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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 07_SP-22-007_916 Shelburne Rd_pub comments1 Marla Keene From:Janet Bellavance <janetbellava@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, February 26, 2022 10:23 PM To:Marla Keene Subject:EXTERNAL: comments to DRB This message has originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email. Feb. 22. 2022 Dear Members of the DRB, I am writing in regard to the Davis Reality sketch plan which will be presented on March 3rd. This plan details a new child care building and parking area. This is an ideal location for infill and redevelopment. I am pleased to hear that they are proposing a new child care facility as this is a critical need for working parents in our community. While I support redevelopment in this space, I oppose the cutting down of the six old and beautiful pine trees on the south end of the property. In light of our climate crisis, it would seem prudent to preserve any healthy groups of old trees we are fortunate to have. These will offer cooling shade to the children on hot summer days, and provide a respite from the heat and noise of busy Rte 7. Also, these trees are located in an area that acts as a natural buffer between commercial and residential spaces. Trees are good neighbors to the houses right behind them. Please revise your plan to preserve the trees, even if it means reducing the parking spaces. Thank you for your consideration. Janet Bellavance 25 Brewer Parkway 1 Marla Keene From:John Andrew McCown <jamccown51@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, February 27, 2022 11:59 AM To:Marla Keene Subject:Re: EXTERNAL: Davis Art Center project Hello Marla, thank you for sending me the proposed plans for the Davis Art Center expansion at 916 Shelburne Rd. in S.Burlington. I have looked at them carefully and also looked at the property from the art center and from the Brewer Parkway perspective. I am writing this as a resident of Brewer Parkway with a home at 43 Brewer Parkway. I would like this letter presented to the review board for the March 3rd meeting. The proposed changes to the property are going to have a significant impact on the quality of life for the properties abutting it on Brewer Parkway and on Lindenwood Drive.The visuals of having a parking lot along with the added noise of cars and the activity of a childcare center will have a negative impact on the abutting homes. Those properties have deep backyards that are used frequently in the warmer months. The impact of the new activities and sounds from the art center and childcare center will be greatly felt in those yards and detract from the private sense they currently experience. It may also negatively impact their property values. The loss of the large pine trees will also change the visuals to a more urban one and be a significant loss of wildlife habitat. I propose that some things are done during the construction phase to mediate the effects of the changes planned. There are two things I think that would greatly reduce the impact at a reasonable cost. First a 4' high earthen berm should be built along the property of Sarah Brutzman, parcel I.D. 0260-00004 on the southern border. Secondly a row of northern white cedar would be planted to form a hedge one one side of the berm. These cedar trees could be a continuation of the cedar hedge that is already in place just to the west of there. This hedge would be started with 3'-4' tall saplings to shorten their time to effective height. The changes to the existing plans would be minimal to accomplish this. I also propose that this same earthen berm and white cedar hedge be installed on the east border of the property. This would be along the property edge of parcel I.D. 1050-00007. I think these changes are reasonable considering the impact of the changes that are going to be made. The loss of the beautiful mature white pines, the enlargement of the parking lot and the inherent sound and increased traffic of a childcare center will have a significant negative impact on the surrounding properties. The addition of these berms and the cedar hedge are the least that the Davis Art Center can do to show good neighborly intent. Thank You, John McCown On Thu, Feb 24, 2022 at 10:39 AM Marla Keene <mkeene@sburl.com> wrote: Hi John, here is a link to the packet for next Wednesday’s meeting. It is agenda item #7. The packet contains a staff report followed by the applicant’s submitted materials. 2022-03-02 (sbvt-records.info) Marla Keene, PE Development Review Planner City of South Burlington (802) 846-4106 2 From: John Andrew McCown <jamccown51@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2022 9:03 AM To: Marla Keene <mkeene@sburl.com> Subject: EXTERNAL: Davis Art Center project This message has originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email. Hello Maria , This is John McCown, I am a resident and homeowner on Brewer Parkway. I have an interest in the planned developments to the Davis Art Center property off Shelburne Rd. That property abuts properties on lower Brewer Parkway. Could you please send me the proposals for what is planned for that property. I have concerns that the changes planned will unfairly impact the residents and properties whose back yards are next to the area to be developed. I am not against reasonable commercial development. I would like to see it done with consideration in how it impacts residential areas nearby. Thank You, John McCown February 28, 2022 Ms. Marla Keene Development Review Planner South Burlington Development Review Board Dear Ms. Keene, As an abutting neighbor to the Davis Studio, I am in support of the general concept of their renovation project as they provide a quality and needed school service. Since they started their program they have been a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I support their ability to continue to provide their programs at their current location. I am in agreement that the mentioned overgrown pine trees are becoming hazardous and I am supportive of them coming down as part of this project. Sincerely, Palmer Irish 7 Lindenwood Dr. 1 Marla Keene From:Nancy Simson <nancysimson@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, February 28, 2022 10:08 AM To:Marla Keene Subject:EXTERNAL: Development Review Board -- March 3rd consideration of Davis Art Studio property changes This message has originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email. Attention: Marla Keene It is my understanding that the Davis Art Studio property changes will be considered at the March 3rd meeting of the Development Review Board. As a resident of Brewer Parkway, I know that many properties on both Brewer Parkway and Lindenwood often experience wet basements and flooded yards because of their inability to withstand excess water runoff from snow melt and large rainstorms. I ask that the Board request the Davis Art Studio owners to provide a definitive, professionally prepared plan to deal with runoff that may be caused by expansion of their parking area and planned tree removal. There are many options including rain gardens, swales and various catchments that, if properly designed and installed, will mitigate further damage to adjoining properties. Thank you for considering this request. Nancy Simson 39 Brewer Parkway 802-864-6854 --- PLEASE BE SURE TO USE THIS EMAIL ADDRESS WHEN CONTACTING ME. nancysimson@gmail.com 1 Marla Keene From:Jacqueline Weinstock <jackieweinstock@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, February 28, 2022 7:07 AM To:Marla Keene Subject:EXTERNAL: Davis Studio Expansion This message has originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email. Dear Development Review Board Chair Marla Keene, I’m writing first to offer my support for the expansion of the Davis Studio’s Child Care program. I know we need more early childhood education spaces in our state and county, and I believe in the program that the Davis Center offers. It is of good quality, and as a human developmentalist I know the importance of good quality early childhood education from a research perspective. That said, I’d like to also convey my agreement with John McCown’s suggestions for ways to mitigate the impact of the proposed expansions. As stated above, I do support the expansion of the Center so as to expand access to good quality early childhood education. But as someone who lives in the same neighborhood as the Davis Center, specifically 26 Brewer Parkway (and I see and hear the children everyday walking the bike path to get to the park or the woods), I am concerned about the impact of this expansion on the immediate neighbors as well as on the neighborhood and the environment in general. I think John’s ideas can be a great way for the Davis Studio to help mitigate their impact and also demonstrate their support for the community that they are a part of. Thank you, and please bring this to the Review Board so as to register my remarks. Jackie Weinstock 26 Brewer Pkway Also: Associate Professor, Human Development & Family Studies, UVM