HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Natural Resources & Conservation Committee - 06/06/2023NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
Meeng Minutes June 06, 2023 6:00 pm
Aending: Dave Wheeler: (Staff Liaison), Andrew Chalnick (City Council Liaison), Jean Sebasen-
Chaulot (Chr), Larry Kupferman (Vice Chr), Linda Bailey, Michele Korpos (remote), Katherine
Boyk, John Bossange, Lisa Yankowski
Guest aendees: Hannah Saiger & Jenna Abbey-Lowell (new interns with DPW)
Public Aendees: Michael Miag
1. Jean welcomed everyone. Jenna & Hannah were introduced. They are interns working
at Dept of Public Works under Dave. Jenna is under a Fellowship with UVM and Hannah
is from Brown University
2. No changes to the agenda.
3. Michael Miag had presented a leer regarding futur e hopes for the Hubbard Natural
Area, (formerly known as Underwood Park). He is hoping the NRCC will be an advocate
for keeping the park a natural area without paved parking, lighng, the proposed bike
path across or the observaon area.
a. A copy of the leer has been emailed to commiee me mbers.
4. Meeng minutes for May 03, 2023.
a. Larry mooned to approve, John 2 nd- approved unanimously.
5. City council & city updates.
a. City council
i. Andrew encouraged the commiee to “weigh in,” on th e Michael’s leer
aiming to protect the delicate eco-systems that exist at Hubbard. John
added as a member of the Land Trust, he has already wrien a leer in
support of preserving Hubbard. The Bike & Ped Commiee is pushing for
the 3 or 4 season path connecng Nowland Farm Road to South Village.
ii. The City Council passed an ordinance requiring new commercial buildings
to have solar panels to provide power for their operang needs.
Previously commercial buildings were required to set aside parts of their
roofs for possible addion of solar panels. Excep ons were built-in based
on the size, shape and structure of the roofs.
iii. Buffer zones along water ways were increased to 100D for beer
protecon from encroachment. This has been amended for some
residenal plots when it is a smaller lot and does not allow for the
addional 50D.
iv. Andrew updated us on S100 which requires areas served by municipal sewer
and water to allow development at 5 units/acre. With our lobbying efforts,
excluded from that requirement are areas that are:
· “within a zoning district or overlay district the purpose of which is natural resource
protecon”, and
· “that, through an approved Planned Unit Development under secon 4417 of this tle or
Transfer of Development Rights under secon 4423 of this tle, prohibit year-round
residenal development.”
With our lobbying efforts we also eliminated a provision which would have prevented municipalies
from enacng stricter energy codes than the State.
v. The Obrien Bros broke ground for the next phase of development off Old Farm
Road. The homes will be solar, and energy efficient.
vi. The city council has been interviewing prospecve n ew commiee members.
Yes, they had applicants for the NRCC.
vii. The next city council meeng on June 19, 2023, will include a discussion on the
Emerald Ash Borer. It has been found in SB.
b. City Update
i. Dave and his team are reworking the storm water ponds along Kennedy Dr.
6. FY Policy Priories & Strategies
a. We reviewed NRCC commiee goals for FY 2023. We re vised and updated them on the
excel sheet for FY 2024. Katherine moved to accept, Larry 2nd- approved unanimously.
See the aachment for the update for FY24.
7. Tree Ordinance
a. We are moving this item to the next meeng 07/05. Hannah & Jenna will be working on
the revised South Burlington Tree Ordinance. Send your thoughts, suggesons to Dave
and he will see informaon is given to the team.
8. Emerald Ash Borer
a. The city council heard a presentaon on preventave treatment from Greg of Teachers
Tree Service. The NRCC had requested some of the remaining ARPA funds to develop a
treatment plan for city Ash trees in conjuncon wit h the 15yr projecon for the
removal/replanng plan. So far 28 of about 600 hav e been removed. There has been
some interplanng done. The Emeral Ash Borer has b een idenfied in this area sooner
than hoped. The trees selected for treatment would need to be evaluated for health
and size. It would be wasted funds to treat a compromised tree. More funds need to be
approved. We have submied a previous leer promo ng treatment overme. We
need to write a new leer cing the previous one wi th more specific informaon. Larry
& Jean will work on the new leer.
We adjourned at 08:04pm
Next Meeng is July 05/2023 6pm
Next meeng agenda items:
- Tree Ordinance
- Vong for commiee chair, vice chair, clerk. Hopef ully our newly appointed reps will be
joining us