HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Planning Commission - 05/10/2022SOUTH BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
10 MAY 2022
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The South Burlington Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 10 May 2022, at 7:00
p.m., in the Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street, and via Zoom remote technology.
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Louisos, Chair; M. Ostby, M. Mittag, D. Macdonald, P. Engels, A. Chalnick
ALSO PRESENT: P. Conner, Director of Planning and Zoning; K. Peterson, City Planner; C. Marti, A.
Adams, A. Klugo, J. Leas, D. Peters, M. Emery, S. O’Brien, C. Sargent, K. Robison, A. Chalnick, L. Lackey, N.
Longo, C. McGeoch, D. Carman, S. Losier
1. Instructions on exiting the building in case of an emergency:
Ms. Louisos provided instructions on emergency exit from the building.
2. Agenda: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items:
Members agreed to postpone item #5 (election of a Vice Chair) until all members were present.
3. Open to the public for items not related to the Agenda:
No issues were raised.
4. Planning Commissioner announcements and staff report:
Ms. Ostby noted that in Minneapolis they have eliminated R-1 zoning in an effort to address
segregation. She also reported on an item from VPR regarding the difficulty of retrofitting multi-family
buildings for electric vehicle usage.
5. Receive and Discuss Recommendation from Airport Rezoning Task Force:
Ms. Robison and Ms. Sargent presented the report of the Task Force. They reviewed the composition of
the Task Force and noted the contribution of each member. They also stressed the importance of a
canvasing of the Chamberlin Neighborhood. The Task Force met 8 times over a 5-month period, two of
which were public input meetings which included input from the neighborhood and the Airport. Ms.
Robison stressed that the decision to deny the request was unanimous and was viewed as the best way
to protect and rebuild the neighborhood that has been so damaged. Members felt that what is true
today may not be true in the future and cited the instance of the Kirby Road Cottages as an example of a
change in the noise pattern which now allows those cottages to be residences again. The feeling was
that the F35s may not be stationed here forever, which could open up those lands to residential use
again.
Ms. Ostby directed attention to page 4 of the report which includes the commitment to restoring and
maintaining the vibrancy of the Chamberlin neighborhood. She noted that R-4 zoning co-existing with
the Airport for many years, and it was clear to her that it needed to be maintained.
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Mr. Engels said that was most critical for him was the testimony of neighbors and the strong message
that they have been ignored. He noted that a plan put forward in 2016 was never implemented and
added that issues with the Airport and the Chamberlin neighborhood are paramount as work begins on
the update of the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Mittag then moved to accept the Final Report of the Airport Rezoning Task Force, dated May 3,
2022, to formally thank the Task Force for its work, and to dissolve the Task Force as of today’s date,
May 10, 2022. Mr. Chalnick seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
Mr. Macdonald thanked the Task Force and said that the last paragraph of the report struck home with
him and was excellent guidance for the Planning Commission.
Ms. Ostby said she would like the Commission to look at the Williston Road area near the Airport with a
goal of supporting business there.
Mr. Longo, Acting Airport Director, thanked the Task Force for hearing their request. He felt the amount
of information provided was exceptional. Mr. Longo noted that a new maintenance facility was part of
the Airport’s request, and they are now realigning that facility to be within the airfield. They have
preliminary FAA approval for that. They will be bringing that design to the DRB. Mr. Longo stressed that
they have heard the Task Force and the neighbors “loud and clear,” and want to maintain that green
space for the neighborhood. The Airport has an extensive landscaping plan and would like to carry that
plan across the street from the parking garage to the property in question and to commit that property
for use of the neighbors. They also want to build a collaborative plan for the area and for healthy,
respectful growth in that neighborhood. Mr. Longo said the Airport will also be working on its plans to
draw back and to grow within the fence line. He added, “this is your airport,” and he looks forward to
working with the city staff and with the residents.
Mr. Leas said there must be a way to lower the noise level and restore housing on some of the 44 acres
where housing was demolished. He felt it could be possible to respectfully ask the Air Force to remove
the F35s , which would make the noise negligible, and the Airport could “make a fortune.”
Ms. McGeoch noted that she and her neighbors have been awakened at 3 a.m. by the F35s, which, in
one instance, sent a neighbor to the hospital with AFib.
Mr. Mittag then moved that the Planning Commission deny the Burlington International Airport request
to rezone an 11 acre area near Airport Parkway and Kirby Road Extension which area shall remain R-4 as
currently zoned. Ms. Ostby seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Engels said the 2016 CNAPC report should be reviewed as part of the Comprehensive Plan. Mr.
Conner said that in July and August, the Commission will be discussing items that did not get into the
current Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Ostby said that discussion should include the restoration of housing in
that area.
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Ms. Louisos thanked the Task Force for a great process. Ms. Sargent cited the gratitude of the residents
of the Chamberlin neighborhood that someone finally listened to them. She hoped this would be a fresh
start.
6. FY2023 Priorities – discussion and action on FY2023 priorities:
Mr. Conner said the City Council, as they did last fall, will be having a session with the leadership team
and will look at all recommendations from committees, etc., to come up with priorities for the coming
fiscal year. That same day, the Council will have a visioning session with the Planning Commission to
confirm that vision for the city. The City Manager is working to see what date works best. Ms. Louisos
said tonight’s discussion is to give the Council some thoughts for that discussion.
Ms. Peterson directed attention to the provided chart of potential work items and noted that 50-60%
relate to Comprehensive Plan work. Others are regulatory or new/renewed policy topics. Some of the
suggestions from members did not make the list due to time constraints. Mr. Conner noted the
Comprehensive Plan must be done by August, 2023, so it can go through the full process. Members
asked that the Chamberlin neighborhood be a line item in the Comprehensive Plan.
Ms. Ostby said that in previous Comprehensive Plans there was a statement regarding the Grand List.
She thought they may need to refer to that again as there is potential action in Montpelier with regard
to a per pupil education tax which could result in significantly increased taxes in the community. She
also suggested someone with more information come in and have that discussion with the Commission.
Mr. Chalnick said it seems burdensome to him that someone who just wants to build a few homes
instead of a large development should need a master plan. Ms. Ostby said they should ask the DRB
whether that has been a challenge. Ms. Peterson said that is already being flagged, and those
discussions happen regularly in the Planning & Zoning Department. Mr. Conner added that the DRB
feels they can communicate with the Planning Commission through Marla.
Ms. Ostby asked for an area where home ownership can fit.
Mr. Macdonald asked whether east-west connections have been “kicked down the road” or whether
they fit in here.
Mr. Chalnick said the recommendations of the Climate Task Force should be a priority item and should
be able to result in regulatory requests. Mr. Conner said if their recommendations result in an
ordinance, that is a City Council issue. He asked the Commission to be mindful that the Task Force will
be bringing forth big, complex items, and other items on the list may have to be eliminated. Ms. Ostby
asked whether the Commission will be briefed on what the Climate Task Force is recommending and
whether their recommendations will result in having to draft LDRs. Mr. Conner said what they are
developing is a big ensemble of recommendations that will touch all areas of city government. In terms
of regulations, there will be more than one meeting for briefing of the Commission. Some
recommendations could rise to the regulatory level this year. He reminded members that these are
never “fast things.” Ms. Peterson said the primary task this year is to get recommendations into the
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Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Macdonald cautioned about being realistic about what the Commission can
do.
Ms. Ostby suggested that committees could deal with some of the items on the list. Mr. MacDonald
suggested the possibility of another Form Based Code Committee. Mr. Engels suggested resurrecting
some of the work done by the original Form Based Code Committee regarding making FBC city-wide
(including UMall and Staples Plaza). He felt this could save a lot of work.
Mr. Macdonald then moved to adopt the FY2023 Priorities List with the inclusion of adding the
Chamberlin Area and Climate Action as separate items and to submit these as the Planning
Commission’s FY2023 Work Plan. Mr. Mittag seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
7. Planning Commission Vision –discussion of long-term vision and four goals for 2024
Comprehensive Plan:
Ms. Peterson directed attention to the memo which asked two questions:
a. What are the 2 biggest policy challenges facing South Burlington in the coming
decade?
b. What is the Planning Commission’s role in addressing those challenges?
Members responded individually as follows:
Mr. Engels: Climate change and how the city can react locally. As the Planning Commission, we can
lead any action with approval of the City Council.
Mr. Mittag: Creating a regulatory environment for the Task Force recommendations. One challenge:
we don’t have a way to do things fast when we need to.
Mr. Chalnick: There will be tremendous pressure to move here, and the city will have to resolve that
influx against the desire to keep this a great place. He favored making the downtown really robust and
conserving everything else.
Ms. Louisos: The Commission has done work on specific resources but not on things such as parks
that support downtowns. There is also the issue of views which the Commission hasn’t focused on.
There is a need for program spaces and a need to consider how and where growth happens. She
stressed a need to focus on resiliency regarding floods and droughts. She cited the need to listen and
learn and felt the Commission hasn’t been doing as much of that as they should.
Ms. Ostby: Only 16% of Vermonters can afford to pay a mortgage on a $470K home. There will be
more people in the service industry, and they won’t be able to live near where they work. She cited the
need to figure ways to have diversity in the population and in economics.
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Mr. Macdonald: Climate change and housing will be the 2 big issues. There will be increased demand to
live here. He didn’t want the city to become an exclusive place to live. People can’t take jobs because
there’s no place to live, and the Commission may have to allow housing in places where they don’t want
it to be. He cautioned members to remember they don’t represent only one group in the community
but all groups.
Due to the late hour, members agreed to consider the goals at the next meeting.
8. Review and approve street name request from Beta Technologies:
Mr. Mittag moved to approve da Vinci Drive as requested. Mr. Macdonald seconded. Mr. Conner noted
that per Federal signage guidelines, the first “d” may need to be capitalized and asked members for
permission to make it a capital “D” if that is the case. Members concurred. Motion passed with all
present voting in favor.
9. Meeting Minutes of 12 and 26 April 2022:
Mr. Mittag moved to approve the Minutes of 12 and 26 April as presented. Mr. Engels seconded.
Motion passed with all present voting in favor and Mr. Chalnick abstaining on the Minutes of 12 April.
10. Other Business:
Mr. Conner noted there have been a few instances where expanded wetland buffers resulted in a
conflict for residents who want to add a deck to their home.
The City will be going to a new email system as of tomorrow. IT will be available to help with issues.
As there was no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned by
common consent at 9:25 p.m.
Minutes Approved by the Planning Commission June 14, 2022