HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Economic Development Committee - 02/08/2022South Burlington Economic Development Committee
Room #301 at 180 Market St
South Burlington, VT 05403
AGENDA
Participation Options In Person: Room #301 – 3rd Floor – 180 Market St Assistive Listening Service Devices Available upon request: Reach out to staff or committee members before meeting begins Electronically: https://www.gotomeet.me/SouthBurlingtonVT/economic-development-committee02-08-2022 Dial in: +1 (872) 240-3412 Access Code: 458-111-461
Tuesday February 8, 2022 5:30 PM
1.Welcome, agenda review and approval
2.Public comments on items not on the agenda
3. ***Approve minutes from January 11,2022 EDC Meeting.
4.City Manager Updates
5.Scheduling meeting with UVM and City staff on city economic data draft
6.Airport rezoning committee update and input request
7.Economic development ARPA spending plans update
8.Economic impact of Climate Action Taskforce recommendations
9.Setting a GDP and Grand List growth goal for Comprehensive Plan
10.Adjourn (approx. 7:00 pm)
***Attachments included
MEETING MINUTES
Economic Development Committee, South Burlington
Meeting of 1-11-2022 held in Room 301 South Burlington City Hall, 180 Market Street
Members Present: John Burton, Tom Bailey, Sriram Srinivasan, Linda Norris and Jacob West
(remotely)
Members Absent: None..
Staff and Guests: Jessie Baker, City Manager and Shayne Lynn
The Meeting was called to order by John Burton, Chair, at 5:35 PM.
(1)AGENDA: The agenda was reviewed and approved.
(2)PUBLIC COMMENT: Shayne Lynn of CeresMED spoke to the Committee and
answered questions regarding his desire that the Committee recommend to the City
Council that an “opt in” vote for retail cannabis sales be placed on the March Town
Meeting ballot. Shayne described his history in the cannabis business including a
cannabis cultivation and greenhouse for cannabis medical use. He described the state’s
actions in authorizing and regulating retail cannabis sales and that for municipalities to
allow retail sales within their borders would require a popular vote of the citizens (the
“opt in”). The City would still be empowered to restrict the retail cannabis business
through zoning as well as other administrative restrictions similar to a local liquor
licensing and control board.
Shayne pointed out that twenty-one towns in Vermont have already “opted in”, including
Winooski, and described the possible tax and revenue advantages for South Burlington if
the City were to opt in. He indicated that his intention is to establish a location on Farrell
Street near the corner of Farrell Street and Swift Street. After a discussion in which all
Committee members weighed in, John Burton, Committee Chair, acknowledged that,
since the matter had not been placed on the Committee’s agenda in the meeting’s public
warning, it would be inappropriate to make a formal recommendation to the City
Council. However, John took a “straw poll” of the members. The result was that a
majority of the members favored that the cannabis “opt in” question be placed on the
City’s March Town Meeting ballot.
(3)MINUTES: The minutes of the 12-15-21 meeting were approved.
(4)CITY MANAGER UPDATES:
Jessie called attention to the FY 23 Budget which is pending before the City Council. She
also noted that there is extensive US Treasury guidance (500 pages) for how ARPA funds
can be spent which the City staff is attempting to digest. She will circulate a staff
summary of the guidance.
There is a potential, but confidential, purchaser of the University Mall property which
plans to maximize mixed uses (housing, offices and retail) that will, if purchased and
developed, better coordinate with the City Center.
(5) CC FY22 POLICY PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES: Jessie asked that the Committee
provide a member to coordinate with the Planning Commission regarding its work
regarding infill in the Williston Road, Shelburne Road and Kennedy Drive corridors. The
member will report the Planning Commission’s progress to the Committee, represent the
Committee’s interests and facilitate providing the Committee’s expertise. After some
discussion, Tom agreed to be the Committee’s representative.
(6) FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULE: The Committee members agreed that future
meetings will continue to be held on Tuesdays in the City Hall at 5:30 PM. The next
meeting is February 8th.
(7) PROPOSED LDR AMENDENTS: Tom proposed that the Committee adopt a resolution
to be sent to the City Council expressing the Committee’s concerns about the proposed
amendments to the Land Development Regulations. After a ranging discussion in which
all members participated. Modifications to Tom’s proposed draft. Then Tom moved and
Linda seconded a motion to adopt the resolution which was approved unanimously, a
copy of which is attached to these minutes.
(8) UPDATE ON REQUEST FOR DATA/RESEARCH FROM UVM: John updated the
Committee concerning the potential for data collection with the UVM Office of
Engagement. This office and its data research and services is, apparently, a new initiative
by UVM and is coordinated by Emma Spitz. John and other Committee members were
excited about the prospect of creating a “dashboard” of data the would be helpful in City
planning and economic analysis. John indicated that Emma Spitz’s intention is to have a
special meeting to formulate what data would be included and its availability. Srini
expressed his concern that the “dashboard” needs to be sustainable so that the economic
analysis would continue to be available and the City could rely on it for planning. Jessie
saw the value of this approach and is interested included some City staff. John agreed to
coordinate the special meeting which all Committee members were encouraged to
participate. John suggested “Google Sheets” as a good possible tool for collecting data
and incorporating it into the dashboard.
(9) ADDITIONAL CITY MANAGER UPDATES: Jessie called the Committee members
attention to a virtual public meeting hosted by the Chittenden County Regional Planning
Commission of the I-89 2050 STUDY to be held from 6 PM until 7:30 PM on January
26th. More information and a Zoom link can be found at www.envision89.com.
(10) ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00PM.
R E S O L U T I O N
TO: City Council, City of South Burlington
FROM: South Burlington Economic Development Committee
The Economic Development Committee notes the broad nature of the proposed Land
Development Regulation (LDR) amendments and is concerned that their adoption will have far
reaching consequences on the future economic development of the City and the surrounding
region. Therefore, in considering the proposed LDR amendments through the “economic lens”
and effects on the future economic growth and vitality of South Burlington and the region (of
which South Burlington is a central and pivotal part) the Committee summarizes its concerns as
follows:
(1) The amendment has the effect of reducing the number of future housing units and
commercial development. This erodes the City’s property tax base and has a negative
impact on the future sustainability of the City’s ability to finance future upgrades to City
facilities, and schools.
(2) The adoption of the Habitat Block Overlay District and the expansion of the Natural
Resource Protection District are, as proposed, ill advised. Without modification, these
changes may likely expose the City to years of expensive, and unnecessary, litigation.
(3) In addition to restricting future housing, the proposed changes to Articles 3, 9, 13 and 15
will, working in concert, likely drive up the costs of new housing construction. These
cost impacts were apparently never considered in the drafting and preparation of these
changes.
(4) The reduction in good housing will negatively impact the City’s, and the region’s, ability
to attract and retain good employers and foster and incubate new businesses.
(5) The restrictions on work force housing in South Burlington will drive future housing
towards more rural areas further away from the jobs and employers in the areas in and
near South Burlington. The result will be more and longer employee commuting (CO2
producing) hampering the efforts to mitigate climate change.
(6) Because of the magnitude of the changes and for the reasons set forth above, the
Committee urges that the proposed changes be tabled until a 3rd party economic and risk
analysis can be completed.
It is respectfully requested that the City Council consider the above economic consequences
in deciding whether to adopt and/or modify the proposed LDR amendments.
Adopted by the South Burlington Economic Development this 11th day of January, 2022.
___________________________________
John Burton, Committee Chair