Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/21/2006CITY COUNCIL 21 FEBRUARY 2006 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 21 February 2006, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: J. Condos, Chair; C. Smith, M. Boucher, S. Magowan, D. O'Rourke Also Present: D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; J. B. Hinds, Director of Planning & Zoning: D. Boyle, R. Kay, M. Beaudin, T. Duff, Planning Commission; A. Parent, The Other Paper; Channel 17; D. Scheuer 1. Comments & Questions from the Public not related to Agenda Items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements and City Manager's Report: Mr. Smith: Has sent comments to the Regional Planning Commission regarding their housing needs statement. Mr. Condos: Reminded members of Budget meeting on Thursday, 7 p.m. Mr. Gravelin: CCTA Board meeting on 22 February will be attended by Bill Wessel. Channel 17 Board meeting tomorrow. Meeting Thursday Feb. 23, 2006- with State Health Dept re: quarantine/isolation Group on pandemic bird flu. Meeting in Waterbury re: 8 a.m., 02/28 strategy for TIF districts. Burlington Community Land Trust meeting, Thursday, 6 p.m. Legislative Breakfast, 6 March, 7:30 a.m. The next Council agenda will include a new floor plan and cost estimates for the proposed Police building. Special meeting, 9 March for the second public hearing on revisions to the Comprehensive Plan and first reading of zoning changes for the Southeast Quadrant, 7 p.m. 3. First Public Hearing on update and amendment to South Burlington Comprehensive Plan; New Southeast Quadrant Chapter and other amendments to Plan: Mr. Condos opened the Public Hearing. Ms. Hinds indicated that there is a newly proposed Chapter 8 (Southeast Quadrant) and other amendments related to that chapter. The existing format has been maintained so the whole document reads the same. The chapter includes a new section on housing patterns and demands. The biggest change is in the recommended actions; however, Mr. Hinds pointed out, these changes actually carry out the aims of the existing Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Hinds then introduced members of the Planning Commission and invited their comments as she reviewed the changes. Ms. Hinds began by briefly reviewing changes to maps including a map of "natural communities and buffers around these areas. She said these areas will become the cornerstone of new SEQ zoning. Mr. Kay explained how the plan was intended to preserve open space and still allow for needed housing. Ms. Hinds noted that views have been downplayed in this draft. The City has protected what are deemed to be the most important views from public roadways. There has been significant litigation regarding views. There is a height limit proposed with no allowance for waiving this limit. The plan includes a discussion of affordable housing and what has limited the ability to provide it. There is a substantial policy change regarding infrastructure. The last piece of the water system will be on Hinesburg Road, looped back toward the city. There had been a plan to run wastewater lines all the way to the Shelburne Town Line. This is no longer on the recommended public utilities map. This area will be a conservation area. Ms. Hinds noted there would have significant costs involved in pumping from this area to the Airport Parkway sewage treatment facility. Mr. Boucher asked about provision for a school as the SEQ becomes a population center. Mr. Kay said there is a site identified on the map. Mr. Condos suggested language indicating that a site will be finalized in the future. Regarding east-west and neighborhood connector roads, Ms. Hinds said the proposed plan reaffirms that proposed roadways are intended to be built. The only road removed from the plan is the one that would have gone from Autumn Hill Road east to Hinesburg Road. Ms. Hinds then reviewed some of the main objectives of the plan revision as follows: 1. preserve areas of ecological significance 2. create a cohesive open space system 3. identify Spear St. as a collector road 4. identify Dorset St. as a main road with a suitable profile (a Dorset St. Corridor study (similar to what was done for Spear St.) is being planned) Ms. Hinds said that if this plan builds out, there would be a substantial change from Midland Ave to Old Cross Road. She added that with wetlands being conserved in Shelburne, there would be significant open space area from Irish Hill Road to the 4 corners. Above that, there will be a much different look. Mr. Beaudin said he felt the proposed density is very low if South Burlington thinks of itself as a city, but he also felt there is room for increased densities in the future. Ms. Hinds then reviewed the Recommended Actions in the proposed amendments as follows: 1. promote new futures agriculture (community agriculture) 2. continue to promote TDR's among non-contiguous parcels (Ms. Hinds noted there had been a thought to change some zoning in the I-O District to Residential to absorb some of the TDR units, but this is not being recommended at this time. There is an option to reconsider this in the future) 3. strongly discourage land use based solely on the nature of soils 4. support reconsideration of previously permitted projects to see if they can be brought more in line with goals 5. cooperate with Shelburne & Williston 6. maintain base 1.2 density 7. create neighborhoods with 4/acre and 8/acre densities 8. consider a gas station as an allowable use (Ms. Hinds noted that the Planning Commission had rejected this) City Council members asked that this be removed. 9. create a mixed use area near Hinesburg Road (this is proposed on the new zoning map 10. insure that truck-intensive uses are located sufficient distance from residential neighborhoods 11. encourage a mixture of housing types 12. establish a 45-foot height limit for residential structures with no provision for height waiver 13. encourage but do not require affordable housing in new neighborhoods and work to extend public transit to serve affordable units 14. designate restricted/TDR sending areas (in the Natural Resource Protection Zone) 15. create a 300-foot buffer around the Great Swamp and Cheese Factory Road natural areas 16. create a 300-foot buffer around other primary restricted areas 17. adopt measures to insure open space connectivity 18. consult the Arrowwood Study for recommendations Mr. O'Rourke was concerned that a lot of good developments might struggle for approval with some of this language, especially the "natural communities" language. Ms. Hinds agreed to work with Mr. O'Rourke to address his concerns. Ms. Hinds then noted that in the Public Utilities section there are provision to limit disturbance in natural areas and to create a new water storage site. Ms. Hinds asked members if they want language requiring rec paths to be a minimum of 10 feet instead of 8 feet wide. Mr. Condos favored 10 feet. Ms. Hinds felt this would be tough in some neighborhoods. A majority of members favored 8 to 10 feet. Ms. Hinds noted that the Transportation Section continues to recommend a full interchange at Hinesburg Road. It also encourages working with Williston to manage traffic on Williston Road and working with Addison and Chittenden Counties on the Route 116 study. Following the presentation, Mr. Condos asked for public comment. There were no issues raised. Mr. Smith moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Review Development Review Board Agenda for meeting of 21 February 2006: No issues were raised. 5. Review and approve minutes from regular meeting on 17 January 2006: Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Minutes of 17 January 2006 as written. Mr. Boucher seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Review and approve minutes from regular meeting of 6 February 2006: Mr. O'Rourke moved to approve the Minutes of 6 February as written. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement orders were signed. 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.