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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/01/2004CITY COUNCIL 1 MARCH 2004 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 1 March 2004, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: J. Condos, Chair; C. Smith, S. Magowan Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; J. B. Hoover, Director of Planning & Zoning; G. Dow, WPC Department; G. Chamberland, The Other Paper; G. Jaquemart, B. Bowden, C. Benedict 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience not related to agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Condos: Reminded voters that tomorrow is a voting day. Will be going to Washington this weekend for the National League of Cities and Town meeting. Mr. Hafter: Bruce Chattman cannot attend the 18 March Steering Committee meeting. He suggested 16 March instead. Mr. Hafter will check with other members to see if that is OK. Gave members copies of annual audit. No concerns were raised. Stormwater Utility group meeting tomorrow, 2 p.m. Lake Champlain Housing Corp. Meeting meeting Wednesday, 2 p.m. The next agenda will include an item of economic development interest. 3. Approval of Proclamation of 21 March 2004 as Family Day in South Burlington: Mr. Hafter read the Proclamation. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Proclamation of 21 March 2004 as Family Day in South Burlington. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Interview with Chris Benedict for Natural Resources Committee Membership: Mr. Benedict told members he is a UVM graduate student and has lived in South Burlington for 3 years. He has always wanted to be involved in public service and feels he has something to contribute to the Natural Resources Committee. Mr. Condos explained the appointment process and thanked Mr. Benedict for his interest. 5. Consideration of First Reading of Amendment to Traffic Overlay District, Section 10.2 of Land Use Regulations; scheduling of public hearing on 5 April 2004: Ms. Hoover reviewed the background of this item. She explained that the Traffic Overlay District sits "on top" of the regular zoning and provides performance standards for the amount of traffic that can be generated in certain areas of the city by establishing a "traffic budget" for each site in the area. Ms. Hoover noted there have been several cases where the overlay district has prevented some undesirable businesses, but there have been problems with the regulations, specifically with the "credits" allowed by certain improvements. There has also been a lot of litigation in the environmental court. She felt the proposed update will not change the intensity of an allowable use but will change the credit process. Mr. Jaquemart, consultant for the amendment, explained that the new regulations will not change the impact zone or the traffic rates. It will consolidate 5 zones into 3 and will ask the applicant to calculate a "traffic budget" and traffic generation. In some instances, the DRB may require specific local counts even if there are ITE figures. For the purposes of these regulations, the afternoon peak hour (4-6 p.m.) has been used for traffic generation. Mr. Jaquemart said that because of the relation to access management, they are recommending that no credit be given for "passby" traffic. He stressed that the real issue and the major concern is with traffic entering and exiting a site. The new regulations explain when local traffic studies should be done and also how to calculate when there is more than one use on a property. The new regulations also quantify credits for various mitigation actions: A reduction of a driveway would give an applicant a 20­vehicle credit or ½ of the traffic using that driveway. An applicant would have to verify that the remaining driveway can handle the traffic. If an applicant connects to an adjacent property, they would receive a minimum of 15 vehicle credits. 10 credits would be given for a pedestrian connection. The access must be kept open all year (not snow covered). There is no credit for an "emergency only" access. Mr. Condos asked if there is credit for relocating a driveway. Ms. Hoover referred to p. 5 where this is covered. Other credits are given for the following: . . . elimination of left turns or through movements across an arterial by the creation of raised medians . . . reductions in width of curb cuts or access points . . . relocation of access points further from high volume intersections . . . impact on overall traffic . . . other things the DRB deems relevant. A business with a raised median in front of it gets an additional 15% added to its traffic budget. If an applicant builds a median, they will get credit for half of the left turns. Credit is also given for connecting to another roadway in an amount equal to the traffic using the other roadway. Mr. Jaquemart stressed that this does not eliminate the need for a traffic impact study. He also stressed that the aim is to resolve conflicts: arterials are supposed to move traffic vs. the need to have access to businesses. Members were very comfortable with these amendments. Ms. Hoover noted one correction in the printing of the Amendments: Section 1002G on p. 4 should indicate that the traffic budget shall be increased 15%, not 50% as written. Mr. Magowan then moved to waive the first reading of the amendments, approve the first reading as corrected, and schedule a public hearing of 5 April 2004. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. (Note: meeting date changed to 6 April 2004 due to Passover holiday.) 6. Presentation of "Redesigning the American Neighborhood" project; Butler Farms demonstration EPA grant: Ms. Hoover said she had gotten a call from Professor Breck Bowden regarding a study on stormwater that his department wanted to do. For the study, they have been working with Butler Farms and Oak Creek Farms residents. Ms. Hoover commented that it is shocking what was gotten away with recently in the way of wetlands fill, lot lines right up to the tributary of a stream, etc. She noted that now 200 ft. is required for buffer on each side. The hope is that through this project some of the damage can be "undone," specifically the invasion of the natural hydrology. She did note there is a limit to what you can ask people to do voluntarily. Professor Bowden suggested that they might introduce practices at a number of different scales, things on people's properties (e.g. detention swales). The study is interested in the cost benefits of those actions. Mr. Hafter said this is an excellent University/community project. Professor Bowden said it is a remarkable opportunity that is getting a lot of national attention. 7. Consideration of Approval of Contract with Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc., for Airport Parkway Wastewater Treatment Facility Project Design: Mr. Hafter said the City Attorney is very impressed with the contract. He did suggest a few minor changes: · p. 1: second "whereas" will be a little more specific · p.3: changes the reference to the Development Review Board (not Planning Board) · p.8: Section 7.3 adds indemnity language. Mr. Hafter said the contract was not put out to bid. He recommended that it go forward. It is well within state guidelines. Mr. Magowan moved to authorize the City Manager to sign the contract with Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc., for the Airport Parkway Wastewater Treatment Facility Project Design if there are no significant changes from the State. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Consideration of Approval of Capital Equipment Refunding Note and Related Documents for International Dump Truck: Mr. Hafter said the contract is for the second of 5 years and is a 2% interest. The funds are in the budget. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the note and related documents as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Appointment of Town Service Officer: Mr. Magowan moved to appoint Mr. Hafter as Town Service Officer. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Acceptance of Resignation of Margaret Picard from the Library Board of Trustees Mr. Smith moved to acceptance of Margaret Picard from the Library Board of Trustees and instruct the City Manager to send a letter of appreciation for her service. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Review Development Review Board Agenda for Meeting of 2 March 2004: No issues were raised. 12. Minutes of 16 February 2004 and 19 February 2004: Mr. Smith moved to approve the Minutes of 16 February as written. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The Minutes of 19 February could not be acted upon as there was not a quorum of members present from that meeting. 13. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. Executive Session: Mr. Smith moved that the Council meet in Executive Session to discuss appointments to Boards and Committees and to resume regular session only for the purpose of making appointments and/or adjourning. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Following the Executive Session, Mr. Smith moved to appoint Chris Benedict to the Natural Resources Committee. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.