HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Planning Commission - 09/27/2022 - Joint Commission / City Council meetingSouth Burlington Planning Commission
180 Market Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-4106
www.southburlingtonvt.gov
Joint Meeting with City Council
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
City Hall, 180 Market Street, Auditorium
7:00 pm
Members of the public may attend in person or digitally via Zoom. Participation Options:
· In Person: City Hall Auditorium, 180 Market Street
· Interactive Online: https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/city-council-pc-joint-meeting09-27-2022
· Telephone (872) 240-331; Access Code: 574-065-717
JOINT MEETING AGENDA:
1. Welcome, instructions on exiting the building in the event of an emergency (7:00 pm)
2. *Agenda: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items (7:02 pm)
3. Open to the public for items not related to the agenda (7:03 pm)
4. Announcements and staff report (7:10 pm)
5. Commission and Council discussion of 2024 Comprehensive Plan (7:15 pm)
a. Values, Vision, and Goals of the Plan
b. Areas of potential competing policy within the Plan
c. Areas of potential policy discussion within the Plan
d. Overview of Committee Role
PLANNING COMMISSION ONLY AGENDA:
6. *Consider approval of Planning Commission Report and warning of public hearing for amendment to the
Land Development Regulations #LDR-22-07 to modify the boundaries of the Commercial 1-Resdential 15,
Commercial 1- Auto, and Commercial 2 zoning districts in the vicinity of the Shelburne Road corridor (8:45
pm)
7. *Minutes: September 13, 2022 (8:55 pm)
8. Adjourn (9:00 pm)
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Conner, AICP, Director of Planning & Zoning
* item has attachments
South Burlington Planning Commission Virtual Meeting Public Participation Guidelines
1. The Planning Commission Chair presents these guidelines for the public attending Planning Commission meetings to ensure
that everyone has a chance to speak and that meetings proceed smoothly.
2. In general, keep your video off and microphone on mute. Commission members, staff, and visitors currently presenting /
commenting will have their video on.
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the subject, we would like to hear from all commissioners first. After the Commission has discussed an item, the Chair will ask
for public comment.
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state your interest in commenting, or type a message in the chat.
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participants to address the Commission before addressing the Commission for a second time.
10. The Planning Commission desires to be as open and informal as possible within the construct that the Planning Commission
meeting is an opportunity for commissioners to discuss, debate and decide upon policy matters. Regular Planning Commission
meetings are not “town meetings”. A warned public hearing is a fuller opportunity to explore an issue, provide input and
influence public opinion on the matter.
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comments will be circulated to the Planning Commission and kept as part of the City Planner's official records of meetings.
Comments must include your first and last name and a contact (e-mail, phone, address) to be included in the record. Email
submissions are most efficient and should be addressed to the Director of Planning and Zoning at pconner@sburl.com and
Chair at jlouisos@sburl.com.
12. The Chat message feature is new to the virtual meeting platform. The chat should only be used for items specifically related to
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this pulls people away from the main conversation underway. Messages on technical issues are welcome at any time. The Vice-
Chair will monitor the chat and bring to the attention of Commissioners comments or questions relevant to the discussion. Chat
messages will be part of the official meeting minutes.
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the meeting are likely not be covered and communicate with meeting participants any expected change in the extent of the
agenda. There are times when meeting agendas include items at the end that will be covered “if time allows”.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: South Burlington Planning Commission
South Burlington City Council
FROM: Paul Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning
SUBJECT: 2024 Comprehensive Plan
DATE: September 27, 2022 Joint Council/Commission meeting
Preparation of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan is underway! Sections in Red below are the focus of this joint
meeting.
A brief background:
The City has had a plan in place since the early 1960s. It must be updated and adopted every eight years in order
to be valid. The 2016 Plan was a major overhaul from prior Plans. The document was completely re-structured
and the goals, objectives, strategies, text, and maps were substantially overhauled. The Commission, in
consultation with the Council, spent a good deal of time on the 1-page “Vision and Goals” that was ultimately
specifically approved by the Commission and Council.
Purpose of the Plan:
The Comprehensive Plan is the City’s primary policy document. It is the foundation of the City’s work over its life
– the next eight years – and lays out a pathway for the next generation. What the City prioritizes, invests in, and
make policy about flows from the Plan. The City may only adopt (or amend) Regulations and Capital Budgets
that in keeping with the Plan. Further emphasizing the Plan’s importance, in the past year, the Council and City
Manager have aligned the City’s Policy Priorities by the Vision & Goals of the Plan. In the coming years, we
expect to take this even further, aligning the City’s budget and reporting with these key priorities of the Plan.
The Plan serves several specific statutory roles as well: enabling the ability to apply for state grants, providing
support for Federal funding, providing direction to Act 250 and Section 248 applications, and enabling the
authority to adopt and amendment zoning regulations, among others.
Timeline
The Comprehensive Plan will expire on February 1, 2024 unless it is updated and adopted prior to that time. To
leave room for public hearings, minor changes, and in consideration of the City Council’s annual work plan, this
effectively means that the Draft Plan must be complete and ready for their formal adoption process by August
2023.
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Update of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan for 2024
In May of this year, the Commission considered and ominously approved the approached outlined below for the
preparing the 2024 Plan. As noted above, the 2016 Plan was a major overhaul and re-write. With that in mind, the
2024 Plan is planned as an update to the 2016 Plan rather than looking at it as “starting from scratch”. This still
leaves a lot of room to augment, and revise the City’s objectives and plans as our local and global needs evolve,
our community changes, and we learn more.
Approach to Developing the Plan
First and foremost, staff and the Commission intend a collaborative, community-heavy approach to the 2024
Comprehensive Plan update. This includes an emphasis on involving and identifying the needs of traditionally
under-represented populations in our community, and on having the City’s standing committees play an
important role throughout.
The Plan will be updated be prepared using a “top of the funnel to bottom of the funnel” approach.
Meaning: affirm values and goals up front, and develop the Plan with those values and goals
established.
The approach includes the following stages of work:
1. Affirm the Values and Goals that will guide the Plan and City’s priorities, as a joint Planning
Commission-Council effort. The Values, Vision and Goals set the stage for the entire Plan. They also
become the framework for the work we do. As a key example, the FY ’23 Policy Priorities and
Strategies adopted by the City Council last month is organized by the four primary goals of the Plan.
We ask the Council & Commission to hold this thought in your heads as you consider the 2024 Draft
and how it might be used.
• This is the first major discussion point for tonight’s meeting. Enclosed please find the 2016
Vision & Goals AND, a first draft of the 2024 Values, Vision, and Goals. This 2024 draft was
prepared by staff as a first cut based on discussion from the Planning Commission earlier this
summer and what we’ve been gathering from the Council & Committees as priorities over the
past couple of years.
2. Establish “knowns” to serve as a framework for the Plan. These would include basic elements such as
“will be written as a valid Plan under Vermont Law”; existing adopted City Council resolutions, such as
the commitment to meet the USA’s obligations under the Paris Climate Accord; and macro-level
economic and demographic knows such as anticipated housing and job growth in central Chittenden
County. This segment would kick off with a review of work that has been previously done, and a
community profile of demographics, housing, resources, travel, etc. The Commission has done a
preliminary review of this information and knowns.
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3. Identify key “subject area” topics needing special attention in this 2024 update to the Plan.
These are key topics that the City identifies as being priorities to be resolved within the 2024 Plan.
Identifying these key issues early will help to guide the allocation of resources throughout.
Commissioners discussed these topics at their June 14th meeting and identified the following
• Addressing climate change
• Cleating greater emphasis on people, community, equity
• Chamberlin neighborhood and its interface with the Airport
• Creating greater measurability in plan objectives
• Assuring consistency of objectives and policies within the plan
• Addressing housing affordability
• Addressing economic activity and resiliency
• Connecting neighborhoods
• Identifying neighborhoods and their characteristics
Since that time, Commissioners have begun to lay out focus area along these themes and under
the various topic areas of the Plan, including the provision of affordable housing, parks & open
space, climate resiliency, bicycle & pedestrian facilities, building the sense of community, and
having South Burlington’s identity be strengthened.
For this joint meeting, using the items above as a starting point, staff recommend the Council and
Commission identify the following
a. Areas of potential competing policy within the Plan
We know there has been a lot of attention to the subject of Natural Resources in the
community over the past few years. Under the Interim Zoning Bylaw, several studies were
undertaken and an updated set of Environmental Protection Standards were adopted. The
draft Climate Action Plan speaks to this subject as well. Staff invites the Council &
Commission to discuss the extent to which this subject area should be a focus of the Plan
and if there is broad direction to be provided?
Other areas of potential competing interests worthy of consideration in the Plan may include
the transition from the Airport to the Chamberlin Neighborhood, transportation systems
serving local and/vs regional needs, and others.
b. Areas of potential policy discussion within the Plan
These are highlighted be the items bulleted above; are we missing key topics of discussion
and is there broad direction the joint group would like to provide?
The remaining items are work to be done over the coming months.
4. Apply established Values, Goals, and Knowns to all analyses, objectives, targets, and
implementation strategies moving forward. City Committees and Staff would be charged with
accounting for these priorities and knowns within all product they develop in support of the Plan. A
proposed policy that does not meet advance these priorities would need to specifically address why
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it should remain in the Plan regardless.
5. Prepare Measurable Targets for each applicable topic area. This will be an iterative process,
beginning with a collaboration of staff and Planning Commission, and then being provided to
Committees for consideration. [alternative: begin with Committees in areas where they have a
subject area expertise]
6. Prepare updates to the inventory, analysis, and conclusions within the Plan. This will be
performed by staff with support from City departments, for review and action by Committees, and
the Commission.
7. Review, assess, and made determinations on key subject areas. With support from applicable
parties, prepare the analyses and policy direction on the priority subject areas identified earlier in
the process.
8. Identify implementation strategies. Using the 2016 Plan as a foundation, and the self-
analysis performed by departments and committees on work completed to date, staff,
committees, and the Commission will prepare updated implementation actions to support
each target.
9. Update Future Land Use Map. Based on the findings, priorities, and policy direction prepared,
revise the City’s Future Land Use Map. The Future Land Use Map is intended to bring together the
various city priorities into a cohesive Plan for the City as to how land should be used in the future.
10. Adopt! Following completion of the steps above, hold formal public hearings and adopt the Plan.
DRAFT 2024 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
9/27/2022
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1.1. Values, Vision & Goals
South Burlington holds the following as our core values, vision, and goals that will drive our decision
making and work over the life of this Plan and beyond:
HERE AND INTO THE FUTURE, SOUTH BURLINGTON IS.......
Inclusive and Equity-Oriented Affordable & Community Strong. Creating a robust sense of place and
opportunity for all our residents and visitors.
• Be inclusive and transparent in governance, policy development and implementation,
investment, advocacy, and delivery of services.
• Be affordable, with housing for people of all incomes, lifestyles, and stages of life;
• Preserve our Keep unique features while investing in enhancing and adapting our , and maintain
or enhance the quality of life of existing neighborhoods to meet future needs;
• Be a recognized leader in public education offerings and outcomes;
• Provide quality public safety, infrastructure, health, wellness, and recreation services;
• Ensure transparent and accessible government.
Human-scaled Walkable. Investing in a City oriented to those on foot, bicycle, carpooling and using
transit ahead of drivingBicycle and pedestrian friendly with safe transportation infrastructure.
• Develop Focus on a safe and efficient transportation system that prioritizes supports pedestrian,
bicycle, carpool, and transit options while accommodating the automobile;
• Establish a community-focused city center with pedestrian-oriented design, mixed uses, and
public buildings and civic spaces that act as a focal point to the community.
• Prioritize new development and re-development in built areas served by transit and public
infrastructure
• Invest in neighborhood infrastructure to promote infill development
Climate Change-FocusedGreen & Clean. Emphasizing sustainability for long-term viability of a clean and
green South Burlington.
• Conserve our important natural, environmental, agricultural, historic, and recreational resources
• Meet or exceed the goals of the Vermont Global Warming Solutions Act by rapidly reducing
consumption of fossil fuels, significantly increasing renewable energy production, and
promoting energy efficiency
• Focus City investment on resilient transportation and utility infrastructure
• Promote conservation of identified important natural areas, open spaces, aquatic resources, air
quality, arable land and other agricultural resources, historic sites and structures, and
recreational assets;
• Reduce energy consumption city-wide and increase renewable energy production where
appropriate.
Opportunity Oriented. Being a supportive and engaged member of the larger regional and statewide
community.
DRAFT 2024 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
9/27/2022
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• Provide services to our current residents, employees, and visitors, and plan for people and
nature of the next century and beyond
• Prioritize development that occurs within the community into the higher intensity areas
identified within this Plan;
• Support a diverse and vibrant resilient economy built withon quality jobs, employment centers,
and a supportive educational and research system and; supportstrong markets for local
agricultural and food products.
• Consider the implications of today’s decisions on tomorrow’s South Burlington, Chittenden
County, and Vermont
city of south burlington comprehensive plan
1-1
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1. Vision & Goals
HERE AND INTO THE FUTURE, SOUTH BURLINGTON IS.......
Aff ordable & Community Strong Creating a robust sense of place and opportunity
for our residents and visitors.
✦Be aff ordable, with housing for people of all incomes, lifestyles, and stages
of life;
✦Keep unique features, and maintain or enhance the quality of life of existing
neighborhoods;
✦Be a recognized leader in public education off erings and outcomes;
✦Provide quality public safety, infrastructure, health, wellness, and recreation
services;
✦Ensure transparent and accessible government.
Walkable. Bicycle and pedestrian friendly with safe transportation infrastructure.
✦Develop a safe and effi cient transportation system that supports pedestrian,
bicycle, and transit options while accommodating the automobile;
✦Establish a city center with pedestrian-oriented design, mixed uses, and
public buildings and civic spaces that act as a focal point to the community.
Green & Clean. Emphasizing sustainability for long-term viability of a clean and
green South Burlington.
✦Promote conservation of identifi ed important natural areas, open spaces,
aquatic resources, air quality, arable land and other agricultural resources,
historic sites and structures, and recreational assets;
✦Reduce energy consumption city-wide and increase renewable energy
production where appropriate.
Opportunity Oriented. Being a supportive and engaged member of the larger
regional and statewide community.
✦Prioritize development that occurs within the community into the higher
intensity areas identifi ed within this Plan;
✦Support a diverse and vibrant economy built on quality jobs, employment
centers and a supportive educational and research system; support markets
for local agricultural and food products.
180 Market Street South Burlington, VT 05403 tel 802.846.4106 fax 802.846.4101 www.sb vt.gov
MEMORANDUM
TO: South Burlington Planning Commission
FROM: Paul Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning
SUBJECT: LDR-22-07 Shelburne Road Zoning District Re-alignment & LDR-22-08, Municipal Uses in C2
DATE: September 27, 2022 Planning Commission meeting
Following the Commission’s last meeting, staff has prepared the two zoning amendments requested.
LDR-22-08: The Table of Uses (Appendix C) would be amended to allow Municipal Facilities as a Permitted
Use in the Commercial2 District.
LDR-22-07: The Zoning Map would be amended to re-align the following zoning districts as depicted on the
maps on the next page.
Key to Maps:
• Commercial 1-Residential 15 (RED);
• Commercial 1-Auto (BLUE);
• Commercial 2 (PURPLE)
A public hearing can be scheduled for Tuesday, October 25th on both of these items.
Recommended motion: “I move to warn a public hearing on LDR-22-07 and LDR-22-08 for Tuesday,
October 25th, 7 pm, as presented in this meeting’s packet, and to approve the accompanying Planning
Commission Report.”
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Map 1: Current Zoning
Map 2: Possible Zoning
180 Market Street South Burlington, VT 05403 tel 802.846.4106 fax 802.846.4101 www.sb vt.gov
South Burlington Planning Commission
Proposed Land Development Regulations
Amendment & Adoption Report
Planning Commission Public Hearing Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 7:00 PM
In accordance with 24 V.S.A. §4441, the South Burlington Planning Commission has prepared the
following report regarding the proposed amendments and adoption of the City’s Land Development
Regulations.
Outline of the Proposed Overall Amendments
The South Burlington Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at
7:00 pm, in person and via electronic platform, to consider the following amendments to the South
Burlington Land Development Regulations:
A. LDR-22-07: Modify the Zoning Map in a manner generally described as follows:
1) Redesignate land immediately north of Holmes Road from Commercial 1-Auto to
Commercial 2
2) Redesignate land north and south of Fayette Road, immediately west of Shelburne Road,
from Commercial 1-Auto to Commercial 1-Residential 15
3) Redesignate land beginning ~75’ west of Fayette Road and ~280’ west of Fayette Road’s
planned extension, north of Old Orchard Park and south of the Chittenden County Humane
Society, from Commercial 1-Residential 15 to Commercial 1-Auto
B. LDR-22-08 Allow Municipal Uses in the Commercial 2 District
Brief Description and Findings Concerning the Proposed Amendments
The proposed amendments have been considered by the Planning Commission for their consistency
with the text, goals, and objectives of the City of South Burlington’s Comprehensive Plan, adopted
February 1, 2016. For each of the amendments, the Commission has addressed the following as
enumerated under 24 VSA 4441(c):
“…The report shall provide a brief explanation of the proposed bylaw, amendment, or repeal and shall
include a statement of purpose as required for notice under section 4444 of this title, and shall include
findings regarding how the proposal:
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(1) Conforms with or furthers the goals and policies contained in the municipal plan, including the
effect of the proposal on the availability of safe and affordable housing.
(2) Is compatible with the proposed future land uses and densities of the municipal plan.
(3) Carries out, as applicable, any specific proposals for any planned community facilities.”
A. LDR-22-07: Modify the Zoning Map in a manner generally described as follows:
Area 1: Redesignate land immediately north of Holmes Road from Commercial 1-Auto to
Commercial 2
Area 2: Redesignate land north and south of Fayette Road, immediately west of Shelburne
Road, from Commercial 1-Auto to Commercial 1-Residential 15
Area 3: Redesignate land beginning ~75’ west of Fayette Road and ~280’ west of Fayette
Road’s planned extension, north of Old Orchard Park and south of the Chittenden County
Humane Society, from Commercial 1-Residential 15 to Commercial 1-Auto
Brief explanation of the proposed amendment:
This amendment would modify the boundaries of three zoning districts on the west side of Shelburne
Road as described above and shown on the draft Map. Specifically:
In Area (1), allowed uses would be modified and residential base densities reduced on the subject
properties. Lot and building coverages and setbacks would not be affected. Two of the three involved
properties are presently approved for auto sales in the C1-Auto district; this use is allowed in the
Commercial 2 district as well. The third property is a municipal fire station. LDR-22-08 would continue
to permit that use.
In Area (2), auto sales would no longer allowed following a change from C1-Auto and C1-R15. No auto
sales uses are presently approved in the affected area.
In Area (3), auto sales would be newly allowed following a change from C1-R15 to C1-Auto. No auto
sales uses are presently approved in the affected area, but would become eligible.
Findings Concerning the Proposed Amendments
(1) Conforms with or furthers the goals and policies contained in the municipal plan, including the
effect of the proposal on the availability of safe and affordable housing.
The change would facilitate the re-use of properties presently laid out as large format retail
spaces to allow re-use or re-development for auto sales in an area removed from the primary
transportation network, Shelburne Road, disallow new auto sales in a portion of land
immediately west of Shelburne Road where mixed residential-commercial redevelopment is
ongoing.
The proposed changes are generally neutral to the availability of safe and affordable housing,
with both the C1-R15 and C1-Auto districts allowing a base residential density of 15 dwelling
units per acre. The re-alignment of these two districts would modify where auto sales are
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permitted, away from Shelburne Road, to west of Fayette Road. Shelburne Road is served by
transit. Parcels proposed to move from C1-Auto to C2 would have a reduced base residential
density, however two are currently auto sales and the third is a municipal fire station.
The 2016 Comprehensive Plan includes several goals and policies, described in the Plan as
objectives and strategies:
Comprehensive Plan Goals, Objectives & Strategies:
• Goal: Opportunity Oriented. Being a supportive and engaged member of the larger regional
and statewide community.
• Sub-Goal: Prioritize development that occurs within the community into the higher intensity
areas identified within this Plan;
• Objective 9: Be a good partner with business in helping them locate in South Burlington or
continue to grow here.
• Objective 39: The majority of all new development will occur within the Shelburne Road,
Williston Road, and Kennedy Drive Corridors, and other areas within the Transit service
area.
• Objective 54. Promote higher-density, mixed use development and redevelopment along
Shelburne Road and foster effective transitions to adjacent residential areas.
• Objective 55: Maintain Shelburne Road as a roadway for both regional and local circulation.
• Strategy 124: Review the city’s Land Development Regulations in key transition areas:
between the Southwest and Southeast Quadrants; between Swift Street and adjacent areas;
between Allen Road and adjacent areas.
(2) Is compatible with the proposed future land uses and densities of the municipal plan.
The proposed amendments would re-align zoning districts along the Shelburne Road corridor.
The amendments better align proposed future land uses with existing and planned
infrastructure, such as transit services, by re-locating allowable area for future auto sales and
repair, which tend to be land intensive, to areas further removed from Shelburne Road. Base
residential densities are affected on three parcels as noted above, however maximum density
through the use of TDRs (presently before City Council) and Inclusionary Zoning are unaffected.
(3) Carries out, as applicable, any specific proposals for any planned community facilities.
This proposed amendment does not relate directly to any planned community facilities.
B. LDR-22-08 Allow Municipal Uses in the Commercial 2 District
Brief explanation of the proposed amendment:
The proposed amendment would allow Municipal Facilities within the Commercial 2 district, located
in the southern half of the Shelburne Road corridor, a portion of Dorset Street north of Kennedy
Drive, and a portion of Patchen Road near Landfill Road.
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Findings Concerning the Proposed Amendments
(1) Conforms with or furthers the goals and policies contained in the municipal plan, including
the effect of the proposal on the availability of safe and affordable housing.
The proposed changes will not affect housing and will ensure that existing municipal facilities
along Shelburne Road implicated in LDR-22-07 remain allowed uses.
(2) Is compatible with the proposed future land uses and densities of the municipal plan.
The proposed changes would enable new municipal facilities within the Commercial 2 District.
The majority of the Commercial 2 District is well served by public transit and infrastructure, while
the one area not served by transit is located adjacent to the existing public work facility.
(3) Carries out, as applicable, any specific proposals for any planned community facilities.”
The proposed changes do not implicate any specific proposals for planned community facilities.