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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 10/07/2004SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL 7 OCTOBER 2004 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Thursday, 7 October 2004, at 6:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: T. Sheahan, Acting Chair; D. O'Rourke, C. Smith Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; B. Robertson, Assistant Administrative Officer, Planning Department; L. Fife, M. Beaudin, R. Kay, Planning Commission; C. Scott 1. Consideration Of Grant of Development Rights and Conservation Restrictions, Recreation Path Easements, Option and Right of First Refusal with Charles L. Scott, II, Revocable Trust and Judith S. Scott Revocable Trust: Mr. Hafter explained that this is the culmination of a long process. The City Council will be recommending to the Steering Committee an amendment to the City Budget of $770,000 to purchase the development rights to the Scott property. Following the Steering Committee review, there will be a public hearing on 1 November to amend the budget. Mr. Hafter also noted that the City Council made a visit to the site last Friday. Mr. Robertson then reviewed the nature of the property and why it is important for the city to take the proposed action. The property consists of 43 acres in the southeast portion of the Southeast Quadrant. Mr. Robertson outlined the acreage on the map and noted that there are provisions in the Comprehensive Plan relative to open space, which make this purchase important. A wildlife corridor is identified in the Plan as a high priority property for conservation. This property met all 6 criteria for such a corridor. Numerous species were found on the property during a wildlife study. Part of the agreement with the owner includes a 200-foot wide recreation easement, which overlaps the site of proposed recreation paths. The property also has numerous development constraints, which would make it very difficult to develop. Mr. Beaudin indicated the Planning Commission's interest in rezoning the Southeast Quadrant. This would include ways to create corridors to protect wildlife and also to compensate property owners. Mr. Hafter reminded people that the voters had approved a one-cent tax for the preservation of open space in the city. He then reviewed the specifics of the agreement: The owner is not willing to sell the property at this time but is willing to put a conservation easement on the entire property. He will sell the development rights but will retain the right to put just one new house on the property in the future. The City will own the development rights to the property forever and will have a binding option to purchase the property when it eventually goes on sale. The City also gets a 200-foot wide recreation easement on which they can put 2 15-foot wide trails. The property owner retains the right to continue to use the property in accordance with the goals. If the Scotts ever decide to subdivide the land, the city's option to purchase would be triggered. Mr. Smith then moved that the City Council recommend to the Steering Committee that the 2004-2005 city budget be amended by $770,000 and that a public hearing be sent on the amended budget for 1 November 2004. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.