HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP-23-012 - Supplemental - 0705 Spear Street (2)Project description for the UVM Stage II Steel Storage, north of 705 Spear Street:
In 2019, UVM started construction on a major project, the Tarrant Multipurpose Events Center
at 147 Spear Street in the city of Burlington, after obtaining all necessary land use permits. In
March 2020, economic and social conditions changed suddenly and drastically with the onset of
the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The disruption included a complete work stoppage for a number of months, major unforeseen
expenses, and interruptions in construction supply chains. As a result, the University needed to
step back from active construction on this project, and UVM pivoted to phase the project. The
latest, recently completed phase includes interior renovations focused on Campus Recreation
and Wellness and a small addition to the Gutterson Field House for Athletic operations. This
phase was completed in 2022.
In 2020 the University received one shipment of large structural steel members, which we could
not use right away. It was not possible to store these on site, within the Athletics Campus. We
had to find a quick place to find temporary storage, in coordination with the City of South
Burlington. We obtained site plan approval and a zoning permit for this steel storage earlier this
year, at 650 Spear Street. Thank you for helping with this.
The University has not been able to restart construction yet. Another large portion of the steel
for this project has been sitting in the fabricator’s yard in Canada since 2020. UVM already
owns this steel and the fabricator has asked us to take it, by June 2023. We have looked for an
appropriate site, and what we have found so far is the proposed site. It does not impinge on
another active use right now. It is close to the first storage site, which is full and we will not be
able to combine the sites.
Although we have to ask for a permanent permit, we do not intend to permanently store the
steel members here or at the 650 Spear site. We plan to move all the steel within 3-5 years.
Because this is a relatively short term, we plan to not permanently impact the site. We have to
install gravel to stabilize the existing farm road and to stabilize the surface where the cranes
will install the steel. We plan to remove all the gravel as soon as the steel is placed. When we
are able to remove the steel, we will re-install the gravel, remove the steel, and then remove
the fence and all the gravel.
The steel will be visible from Spear Street, so we plan to install a 8’ chain link fence with woven
strips through the chain links, to screen the steel from public view. The steel will be up to 7’
high. The gate may be needed for occasional access to the stored steel. This will be a 12' double
gate that would allow equipment to access the space if necessary.
There will be no added traffic due to the steel storage. When we are ready to use the steel,
there will be a one-time removal of the steel via truck from the existing farm road on Spear St.
The estimated cost of the project is $100,000.