old Farm Road and
think we could ask for the path connection over to the existing path in front of Red Barn
Deli.
u. Shawn asked for clarification
v. Bob – So we could still get the path at Tilley Dr anyway?
w. Marla – Correct, as part of that PUD
x. Bob asked about the path on Obrien Brothers Drive that was in Phase 1.
y. Marla – We will see that again so don’t even worry now.
z. Cathy – Supports East side path. Wondered about grade of the proposed purple rec path
from Tilley Dr.
aa. Marla – Detailed topographical plan and grades around
bb. Cathy – Seems like several different types of people using the Old Farm Road path.
Families with kids, older and younger. Commuters getting over to Kimball/Kennedy
intersection. Should be safe for big chunk of population. Leaning to east side.
cc. Nic – Big miss to have no pedestrian facilities. Regardless of bikes. Connectivity to Red
Barn Deli and Tilley Dr businesses should be huge for the residents of that location.
dd. Marla noted that for people that lives in Phase 1 that to get to Red Barn Deli will not
walk or bike all the way around, they will just drive.
ee. Donna – Need to build for walking first. Really walkable distances and easier to walk on
hills instead of bike.
ff. Shawn – Does the board want ranking or just one option chosen.
gg. Marla – Board did not ask for feedback. They seem torn between developers and the
City. The Bike Ped Committee could be the tie-breaker.
hh. Cathy – Sounds like there is a better potential for things to go through when there is a
backing from another group.
ii. Bob – Asked if the City should talk with the two property owners and figure it out before
they get upset.
jj. Shawn motion to recommend a multi-use path be installed on the east side of Old Farm
Road with connection to Tilley Dr. Reasons why:
i. Better grade
ii. Directness
iii. Designing for walking first
iv. Already walking on it anyway
v. Current residents wont want to walk on road once its busy.
kk. Cathy – Should note the “starting point”.
ll. Marla – Old Meadow Loop.
mm. Nic – Clarified connecting to existing path in front of Red Barn Deli, because its
already there to Tilley Dr.
nn. Shawn – Asked if anything else was needed.
oo. Nic asked if a written letter from Shawn is needed or just this.
pp. Marla – More powerful if there is a separate doc she can show at the meeting. Meeting
with Obrien tomorrow who may support it. Will find out.
qq. Donna – Asked if three trees needed to be destroyed, would the City propose replacing
them? Especially with larger, nicer trees like an Oak. Good faith thing.
rr. Marla – Will have to look at how to avoid them as much as possible. Large oak we would
be sad to see disappear unless it was bad inside.
ss. Shawn – Asked for minutes.
tt. Nic will send for him to draft a small statement
5. Bob – Asked who would be on City Council meeting tomorrow. Made sure there would not be a
quorum.
6. Adjourned at 7:51pm