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Minutes - City Council - 07/06/1993
CITY COUNCIL 6 JULY 1993 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 6 July 1993, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: Michael Flaherty, Chairman; James Condos, Robert Chittenden, John Dinklage, William Cimonetti Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Joe Weith, City Planner; Catherine Peacock, Bill Craig, Bill Burgess, Planning Commission; Peg Strait, Assistant City Manager; Mac Teeson, Dick Posey, Jan Emerson, John Kennedy, Joe Sopher, Dave MacLaughlin, C. Spillane, Mark Crow, Melanie Griffiths, Lucille Viens, Robert Zimmerman, 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience, not related to Agenda Items: No issues were raised. 2. Interviews with Candidates for Appointment to Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment; appointments to City Boards, Committees and Commissions: a) Planning Commission: Members interviewed applicant Joe Sopher and incumbents Catherine Peacock and William Craig. Applicants responded to a set of specific questions concerning their reasons for applying, background, critical planning issues, role of citizen input, interaction between City Council and Planning Commission, and term limitations. All applicants indicated a willingness to serve a full term. The incumbent Commission members both felt that traffic was the number one planning issue in the city. Mr. Sopher felt that the tension between how to save resources for the future and the needs of the present was critical. Council members also raised questions about mass transit and compensation to landowners for view protection. b) Zoning Board: The Council interviewed Mark Crow and Chip Spillane. The two incumbent applicants were not able to attend this meeting and will be interviewed at a later date. Applicants answered questions about background and interest in zoning, critical variance issues in the city, importance of the five criteria, citizen input, use variances, interaction with the City Council and willingness to serve a full term. Mr. Crow felt that overlay districts and mixed uses were critical issues but stressed that the Zoning Board does not make policy. Mr. Spillane felt the sign ordinance was critical. Both applicants felt the 5 criteria were very important. Mr. Crow noted that State Statute says they are mandatory. Both candidates also felt that use variances were not a proper role for the Zoning Board as they create spot zoning. Mr. Chittenden left the meeting at this time. 3. Consideration of two Requests for Design Changes to Dorset St., second access to 354-56 Dorset St. property and a Median Break at Sherry Road: Mr. Hafter noted that Tony Cairns had provided information on the need for a second curb cut on the Champlain Oil property. The cut would serve a small retail business located on the same lot. Use of the existing curb cut by both businesses could be dangerous as the oil trucks need to make wide swings which could interfere with entering and exiting cars. Mr. Cairns has agreed that when the lot becomes a retail only use the second curb cut will be closed. Mr. Cairns indicated that Champlain Oil will probably be gone in 5 years. Mr. Dinklage moved that staff direct a suitable, request to the State incorporating the ideas in the letter to Roger Dickerson and specifically highlighting the pledge to sunset this curb cut. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Teeson presented the second request. He said people had presumed there would be an opening at Sherry Rd. He said there are 50 residences there and felt that safety is an issue. Neighbors can't get to neighborhood stores by car as San Remo Dr. is not designed for traffic. Mr. Condos noted that San Remo Dr. will be rebuilt this year. Mr. Teeson noted that with a development of 50 homes or more the Planning Commission always insists on two accesses. Mr. Condos said there will still be 2 accesses, and emergency equipment will be able to get through. Ms. Griffiths said there are already two to three times the number of vehicles going on Brookwood Drive to get to Sherry Rd. She said residents won't walk to get to stores across the road. Mr. Hafter said that staff's position is that there is adequate access. Mr. Teeson felt the city owed residents another access until the Deslauriers project is built. Mr. Kennedy noted that every development on the street has an access except Sherry Rd. Mr. Teeson noted that about a dozen businesses will now be sending traffic through a residential area. Following the discussion, the Council agreed to take no action on this request. 4. Review of Preliminary Design Plans for Solid Waste District Drop-off Site at Patchen Road: Mr. Zimmerman presented the plans. He gave members a breakdown on who is using the facility on a town-by-town basis. The entrance to the facility will be from the existing road. There will be 14 parking spaces in addition to back-up spots for deposit of household waste. Members expressed concern with the distance from the parking spaces to the bins. Mr. Cimonetti said this is a very different concept from what was originally presented. He felt it should be made as easy as possible to get trash out of a car and into the bins. Mr. Zimmerman said people can back a car up to the garbage dump but may have to wait in line. Ms. Strait noted the long lines at the dump in Milton. Mr. Dinklage said such a situation would be unacceptable in S. Burlington. 5. Review of City Center Streetscape Design Report: Mr. Hafter praised the work of the Streetscape Committee. Mr. Weith then outlined the proposed design elements. He presented data on rights-of-way and sidewalk widths in three specific areas: Corporate Way, San Remo Drive, and secondary streets. He then reviewed street trees, lighting, standards for canopies and awnings, and designs for benches, trash recepticles, and street grates. There will be specifications handbook so that developers will know up front what is expected. The Committee recommended a Streetscape Design Review Committee and an Ordinance as part of the implementation process. 6. Consideration of "No Parking" Zone Adjacent to Red Rocks Park on Central Avenue: Mr. Dinklage said he had a problem with prohibiting people from parking on a city street and walking into a park. Mr. O'Neill noted that parking fees help defray costs of running the park. Mr. Cimonetti said he would prefer to see an entrance fee rather than a parking fee. Mr. O'Neill noted that school busses are dropping kids off outside and leaving the buses on the street. Mr. Dinklage said that type of activity needs to be reviewed. 7. Consideration of Appointments to Sign Ordinance Review Committee: Mr. Flaherty noted that 6 local business people have expressed interest. Mr. Condos felt that non-business residents also need to be represented. Mr. Dinklage felt that Natural Resources Committee might also want to have a representative. Mr. Cimonetti volunteered to be the City Council Representative. Mr. Cimonetti then moved to appoint Bill Savoie, Gary Farrell, William Shearer, John Floyd, Douglas Hoar, and David White to the Sign Ordinance Review Committee. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Dinklage moved to appoint Bill Cimonetti as the Council representative to the Sign Ordinance Review Committee. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Review Minutes of 21 June 1993: Mr. Condos moved that the Minutes of 21 June be approved as written. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 10. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Dinklage moved the Council adjourn and meet as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented two requests for second class liquor licenses, one from Mountain Wings and Things and one from Pepper's Memphis Barbeque. The applications have been approved by Fire, Police and Tax Departments. Mr. Dinklage moved that the Board grant first class liquor licenses to Mountain Wings and Things and to Pepper's Memphis Barbeque as applied for. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Executive Session: Mr. Condos moved the Liquor Control Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to discuss personnel issues and appointments to Boards and Commissions and to resume regular session only to make such appointments and/or to adjourn. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The City Council returned to regular session. Mr. Condos moved and Mr. Dinklage seconded the following appointment: The motion passed unanimously. Jim Condos moved authorizing the Council Chairman to sign a retirement agreement with Fire Chief Jim Goddette. John Dinklage seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.