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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 10/16/2000CITY COUNCIL 16 OCTOBER 2000 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 16 October 2000, at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members present: J. Condos, Chair; C. Smith, D. O'Rourke, S. Magowan, T. Sheahan Also present: C. Hafter, City Manager; P. Bestenbostel, Asst. City Manager; Bruce Hoar, Public Works Dept; Joe Weith, Director of Planning & Zoning; Sarah MacCallum, Planning & Zoning Dept; Anna K. Johnston, The Other Paper; Jim McNamara, Terry Krinsky, Jim Howley, John Jewett 1. Comments & questions from the audience not related to agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's report: Mr. Smith: The Steering Committee group has met and has done a few drafts of the Act 60 document. The latest draft is with the consultant. The group hopes to have something ready for the next Other Paper. Mr. Condos: MPO meeting, Wednesday at Williston, 7:00 p.m. Mr. Hafter: The feasibility study on the Aquatic Center/Community Center is proceeding. There will be a series of focus groups on 8 November. Council members are invited to participate. The Sunday bus service for the elderly and disabled that was started last October has not been successful. Only about 8 people per Sunday are using the service. The city has told CCTA this is not a good use of taxpayer money. October 22 will be the last day for this service. Those who use it will still be able to get service through SSTA. The program had been funded (80%) from a federal grant. Mr. Hafter has been asked to serve on the Special Investigations Unit Policy Board. This unit investigates sexual abuse and child abuse cases. The Vermont Dept. of Housing has given the South Burlington Fire Department an award for their work in child injury prevention. Mr. Hafter will be away for two days at the City Managers' Conference. The Corrections Center Liaison Committee will meet 25 October, 4 p.m. Council members are invited to attend. The next agenda will include a public hearing on the UVM sign, a public hearing on the law enforcement grant, a report on the appraisal policy, and results of the study on the White Street/Airport Parkway intersection. 3. Public hearing on amendments to zoning regulations: a. Article IV, Park and Recreation District, allow ten foot setback: Mr. Weith explained that this would change the minimum setback requirement for accessory recreational structures from 50' front, 30' rear and 25' side to 10'. b. Section 14.10 and 14.20 to allow municipal facilities as a permitted use and state and federal facilities as a conditional use in the central district: Mr. Weith said this is a housekeeping amendment. Municipal facilities would now be allowed in every district and state and federal facilities in almost every district. Members expressed concern with state and federal facilities that might result in a prison in the City Center. c. Amend official zoning map to include parcel data: Mr. Weith showed the map with parcel delineation. He noted that some slight adjustments were made so parcel boundaries were lined up with zoning boundaries. The Thompson Travel parcel, which was formerly divided into 2 zones is now completely in Commercial I. d. Adopt new southeast quadrant zoning map based on computer applications: Mr. Weith showed the new map and said there would be no substantive changes. Mr. Jewett noted that Ms. MacCallum has said there is new orthographic wetland data and that a consultant has been hired to work on this. Mr. Weith said that data should be available in a month. Mr. Jewett said it seems silly to adopt this and then go back and revise it with new wetlands data. Mr. Hafter said they would have to do it again in any case. Mr. Weith said if the new data shows many more wetlands in the southeast quadrant, the city may want to look at zoning and proposed infrastructure. Mr. Jewett said if the data is that close to being available, why not wait. He felt that acting on it now might have unintended consequences. Mr. Weith recommended adopting it now. e. Adopt new official city map based on computer applications: Mr. Weith explained that the official city map is a by-law that shows future public facilities, school sites, public parking facilities, parks, etc. The intent is to put owners on notice that these facilities are being planned. Mr. Weith showed the existing map that is hand-drawn and very difficult to use and update. The new map is better quality. It includes the new proposed school site. There have been adjustments made in a few areas where developments have been approved to show the approved configurations of roads. Mr. Weith said they would go back and look at it again when the Comprehensive Plan update is completed. Mr. Smith moved to close the public hearing. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Smith moved to approve amendments "a," "c," "d," and "e" as presented. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. O'Rourke said he felt federal facilities should be looked into more carefully before being included in section "b." Other members agreed. Mr. O'Rourke then moved to approve section "b" with the omission of the word "federal" in all instances. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. First reading of proposed amendment to zoning regulations, Section 25.101, removing Patchen Road from list of arterial and collector roads requiring a 50-foot setback: Mr. Weith explained that this amendment was generated by a homeowner who built within the 50-foot setback by mistake. This wasn't discovered until the home was built. Their request for a variance was denied and they went to the Planning Commission to request the zoning change. A survey was done which revealed that 84% of existing structures have less than the required 50-foot setback, 74% have less than 30 feet. The Planning Commission felt it was OK to reduce the setback as it won't change the character of the neighborhood. Mr. Hafter said staff would have to check to see if Patchen Rd. has to remain a collector street because of the funding that was used. Mr. Smith moved to approve the first reading of the amendment as presented and to schedule a public hearing for 4 December. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Petition from residents to establish Spear Street/Allen Road sewer district: Mr. Hafter explained that in the past the city has established sewer districts in order to add sewage to neighborhoods. In most cases, the owners have paid half the cost and the city the other half. Mr. McNamara showed the plan of the lots involved. They want to put the system along the westerly side and then join with the system being put in by Larkin. One neighbor does not want to participate. The cost estimate was $60,000 a few years ago. Mr. Hafter said staff will draw up a resolution for Council approval. They will then get easements, etc. Mr. Sheahan arrived at this point in the meeting. 6. Presentation from San Remo Drive Streetscape Plan: Mr. Weith noted that the city got a grant for streetscape work on the San Remo block. Because there are so many owners on the street, it is not likely the city would get land dedicated to it. The proposed design would be incorporated into the design handbook. Mr. Krinski then showed the plan for the area. He noted that the 45' width of the right-of-way influences the streetscape by compressing available space for infrastructure. He showed the location of utilities and noted that overhead power lines limit the species that can be planted. Several options were considered. The first was to do nothing and just let things happen. This was not felt to be acceptable. The second was to have the city acquire more right-of-way and demolish the existing street and rebuild. This was not felt to be feasible even though the idea was attractive. The proposal that is being made improves the streetscape within the existing right-of-way. Overhead power lines would be retained in the initial stages. Mr. Krinski then showed a typical section of the street. The 30' pavement width would be kept but travel lanes will be reduced to 11' with the remaining footage being used for a parallel parking lane. This might be alternated on both sides along the way. There would be a 7-1/2 foot greenbelt with street trees and a new lighting system (similar to Market St.). The lighting system would be serviced by underground power. There would be a 7' sidewalk behind the greenbelt. On the inner loop of the street there would be a 2' setback to buildings; on the outer loop the setback would be 4'9". There would be 66'9" from building face to building face. Some trees will be kept on the inner loop. There would also be mid-block crossings. Easements will be needed to build and maintain the sidewalk. Mr. Weith noted that so far no landowners have expressed concerns with the plan. 7. Continue discussion of ordinance regarding pesticide application; schedule first reading: Ms. MacCallum reviewed changes made since the last presentation. She noted that Burlington might be changing their signs to something more effective. South Burlington will change theirs as well. The sign ordinance fee schedule was used for this ordinance as well. Ms. MacCallum noted they are still waiting for an opinion from the City Attorney on Section 4f and 4g. Mr. Magowan questioned the city's use of pesticides if the wording says "all" pesticides are dangerous. Ms. MacCallum said that is how the wording is in the Burlington ordinance. Members were more comfortable striking that line. Mr. Smith moved to set the first reading for 6 November. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed. 8. Consideration of response to U.S. Post Office letter regarding location of new central post office: Mr. Condos said he is very disappointed with the Post Office. He then read the letter that indicates the Post Office has chosen 222 Dorset Street as a site for a 20,500 sq. ft. facility on one level. Mr. Weith noted that storage and distribution facilities are not an allowable use in that district. Mr. Condos suggested sending a response to Mr. Madden's supervisor and also bringing in Senator Leahy or Senator Jeffords as well. 9. Consideration of special event permit for South Burlington Community Education Fund Haunted Mansion, 10/27-29/00; Mall 189, Shelburne Rd: Mr. Hafter said that Council members have been invited to participate in the event. Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the special event permit as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Review Development Review Board Agenda for 10/17 meeting: No issues were raised. 11. Minutes of 18 September, 25 September and 2 October: Mr. Magowan moved to approve the minutes of 18 September as written. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed 4-0 with Mr. Sheahan abstaining. Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the minutes of 25 September and 2 October as written. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 12. Sign disbursement orders: Disbursement orders were signed. Executive Session: Mr. Smith moved the Council adjourn and reconvene in executive session to discuss litigation and to resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The City Council returned to regular session. Mr. Sheahan moved adjournment. Mr. Magowan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.