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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/07/2005CITY COUNCIL 7 MARCH 2005 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 7 March 2005, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: J. Condos, Chair; C. Smith, D. O'Rourke, S. Magowan Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; J. B. Hinds, Director of Planning & Zoning; B. Robertson, Assistant Administrative Officer; Chief L. Graham, M. Beaudin, R. Kay, T. Duff, B. MacDonald, Planning Commission; A. Parent, The Other Paper; Channel 17; B. White, B. Humes, S. Dopp, D. Wetzel 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience not related to agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Condos: MPO Meeting next Wednesday; Steering Committee meeting 17 March, 7:30 p.m. Mr. Hafter: Distributed agendas for the Steering Committee meeting. Presented resignations from Michelle Kupersmith from the Development Review Board and Lani Ravin from the Natural Resources Committee. Mr. Smith moved to accept the resignations of Michelle Kupersmith and Lani Ravin and to have the City Manager send letters of appreciation for their service to the City. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. There will be a series of meetings on stormwater services as follows: 9 March -- 5-6:30 p.m. 16 March -- 7-8:30 p.m. 24 March -- 7-8:30 p.m. Mr. Hafter asked that a Council member attend each of these meetings. The City Center Visioning meetings will be held on 18 March from 1 p.m. and 19 March from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. A House of Representatives Open House will take place on 21 March from 7-9 p.m. at the Community Library. South Burlington's 4 Representatives will be there. New England Construction Magazine has a feature on the South Burlington Public Works Department. 3. Public Hearing on Amendments to the Sign Ordinance; second reading of same: Mr. O'Rourke noted he had a conflict of interest with this item and excused himself. Ms. Hinds reviewed the proposed amendments as follows: 1. Clarification of graphics area of signs. 2. Definitions added for "interpretive signs" and "way finding signs" 3. Changeable message areas allowed for venues with changing performing arts 4. Wall signs for multi-tenant buildings -- clarifies potentially conflicting language 5. Signs in residential districts: allows temporary signs only for houses of worship 6. Corrects a type in the section on Banners 7. Temporary signs for conference centers (i.e., Sheraton) -- allows a permanent temporary signs permit with no advertising for the Sheraton on any temporary sign 8. Prohibits use of parked cars to display signs (cannot drape things or temporarily affix signs to a parked vehicle 9. Clarifies size of gas station price signs 10. Allows moveable barber poles 11. Illumination of canopy bands: the Sign Ordinance Committee was opposed to illumination, but the Planning Commission had no problem. The proposed Ordinance says this is not allowed. Public comment was then solicited, but none was offered. Mr. Magowan moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Members then discussed the issue of illuminated canopies. Mr. Hafter said he supports staff's position that there is no problem with internal illumination. Mr. Smith moved to amend the proposed Sign Ordinance as follows: Internal illuminations of structural canopies shall be permitted and shall not constitute a sign. Mr. Magowan seconded. The amendment was approved unanimously. Mr. Magowan moved to waive the second reading and adopt the amendments to the Sign Ordinance as presented and amended above. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Meet with Planning Commission to discuss Southeast Quadrant Concept Plan; ORW Landscape Architects & Planners: Ms. Hinds introduced Bob White, consultant for the project. She noted that that the Planning Commission has been working for 4 years on a series of plans focusing on the SEQ and on the ecology of the city in general. There is a growing need to insure cohesive open space and land to provide a healthy ecology (wildlife habitat, vegetation, etc). There have also been a lot of drawn out legal issues with development in the SEQ and a general angst over what development in the SEQ should look like. Ms. Hinds noted the positive use of funds from the Open Space Fund to purchase the rights to the Scott property. To address some of the concerns, a study was done by Arrowood involving extensive fieldwork for 13 months in the SEQ. Their report said what the "trade-offs" would be. The Planning Commission then reviewed proposals from consultants on how to plan for the SEQ. ORW was chosen and has been working with the Commission for 10 months. There will be a zoning rewrite after the ORW work is done; however, the Commission is looking for a ratification of some of the concepts being proposed. The Commission is also suggesting a moratorium on subdivisions until this work is done so that the plan does not get "underwritten." Mr. Beaudin said the hope is to reserve viable wildlife corridors and view corridors in a cohesive way and still meet the responsibility to prevent sprawl and meet the density that has existed for a long time. Mr. Kay noted that not everyone agrees with keeping that density, but the Commission believes the plan can meet the density and the open space goals as well. Ms. Hinds said the goal is to make the 1.2 density as attractive as possible. Mr. White cited the excellent ecology information they have had to work with. He said they are comfortable with the 1.2 density that exists. He then reviewed the process that has taken place including a public workshop, meetings with landowners, and Planning Commission work sessions. Following this meeting, the concept will be refined and ORW will prepare revisions to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations. Mr. White then showed the existing Official City Map for the SEQ. Ms. Hinds noted that what people responded most favorably to were tightly clustered developments. Mr. White said they are rethinking the "scenic setbacks" which place housing in the middle of views. Mr. White then showed a map of primary and secondary wildlife clusters -- areas to be left in tact (e.g., the Great Swamp). He also showed a chart of the impact of large lot zoning on wildlife. The proposed plan would create a 300-foot buffer around areas to be preserved. At the public workshop, there was consensus on a number of points, specifically: 1. preservation of more open space 2. the existing Comprehensive Plan allows for too many housing units 3. mixed use centers should be promoted 4. resubdivision of existing rural residential lots should be addressed Mr. White said that what is being proposed is a new paradigm for development in the SEQ, a marriage between preservation and development. The principles of this proposal are: 1. Preserve areas of ecological significance; remap "restricted" areas to protect significant natural resources (streams, ponds, wetland buffers, etc.) 2. Create a cohesive and publicly accessible open space system; plan for a cohesive system of open space that serves multiple roles in harmony with new neighborhood development (connectivity of trails, maintaining opportunities for agriculture, maintaining historic and cultural resources, preserving significant views, etc.) 3. Encourage development patterns that create walkable neighborhoods, a range of housing choices, and a unique sense of place (more compact development patterns, mixed uses in the I-O District to mix jobs and housing, new elementary school to allow SEQ children to walk to school, parks for each neighborhood, mixed use village center with neighborhood market 4. Create a central village for the SEQ which would be pedestrian oriented and linked to neighborhoods 5. Create a circulation system that balances auto circulation with bicycle, pedestrian and transit modes (to include traffic calming and a review of standards for local streets to create a strong pedestrian character Mr. White then showed the concept master plan featuring centers of activity between the natural areas. He indicated that they are looking toward a Transfer of Development Rights program to transfer density from points in the SEQ to the I-O District. Ms. Hinds noted that the I-O District would only allow housing that is being transferred out of the SEQ. She felt this is a good area for 7-12/acre housing. It would reduce the built density in the SEQ and could create attractive neighborhoods that address affordable housing (west side of Hinesburg Road). Mr. Condos said he liked the concept. Mr. White said there would have to be master planning for that area to bring all the uses together. He felt about 200 units might go into the I-O District. Mr. O'Rourke also liked the overall concept and the mixed use center idea. He had one slight reservation, which was giving regulatory affect to the term "natural communities." He felt there could be legal ramifications to this. Ms. Hinds felt this could be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Magowan had a question regarding east-west roads. He said they seem to cross-wetlands and open corridors and wondered if this plan was only paying lip service to these areas since roads could become a barrier to wildlife. Ms. Hinds felt the roads can be made friendly to wildlife, but she added, this is a city of 17,000 people with a farm road network. Mr. Magowan said he would support a short-term moratorium. Other Council members agreed. Mr. Smith said he would like to know areas where TDR's have worked. Ms. Hinds said South Burlington already has this on the books; the plan is now to apply TDR's to the I-O District. 6. Discussion of Potential Police Facility Location at 575 Dorset Street (current site): Mr. Hafter cited the continuing effort to find a new facility/location for the Police Station. Mr. Humes then presented the newest concept. He noted that this plan does not include the land at 595 Dorset Street. He showed a site plan including a utility easement that would have to be relocated (water and power). In "Scheme I," the Police need would fit on the site with the Fire Department remaining in its current location. The Police building would be brought up to Dorset Street. This would give it more presence. There would also be some expansion of the Fire Department. Construction could be phased so the current building remains while the new one is built. The infrastructure is already present for the Police Department, and much of it could be retained and adapted to tie in with new equipment. In "Scheme 2," a facility for City Hall is included on the same site. This requires structured parking and also Police parking under the Police/City Hall facility. City Hall parking would be on the second level (deck). There is a question of how the public would access the building and park. Mr. O'Rourke said what the Committee would like is direction from the Council as to whether it wants City Hall to remain on this cite. Ms. Hinds said she was concerned with the need for people to go through structured parking from surface parking. She also said if an investment is made to have City Hall at this location, it will stay here, and there is a question as to whether the City wants a City Hall presence in the City Center. Mr. Magowan said if it were a "done deal" that there would be a City Hall in the City Center, he would Police and Fire to be alone on this site. Mr. Smith said he had a problem making any decisions without costs attached. Other members agreed. This will be the next step. 7. Appointment of Town Service Officer: Mr. O'Rourke moved to appoint Mr. Hafter as Town Service Officer. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Review Minutes of 15 February 2005: Mr. O'Rourke noted he should not be listed as present at that meeting. Mr. Smith moved to approve the Minutes of 15 February as amended. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed 3-1 with Mr. O'Rourke abstaining. 9. Review Minutes of 22 February: Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Minutes of 22 February as written. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed 3-0 with Mr. Smith abstaining. 10. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement orders were signed. 11. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Magowan moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented 2005-6 annual liquor license renewals from the following and indicated they were all in order: Champlain Farms Fish House Klingers Bread Jolley (2 locations) Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Pizza Hut Simon's Store Cheese Traders Airport Grocery Mr. Magowan moved to approve the 2005-6 liquor license renewals as presented. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Magowan moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 12. Review Development Review Board Agenda: Mr. O'Rourke noted a sketch plan for a drive-thru bank on Williston Road and asked if that is allowed. Mr. Hafter said it is. Executive Session: Mr. Magowan moved that the Council meet in executive sessions to discuss contract negotiations and to resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: Mr. O'Rourke moved to adjourn. Mr. Magowan seconded, the motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.