HomeMy WebLinkAboutSD-23-07 - Supplemental - 0600 Spear Street (57)#SD-23-07
Staff Comments
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CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
SD-23-07_Spear St #600_Spear FJT LLC_FP_2023-06-
06.docx
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & ZONING
Report preparation date: May 31, 2023
Plans received: April 18, 2023
600 Spear Street
Final Plat Application #SD-23-07
Meeting date: June 6, 2023
Owner/Applicant
600 Spear FJT, LLC
c/o Frank Von Turkovich
1 National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604
Property Information
Tax Parcel 1640-00600
Residential 4 Zoning District
8.63 acres
Engineer
TCE
478 Blair Park Road
Williston, VT 05495
Location Map
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Final plat application #SD-23-07 of 600 Spear FJT, LLC for a planned unit development on an existing 8.66
acre lot developed with 7,000 sf storage building and single family home. The planned unit
development consists of one 6.10 acre lot containing 32 dwelling units in four-family buildings, a 1.80
acre lot containing the storage building and existing single family home proposed to be converted to a
duplex, and a third lot containing proposed city streets, 600 Spear Street.
PERMIT HISTORY
The most recent approval for the property was in 1983, which refers to a single family home and a
construction business and prohibits automobile repair and sales.
The 2006 UVM Master Plan refers to the parcel north of this property as the Miller Research Complex,
and the parcel south of this property as the Deslauriers 1963 and 1980 Tracts, and envisions continued
agricultural uses for these locations for the present time. These parcels are located in the Institutional &
Agricultural zoning districts.
The sketch plan was reviewed on October 20, 2021, and the preliminary plat was approved on April 21,
2023.
CONTEXT
The property is located in the Residential 4 Zoning District and includes lands within the Interstate
Highway Overlay district. The property has an inherent density of 34 dwelling units, with the potential
for an affordable housing density bonus of 4 to 9 units (allowing a total of 42 to 51 units) if the
affordable units are income restricted to families earning no more than 80% AMI. At this time the
applicant has not chosen to include affordable units.
The applicant obtained City Council approval for an exemption from interim zoning with IZ-20-02. Since
the preliminary plat was submitted on May 24, 2021, the application is subject to the Land Development
Regulations effective December 28, 2020.
COMMENTS
Development Review Planner Marla Keene and Director of Planning and Zoning Paul Conner (“Staff”)
have reviewed the plans submitted on 4/18/2023 and offer the following comments. Numbered items
for the Board’s attention are in red.
A) ZONING DISTRICT AND DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS
Setbacks, Coverages & Lot Dimensions
The project will consist of three lots: the lot containing the existing commercial building to remain, the lot
proposed to be dedicated to the City as a public right-of-way, and the eastern lot proposed for 24 homes in
six buildings, and open space. The applicant has indicated an intent to install a solar PV array across a
portion of this easternmost lot, between the homes and the Interstate. The maximum lot coverage is 40%
for residential use and 20% for non-residential use. The Board found given the large portion of the lot
reserved for solar field (which are not subject to local regulations pursuant to 24 VSA 4413(b), and
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incidentally, only the supports would be considered as contributing to lot coverage), the allowable lot and
building coverages were likely to be met, but required the applicant to demonstrate compliance with
dimensional standards at the final plat stage of review.
Swift Street
Zoning District
Required Existing Proposed Lot 1 Proposed
Lot 2
√ Min. Lot Size 6,000 s.f./unit residential,
40,000 s.f. non-residential
8.63 ac
√ Max. Building
Height
28’ 22’ commercial,
28’ residential
22’ commercial,
28’ residential
24.5 ft.
√ Max. Building
Coverage
20% Residential; 30%
Non-residential
3%
Max. Overall
Coverage
40% Residential; 60%
Non-residential
6%
√ Max Front
Setback Cov.
30% Non-residential See note.
√ Min. Front
Setback, Spear St
50 ft. from Planned ROW
(Total 58 ft.)
72 ft. 72 ft. n/a
Min. Front
Setback, all other
streets
Waiver to 10 ft. approved
at preliminary plat
N/A 10 ft 10 ft
√ Min. Side
Setback
10 ft. Appx 10’ Appx. 10’ 55 ft
√ Min. Rear
Setback
30 ft. Appx. 925’ N/A Appx. 550
ft
√ Zoning compliance
Note: The property includes an approved commercial use. The portion of the existing front setback
coverage for the commercial use is far less than 30%. The proposed use of the building is a common
space for residents. The Board determined at preliminary plat that the proposed use of the building
will no longer qualify as commercial.
B) SITE PLAN REVIEW STANDARDS
14.6 General Review Standards
Section 14.06 of the South Burlington Land Development Regulations establishes the following general
review standards for all site plan applications:
A. Relationship of Proposed Development to the City of South Burlington Comprehensive Plan. Due
attention by the applicant should be given to the goals and objectives and the stated land use
policies for the City of South Burlington as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan.
The Board at preliminary plat found this criterion met.
B. Relationship of Proposed Structures to the Site.
(1) The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition from structure to site, from
structure to structure, and to provide for adequate planting, safe pedestrian movement,
and adequate parking areas.
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The applicant has provided elevations for the proposed buildings, which are all proposed to have
the same architecture. The Board found at preliminary plat that the buildings generally have a
strong relationship to one another and to the street, with some exceptions discussed under
14.07F below. Pedestrian movement is discussed under PUD criterion 8 and 9 below. Plantings
are discussed below under Site Plan Review Criterion 14.07D.
For 32 one-bedroom homes in multi-family structures, 30 parking spaces are required. The
applicant is proposing 67 off-street parking spaces and eight on-street parking spaces.
(2) Parking:
(a) Parking shall be located to the rear or sides of buildings. Any side of a building facing a
public street shall be considered a front side of a building for the purposes of this subsection.
The Board found this criterion met at preliminary plat. No changes affecting compliance
with this criterion are proposed.
(3) Without restricting the permissible limits of the applicable zoning district, the height and
scale of each building shall be compatible with its site and existing or anticipated adjoining
buildings.
The Board found this criterion met at preliminary plat. No changes affecting compliance
with this criterion are proposed.
C. Relationship of Structures and Site to Adjoining Area.
(1) The Development Review Board shall encourage the use of a combination of common
materials and architectural characteristics (e.g., rhythm, color, texture, form or detailing),
landscaping, buffers, screens and visual interruptions to create attractive transitions
between buildings of different architectural styles.
(2) Proposed structures shall be related harmoniously to themselves, the terrain and to existing
buildings and roads in the vicinity that have a visual relationship to the proposed structures.
At the preliminary plat hearing, the Board discussed with the applicant that the existing steel
building to remain does not relate well to the proposed structures. The Board concluded that
in order to meet these criteria, modifications to the existing steel building to remain are
necessary. The Board and applicant reviewed several potential avenues to improve
compliance. The intention of the modifications is to make the building appear as part of this
project rather than a vestige from the prior use of the site. The applicant has proposed
modifications to the interior and exterior of the building, described in an Architectural Memo
and shown on the project plans.
1. Staff recommends the Board invite the applicant to present how they believe the proposed
modifications successfully integrate the existing building into the project in both form and function,
and for the Board to determine if they find these criteria met.
14.07 Specific Review Standards
In all Zoning Districts and the City Center Form Based Codes District, the following standards shall apply:
A. Access to Abutting Properties. The reservation of land may be required on any lot for provision
of access to abutting properties whenever such access is deemed necessary to reduce curb cuts onto an
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arterial or collector street, to provide additional access for emergency or other purposes, or to improve
general access and circulation in the area.
The Board at preliminary plat found the north-south roadway and sidewalks must be extended to the
northern and southern property boundary as part of the final plat application. The applicant has made
this modification.
The applicant has provided a draft irrevocable offer of dedication (IROD) and warranty deed for the
future public roadway which must be reviewed and approved by the City attorney prior to issuance of a
zoning permit for the proposed roadway. As noted by the Director of Public Works at the preliminary
plat stage of review, the City may not choose to exercise the offer until such time that the streets
connect to future to be public streets. As presently constituted just within this development, the streets
serve more as internal drives than city streets that exist to the good of the general public. Maintaining
the streets in the winter would also be problematic under the current proposal given the demarcation
point between proposed public and private streets.
At preliminary plat, the applicant testified that they have negotiated with the adjacent property owner to
the south to allow the proposed ROW to be located partially on the adjoining land. The draft legal
document conveys the land to the applicant but does not permit the applicant to convey the necessary
land to the City of South Burlington.
2. Since this is a proposed public road, the applicant must revise their easement document to allow
the applicant to convey the lands on the adjoining land to the City of South Burlington. Staff considers
this can be a condition of approval, but recommends the Board confirm with the applicant that they
will be able to make the necessary changes, since this is a critical element of the project.
B. Utility Services. Electric, telephone and other wire-served utility lines and service connections
shall be underground insofar as feasible and subject to state public utilities regulations. Any utility
installations remaining above ground shall be located so as to have a harmonious relation to
neighboring properties and to the site. Standards of Section 15.13, Utility Services, shall also be met.
Wire served utilities are proposed to be underground. The proposed electrical transformer is not screened.
The applicant has screened the transformer as required under 13.06. Staff considers this criterion met.
C. Disposal of Wastes. All dumpsters and other facilities to handle solid waste, including
compliance with any recycling, composting, or other requirements, shall be accessible, secure and
properly screened with opaque fencing to ensure that trash and debris do not escape the enclosure(s). Small receptacles intended for use by households or the public (ie, non-dumpster, non-large drum) shall
not be required to be fenced or screened.
The Board found this criterion met at preliminary plat. No changes affecting compliance with this criterion
are proposed.
D. Landscaping and Screening Requirements. See Article 13, Section 13.06 Landscaping, Screening,
and Street Trees.
Pursuant to Section 13.06(A) of the proposed Land Development Regulations, landscaping and screening
shall be required for all uses subject to planned unit development review. The minimum landscape
requirement for this project is determined by Table 13-9 of the South Burlington Land Development
Regulations.
The applicant estimates the building cost to be $4,000,000. The required minimum landscape value
would therefore be $47,500.
The applicant has provided $82,605 in trees and shrubs, perennials, and a large quantity of plantings in
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the stormwater treatment areas. Street trees valued at $24,730 are not considered as contributing to the
required minimum landscaping cost and are not included in the above numbers. Required minimum
landscaping costs are met.
Several additional landscaping standards apply to this property, as follows.
13.06B Landscaping of Parking Areas
All off-street parking areas subject to review by the Development Review Board shall be curbed
and landscaped with appropriate trees, shrubs and other plans including ground covers as
approved by the Development Review Board.
(1) All off-street parking areas shall be landscaped around the perimeter of the lot with trees,
shrubs and other plants. Perimeter planting shall be set back from the curb sufficiently to
allow for snow storage. The purpose of perimeter planting shall be to mitigate the view of
the parking lot from the public way and from adjacent uses and properties, and to provide
shade and canopy for the parking lot. In some situations it may be necessary both for
surveillance purposes and for the perception of safety to install the size and type of plants
that leave visual access between the parking lot to the public way or other pedestrian areas.
The applicant has placed great emphasis on creating a courtyard configuration consistent with
current land development regulations, with transitions between private but visually
accessible space (a deck, stoop or porch), semi-private space (plantings, yard area that would
be used predominantly by a unit’s residents), and common space (the civic space). This
configuration has not resulted in much space for perimeter plantings. The applicant has
located deciduous trees along both northern and southern parking areas at the exterior of
the lot. The Board found at preliminary plat that the applicant must improve compliance with
this criterion by providing additional plantings to screen the northwestern parking lot, both
from the adjacent parcel to the north and from the existing home to the west. Staff considers
the condition of preliminary plat to have been addressed.
(2) In all parking areas containing twenty-eight (28) or more contiguous parking spaces and/or
in parking lots with more than a single circulation lane, at least ten percent (10%) of the
interior of the parking lot shall be landscaped islands planted with trees, shrubs and other
plants. Such requirement shall not apply to structured parking or below-ground parking.
This criterion is not applicable; all proposed parking areas contain 28 or fewer parking spaces.
(3) All interior and perimeter planting shall be protected by curbing unless specifically designed
as a collection and treatment area for management of stormwater runoff as per
13.06(B)(5)(c) below. Interior planted islands shall have a minimum dimension of six (6) feet
on any one side, and shall have a minimum square footage of sixty (60) square feet. Large
islands are encouraged.
The Board at preliminary plat included a finding requiring the portions of the north western
parking area adjacent to the landscaping area and the portion of the north eastern parking
area adjacent to the sidewalk to be curbed. The applicant has addressed this condition of
preliminary plat.
(4) Landscaping Requirements
(a) Landscaping shall include a variety of trees, shrubs, grasses and ground covers. All
planting shall be species hardy for the region and, if located in areas receiving road runoff or
salt spray, shall be salt-tolerant.
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The City Arborist reviewed the plans, and Staff shared the comments with the applicant. The
applicant updated the plans on May 25, and Staff considers the comments to have been
addressed.
(b) At least one (1) major deciduous shade tree shall be provided within or near the
perimeter of each parking area, for every five (5) parking spaces. The trees shall be placed evenly
throughout the parking lot to provide shade and reduce glare. Trees shall be placed a minimum
of thirty (30) feet apart.
The Board at preliminary plat required the applicant to address this criterion is not met for the
south western parking area. The Board finds the applicant must revise their plans to meet this
criterion as part of the application for final plat.
(c) Trees shall have a caliper equal to or greater than two and one-half (2 ½) inches when
measured on the tree stem, six (6) inches above the root ball.
This criterion is met for the parking lot shade trees.
(6) Snow storage areas must be specified and located in an area that minimizes the potential
for erosion and contaminated runoff into any adjacent or nearby surface waters.
3. Staff recommends the Board require the applicant to remove the snow storage area from the tree
bed north of Building 3 as a condition of approval. Staff considers there is adequate snow storage
without this area. While it ultimately is the applicant’s responsibility to maintain landscaping in a
vigorous growing condition, Staff considers the conditions of approval should be such that the
applicant is likely to be able to meet this responsibility.
13.06C Screening or Buffering
(1) All off-street parking areas, off-street loading areas, outdoor storage areas, refuse,
recycling, and compost collection (excluding on-site composting) areas, and utility
improvements such as transformer(s), external heating and cooling equipment shall be
effectively screened.
(2) Such screening shall be a permanently maintained landscape of evergreen or a mix of
evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, and/or a solid fence.
(3) The landscaping shall be designed to minimize erosion and stormwater runoff, and to
protect neighboring residential properties from the view of uses and parking areas on the
site. The landscaping shall be of such type, height, and spacing, as in the judgment of the Development Review Board, will effectively screen the activities on the lot from the view of
persons standing on adjoining properties. The plan and specifications for such planting shall
be filed with the approved plan for the use of the lot.
(4) A solid wall or fence, of location, height, and design approved by the Development Review
Board, may be substituted for the required planting.
(5) Modifications. Where the existing topography and/or landscaping provides adequate
screening or would render the normally required screening inadequate, the Development Review
Board may modify the planting and/or buffer requirements by, respectively, decreasing or
increasing the requirements.
Screening of transformers is discussed under 14.07B above. Screening of parking areas is discussed
under 13.06B above.
E. Modification of Standards. Except within the City Center Form Based Code District, where the
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limitations of a site may cause unusual hardship in complying with any of the standards above and
waiver therefrom will not endanger the public health, safety or welfare, the Development Review Board may modify such standards as long as the general objectives of Article 14 and the City's Comprehensive
Plan are met. However, in no case shall the DRB permit the location of a new structure less than five (5)
feet from any property boundary and in no case shall be the DRB allow land development creating a
total site coverage exceeding the allowable limit for the applicable zoning district in the case of new
development, or increasing the coverage on sites where the pre-existing condition exceeds the
applicable limit.
No modification of standards beyond the front setback waiver discussed above has been requested.
F Low Impact Development. The use of low impact site design strategies that minimize site
disturbance, and that integrate structures, landscaping, natural hydrologic functions, and various other
techniques to minimize runoff from impervious surfaces and to infiltrate precipitation into underlying
soils and groundwater as close as is reasonable practicable to where it hits the ground, is required
pursuant to the standards contained within Article 12.
The project is proposing a distributed stormwater management system consisting of five treatment areas.
This represents a further consolidation of stormwater treatment when compared to the preliminary plat
plans. The City Stormwater section reviewed the plans, provided feedback, and the applicant submitted
revised plans on May 25, 2023. The City Stormwater section reviewed the revised plans on May 30, 2023
and offers the following comments.
1. Sheet C3-03: Pipe from DMH 5 to Gravel Wetland 4 conflicts with solar field fence. Please ensure
clear access to entire length of pipe for future maintenance.
Applicant Response: This pipe has been realigned to avoid conflict with the solar field
fence. See updated C3-03 Stormwater Utility Plan in the revised plan set.
2. City follow-up comment: No updated sheet C3-03 was received. On C2-00, C2-03, C4-02 and
others, the pipe was still shown in conflict.
3. Sheet C8-402:
a. Gravel wetland detail: 6” perforated subdrain is called out as wrapped in fabric. Please
remove fabric detail to minimize clogging.
b. Perforated riser detail: please provide justification for fabric around perforated riser.
Applicant Response: Fabric has been removed from both the subdrain and riser details.
See updated Sheet C8-402, attached.
City follow-up comment: The Gravel Wetland – Typical Section detail on C8-402 still has a note to
wrap the 6” underdrain in fabric.
4. EPSC: please consider using the footprints of the gravel wetlands as temporary sediment basins
during construction.
Applicant Response: Sheet C5-01 has been updated to include use of the gravel
wetland footprints as temporary sediment basins during construction.
City follow-up comment: The callout provided is very vague. Notes/details should be provided to
make it clear to the contractor that the footprint of the gravel wetland can be used as a
temporary sediment basin during construction and then reconstructed into a gravel wetland
once the contributing drainage area is stabilized. The Vermont Standards and Specifications for
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Erosion Prevention & Sediment Control also provide additional details on Temporary Sediment
Basins.
Staff recommends the Board require the applicant to address the comments of the City Stormwater
Section as a condition of approval.
G. Standards for Roadways, Parking and Circulation. Standards of Section 15.12 Standards for
Roadways, Parking, and Circulation shall be met.
Relevant criteria of 15.12 are as follows.
15.12 Standards for Roadways, Parking and Circulation
A. Street Layout. The arrangement of streets in the subdivision shall provide for the continuation
of arterial, collector and local streets of adjoining subdivisions and for proper projection of arterial,
collector and local streets through adjoining properties that are not yet subdivided, in order to make
possible necessary fire protection, movement of traffic and construction or extension, presently or when
later required, of needed utilities and public services such as recreation paths, sewers, water and
drainage facilities. Where, in the opinion of the Development Review Board, topographic or other
conditions make such continuance undesirable or impracticable, the above conditions may be modified.
In no case shall gates of any kind be permitted across public or private roads, or driveways serving more than one dwelling unit.
With the sidewalk modifications noted above, Staff considers this criterion will be met.
D. Criteria for Public and Private Roadways.
(3) Private roadways allowed. The DRB may at its discretion approve a roadway or roadways
within a subdivision or PUD to be private if one or more of the following situations applies:
(d) The proposed roadway has only one (1) point of access on another existing or proposed
public roadway, and serves nine (9) or fewer dwelling units in any combination of single-family,
duplex or multi-family dwellings.
(f) The homes built on a private roadway must be sprinklered to the satisfaction of the
South Burlington Fire Chief. All proposed sprinkler systems must be reviewed and agreed upon
prior to plat approval. This requirement may be waived be the DRB upon recommendation by
the City of South Burlington Fire Chief.
The Board found this criterion met at preliminary plat. No changes affecting compliance with this criterion
are proposed.
E. Standards for Construction of Roadways
(1) All streets shall be constructed completely by the applicant.
(2) All public roadways shall be built to the specifications in Table 15-1,Figure 15-1, and the
Transect Zone Street Typologies contained within Article 11 unless specifically authorized otherwise
by the DRB in its final approval of the subdivision or PUD.
Local roads are required to have a 50-ft ROW with a minimum pavement width of 28-ft including
parking. The applicant has proposed 20-ft of drive lane and 8-ft of parking where parking exists. See
comments regarding right of way dedication above.
The required 5-ft of green space between the street and the sidewalk has been provided.
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It appears that the sidewalks across the private driveways are at grade and the road comes to meet
them, which is consistent with DPW specifications for driveways. If the sidewalks instead are tipped
down at the curb, a detectable warning must be provided.
4. Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant to clarify both verbally during the hearing and as a
condition of approval by adding spot grades to the plan.
(3) All private roadways shall be built to the specifications set forth in this section with the
exception of curbing and widths. All private roadways shall be a minimum width of twenty-six (26)
feet with parking and twenty (20) feet without parking.
The Board found this criterion met at preliminary plat. No changes affecting compliance with this
criterion are proposed.
C) PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
(1) Sufficient water supply and wastewater disposal capacity is available to meet the needs of the
project in conformance with applicable State and City requirements, as evidenced by a City water
allocation, City wastewater allocation, and/or Vermont Water and Wastewater Permit from the
Department of Environmental Conservation.
The South Burlington Water Department reviewed the provided plans on May 30, 2023 and offers
the following comments.
1. Water lines outside the City ROW are considered private. Access must be granted to the SBWD
to perform routine maintenance and access to building shut-offs for planned, unplanned, and
disconnection purposes.
Sheet Specific Comments-Plan Sheet C3-02
1. Remove the second 4” gate valve before each flushing hydrant as they are duplicates.
2. The water main on the incoming road off Spear Street still shows 8”C900. Is this supposed to be
8” DI?
3. See CWD Specs for service line material requirements.
4. Contact Nate Pion, CWD Chief Engineer for comments regarding the bike path connection over
the CWD transmission main on Spear St.
5. Water Details must be those found in the CWD Specifications. The Department will not accept
any pipe or material that is not in compliance with the CWD Specifications.
6. Additional comments are found directly on the Wastewater and Water Utility Plan, Sheet C3-02.
The applicant has received preliminary water and wastewater allocation.
Staff recommends the Board require the applicant to address the comments of the South Burlington
Water Department as a condition of approval. Staff notes the applicant has obtained concurrence
of Nate Pion, CWD Chief Engineer, and the South Burlington Deputy Director of Capital Projects for
the design of the bike path connection over the CWD transmission main.
(2) Sufficient grading and erosion controls will be utilized during construction and after construction
to prevent soil erosion and runoff from creating unhealthy or dangerous conditions on the subject
property and adjacent properties. In making this finding, the DRB may rely on evidence that the
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project will be covered under the General Permit for Construction issued by the Vermont
Department of Environmental Conservation.
The project will disturb more than one acre of land and therefore will be required to obtain a state
General Permit for construction. Comments related to erosion prevention and sediment control are
incorporated into the Stormwater Section’s comments above.
(3) The project incorporates access, circulation and traffic management strategies sufficient to
prevent unreasonable congestion of adjacent roads. In making this finding the DRB may rely on
the findings of a traffic study submitted by the applicant, and the findings of any technical review
by City staff or consultants.
The project is calculated as generating 25 vehicle trips per PM peak hour. 15.12F requires the project
not result in level of service below “D” at the adjacent major roadway, and at the nearest signalized
intersections. The Board finds no detailed traffic study to be necessary for this project.
The applicant is proposing a crosswalk on Spear Street at the entrance to the project connecting to
the existing recreation path. The City Council decision granting interim zoning exception (IZ-20-02)
found that the applicant must include a Repeating Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB), or other
infrastructure designed to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle crossing from the subject parcel to the
Spear Street recreation path in its application to the Development Review Board. A connection and
RRFB has been provided.
5. The Board at preliminary plat included a requirement that the applicant propose a timeline for its
completion relative to the number of homes constructed at the final plat stage of review. This has not
been done. Staff recommends the Board ask the applicant to propose a timeline, and determine
whether it is acceptable, prior to closing the hearing.
(4) The project’s design respects and will provide suitable protection to wetlands, streams, wildlife
habitat as identified in the Open Space Strategy, and any unique natural features on the site. In
making this finding the DRB shall utilize the provisions of Article 12 of these Regulations related to
wetlands and stream buffers, and may seek comment from the Natural Resources Committee with
respect to the project’s impact on natural resources.
The project is proposed to impact two areas of Class III wetlands and buffers. The Board found this
criterion met at preliminary plat. No changes affecting compliance with this criterion are proposed.
(5) The project is designed to be visually compatible with the planned development patterns in the
area, as specified in the Comprehensive Plan and the purpose of the zoning district(s) in which it is
located.
Visual compatibility and compatibility with the comprehensive plan are addressed in accordance with
14.06A above.
(6) Open space areas on the site have been located in such a way as to maximize opportunities for
creating contiguous open spaces between adjoining parcels and/or stream buffer areas.
The Board at preliminary plat found the applicant must propose a timeline for completion of the
interior commons area relative to the number of homes constructed as part of the application for final
plat.
The applicant has proposed a phasing plan on sheet C2-04. Staff supports the proposed phasing.
(7) The layout of a subdivision or PUD has been reviewed by the Fire Chief or his designee to insure
that adequate fire protection can be provided, with the standards for approval including, but not
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be limited to, minimum distance between structures, street width, vehicular access from two
directions where possible, looping of water lines, water flow and pressure, and number and location of hydrants. All aspects of fire protection systems shall be designed and installed in
accordance with applicable codes in all areas served by municipal water.
The Fire Marshal’s office reviewed the provided plans on April 21, 2023 and indicated that due to
the narrower width of the east-west segment of roadway, no parking signs should be provided on
both sides of the street. The applicant has addressed this comment and incorporated no parking
signs into the plans.
(8) Roads, recreation paths, stormwater facilities, sidewalks, landscaping, utility lines and lighting
have been designed in a manner that is compatible with the extension of such services and
infrastructure to adjacent properties.
(9) Roads, utilities, sidewalks, recreation paths, and lighting are designed in a manner that is
consistent with City utility and roadway plans and maintenance standards, absent a specific
agreement with the applicant related to maintenance that has been approved by the City Council.
Most of the elements of these criteria are discussed elsewhere in this document. The Director of Public
Works provided the following comments on May 5, 2023.
• The applicant is informed, and understands, that this pump station and force main will remain
privately owned. The City will not take responsibility for a force main that runs under the
interstate.
• The applicant must coordinate with CWD and the City of South Burlington to design a connection
to the path on Spear Street that meets ADA standards and reasonably accommodates the CWD
transmission main in this location.
Proposed lighting fixtures for the public street are not consistent with City standards.
City policy is to limit illumination except at street intersections. The applicant’s proposed lighting
plan is consistent with this policy.
Private lighting fixtures and illumination levels appear to meet the requirements of the LDR.
(10) The project is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan for the
affected district(s).
A discussion of consistency with Comprehensive Plan is provided under site plan review standards
above.
(11) The project’s design incorporates strategies that minimize site disturbance and integrate
structures, landscaping, natural hydrologic functions, and other techniques to generate less runoff
from developed land and to infiltrate rainfall into underlying soils and groundwater as close as
possible to where it hits the ground.
See discussion above under Site Plan Review standard pertaining to Low Impact Development.
D) OTHER
Energy Standards
Staff notes that all new buildings are subject to the Stretch Energy Code pursuant to Section 3.15:
Residential and Commercial Building Energy Standards of the LDRs. In addition, new buildings must
comply with the City Heating Ordinance. These standards apply to buildings for which zoning permits
#SD-23-07
Staff Comments
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have not yet been applied, regardless under which LDR they were approved.
13.14 Bicycle Parking and Storage
One short-term space is required for every 10 units, or 4 spaces. These spaces must be located near
building entrances. In July, the applicant indicated they intend to provide two long-term bicycle parking
spaces per unit, which exceeds the minimum required long term bicycle parking by 32 spaces. The
applicant may apply excess long-term bicycle parking towards up to 50% of the minimum required short
term bicycle parking. Therefore the applicant must provide two short-term bicycle parking spaces. It
appears the applicant has provided two short-term bicycle parking spaces per building, for a total of 16,
as well as two short-term bicycle parking spaces at the existing building to remain. Long-term bicycle
parking spaces are required to be distributed between uses and entrances. Staff considers bicycle
parking standards to be met.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Board work with the applicant to address the issues identified herein.
Respectfully submitted,
Marla Keene, Development Review Planner