HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Natural Resources & Conservation Committee - 07/24/2023NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes for 07/24, 2023 6:00pm
Attending: Dave Wheeler (City Liaison), Jean Sebastien-Chaulot (Chr), Larry
Kupferman (Vice Chr), Linda Bailey, John Bossange, Lisa Yankowski, Katherine
Boyk, Michele Korpos, Christine Badalamenti Smith, Julian Keene, Hannah Saiger
(Intern –DPW)
Missing: Andrew Chalnick (City Council Liaison)
Public Attendees: Francis MacDonald & Ryan Doyle
1. Dave started the meeting and welcomed everyone.
2. No additions, or deletions to the agenda.
3. No comments from the public not related to the agenda.
4. Larry moved to adopt the meeting minutes from June 07, 2023, with a
slight amendment to strike some language. Linda 2nd.
a. Passed unanimously with deletion of #5b ii. New members abstained.
5. We welcomed our newest members to the committee - Christine
Badalamenti Smith & Julian Keene. We introduced ourselves and explained
some of the projects the NRCC has been involved with past and present.
6. Jean Sebastien-Chaulot was nominated for Chairperson, Larry Kupferman
as Vice Chair & Lisa Yankowski as the clerk. Larry made the motion, John
2nd.
a. Approved unanimously.
7. City update
a. Work and meetings continue of the City’s Plan.
b. The contractors for the stormwater work along Kennedy Dr have
been sent to aid with flooding issues. Vermont has been getting a lot
of rain that is causing issues. The public works crew went to aid
Montpelier.
8. Draft City Plan.
a. We received the current update to the Environment portion to
review. It was noted that many of the points we had submitted to
Kelsey had been included. We still have a few other comments.
i. Larry reference page 51, People & Population- Where are the
calculations coming from? Michele also wondered about 20
acres/1,000 people for open space- Are we at capacity? How
many people can actually live here? Adjustments can be
made by increasing density.
ii. Another area of concern is access to SB parks if you do not
drive. SB does have limited public transportation. Using public
transportation within SB is not the most convenient. All buses
to go to the Burlington Transportation hub first then out to
various destinations. Linda reminded us that public
transportation is non-existent in some parts of the city. Service
does not go out to Hubbard Natural Area. How do people get
there if they do not drive and live farther away? The plan calls
for increasing bus routes.
iii. We will submit our additional comments to Kelsey. Larry
moved to accept our comments, additions and changes and
any other changes Katherine deems important. Lisa 2nd.
Approved unanimously. Katherine will submit to Kelsey for us.
Note: A reminder to committee members- any
comments regarding other portions of the plan should
be sent to Kelsey directly or you can attend the
upcoming public sessions.
9. Tree Ordinance
a. Larry reminded we have 2 public attendees. Hannah has been
working on the ordinance in conjunction with what the state has and
with guidance from the city attorney. John feels we need to stress
protecting trees in areas to be developed. Anything in the public
right-of-way is already protected by the city. We can have some
control dependent on what is in the LDRs that developers use for
their plans. A charter change would be required to try and regulate
trees on private land. This what Lisa was able to find for developers:
South Burlington Land Development Regulations Article 13.04
G Landscaping Standards. (1) The Development Review Board shall require compliance with any Tree
Ordinance or Landscaping Design Standards enacted by the City of South Burlington, subsequent to the
effective date of these regulations. (2) Overall, there shall be a mix of large canopy tree species within
each landscaping p
I. Landscape Maintenance. Maintenance and responsibility. All planting shown on an
approved site plan shall be maintained by the property owner in a vigorous growing
condition throughout the duration of the use. Plants not so maintained shall be replaced
with new plants at the beginning of the next immediately following growing season. Trees
with a caliper of less than 5” may be replaced on an inch-by-inch basis with trees of the
same genus of at least 2” caliper each. No permit shall be required for such replacements
provided they conform to the approved site plan. Replacement of trees with a caliper of
greater than 5” shall require an amendment to the site plan
10. No member updates or reports tonight.
11. No other business.
NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2, 2023 AT 6PM
Next Agenda : Nick Longo- BTV – update on the noise mitigation green space
Work Plan
Resume work on the Open Space Plan
Review the proposed changes to the Tree Ordinance