HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Development Review Board - 08/01/2023DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD 1 AUGUST 2023
The South Burlington Development Review Board held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 1
August 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street, and via Go to
Meeting interactive technology.
MEMBERS PRESENT: D. Philibert, Chair; F. Kochman, Q. Mann, J. Moscatelli
ALSO PRESENT: M. Keene, Development Review Planner; M. Gillies, Planner; D. Marshall, C.
Douglass, T. Doyle, E. Darling, A. Hassler, D. DiSano, J. Rustad, C. Wielenga
1. Instructions on exiting the building in case of an emergency:
Ms. Philibert provided instructions on emergency exit from the building.
2. Additions, deletions, or changes in order of agenda items:
No changes were made to the agenda.
3. Comments and questions from the public not related to the Agenda:
No issues were raised.
4. Announcements:
Ms. Keene advised that the City Council will post the DRB vacancy and will do interviews in
September. They have authorized the DRB to have a temporary member, someone who has
served previously on the Board.
5. Site Plan Application #SP-23-031 of Craig Wielenga to amend a previously
approved plan for a 5,620 sf place of worship. The amendment consists of fill
removal exceeding 20 cubic yards and associated regrading for the purpose of
stormwater management in the rear of the property, and minor site
improvements:
The applicant showed the location of the plan.
Mr. Gillies read comments received from UVM. They are requesting that a level spreader be
placed at the daylight end of the drain pipe that collects the downspout from the south side of
the church roof, that at least 15 feet of vegetation be maintained between the pipe outfall and
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the top of the swale, and that a dense vegetation be maintained at all times for runoff
disconnection between the east side of the new sidewalk and the swale.
Mr. Wielenga said they are OK with those conditions.
Mr. Kochman moved to close SP-23-031. Mr. Moscatelli seconded. Motion passed 4-0.
6. Preliminary and final plat application #SD-23-11 of Corey Douglass to amend a
previously approved 5.52 acre, 6-unit planned unit development. The amendment
consists of subdividing lot 6, developed with a single-family home and barn, into 2
lots of 0.69 acres (Lot 6A) and 0.60 acres (Lot 6B) for the purpose of demolishing
the existing single-family home and barn and constructing a new single-family
dwelling on each lot, 1200 Dorset Street:
Mr. Marshall said they are OK with staff comments.
Staff comments were then addressed as follows:
#1. Staff is asking for a condition that the development on each lot meets the
dimensional standard for the Southeast Quadrant zoning district. Mr. Marshall said they are
fine with that.
#2. The applicant was asked to address the comments of the Public Works Department.
Mr. Marshall said they will work with Public Works.
#3. The applicant was asked to address the adequacy of water pressure. Mr. Marshall
said they have no issue with that. He noted that the property is serviced by the Vermont
National Country Club system which is a private system operated by the South Burlington
Water Department. He reviewed the history of that arrangement.
#4. The applicant was asked to address the comments of the South Burlington Water
Department. Mr. Marshall said the issue stems from a typo on the plan which will be corrected.
#5. The applicant was asked to address the Fire Marshall’s comments. Mr. Marshall said
they believe the Fire Marshall meant lot 6A instead of 6B. He showed the plan and said they
will talk with the Fire Marshall as to how to address his comments regarding access.
#6. The applicant was asked to address the comments of the Stormwater Department.
Mr. Marshall said they take issue with this. He explained the history and noted that the
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language in Section 13.05 was added after the subdivision was created, and they are being
asked to apply rules that weren’t in place at the time. Mr. Kochman said the applicant is
causing the impervious to exceed the regulations. Mr. Marshall said the subdivision predated
the standard. Mr. Kochman said he believed the applicant was wrong. Mr. Marshall said he will
discuss this with staff.
#7. The applicant was asked to demonstrate how the required civic space/amenity will
be provided. Mr. Marshall said 100 sq. ft. is required for each lot. They will identify where the
open space will be on each lot.
#8. The applicant was asked to address the comments of the City Arborist. Mr. Marshall
said there is a plan showing which trees will be removed and which will be saved and how they
will be protected. That information is provided in 3 different places.
#9. The applicant is being asked to orient the roofline to the south to maximize solar
gain potential. Mr. Marshall said they can live with that condition.
#10. The applicant was asked to show the relationship of the buildings and site to the
adjoining area. Mr. Marshall showed a conceptual photo of the proposed houses with features
identified for each lot. Mr. Kochman asked to what extent the Board has control over the
design of the houses. Ms. Keene said they can deal with the relationship to the site, privacy,
etc. She added that the applicant is saying they are committed to the things shown in “blue.”
On Lot 6A these include the covered front porch, setback garage, dark color shingle roof. On
Lot 6B they include the side-facing garage, transposed foundation, north facing garage, pitched
dark color shingled roof, front porch facing Foulsham Hollow Road. Mr. Kochman said he is OK
with “substantially similar.” Mr. Marshall noted it is hard to commit to something that might
not be built for 15 years. Mr. Moscatelli suggested having the architect say anything they build
will be in this style. Mr. Marshalll noted Lot 6B doesn’t have an architect. He questioned how
to describe the character of a neighborhood that isn’t there yet. Mr. Kochman said he would
prefer: “…something that looks like what you showed us” rather than a list of elements.
#11. Mr. Kochman suggested a condition that they will comply with the standard. The
judgment will be that of the Zoning Administrator when the building permit is applied for. If
there is an issue, the DRB would be the ultimate decided. Ms. Philibert suggested the applicant
and staff come up with something the Board can live with. Ms. Mann said she falls somewhere
in between, something a little more than a “single family home.” Be more consistent with what
is in the neighborhood.
#12. Regarding orientation, the Board was OK with it, given the criteria. Mr. Marshall
said they took the Board’s guidance from sketch plan and put things on the plan. He showed
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the specific features. Mr. Kochman asked that the back porch be shielded from Dorset St. Mr.
Marshall said that hiding the building from Dorset St. doesn’t seem consistent with the
regulations.
#13. This was previously covered.
#14. Regarding the time frame, Ms. Philibert asked why 6B could take so long. Mr.
Marshall said the lots are for family members, and this is a very conservative estimate. There
are no plans for 6B at this time. The rules said if you take down a house, you have to replace it.
Mr. Marshall felt they are in good shape if they apply that standard to Lot 6A.
Public comment was then solicited.
Mr. DeSano said they appreciate the attention to detail. They are concerned with privacy and
landscaping, especially with large trees being removed. They would like screening at the top of
the slope. The Douglasses said their intent is to put up a fence as they are also concerned with
privacy.
Mr. Kochman then moved to continueSD-23-11 to 6 September. Mr. Moscatelli seconded.
Motion passed 4-0.
7. Minutes of 20 June and 18 July 2023:
The Minutes of 20 June were approved 4-0, and the Minutes of 18 July were approved 3-0.
8. Other Business:
No other business was presented.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by
common consent at 8:15 p.m.
These minutes were approved by the Board on September 6, 2023