HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP-23-036 - Supplemental - 0024 Berard Drive (12)
180 Market Street, South Burlington, Vermont 05403 | 802-846-4106 | www.southburlingtonvt.gov
TO: South Burlington Development Review Board
FROM: Marla Keene, Development Review Planner
SUBJECT: #SP-23-036 24 Berard Drive
DATE: October 17, 2023 Development Review Board meeting
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Site plan application #SP-23-036 of Engineers Construction, Inc., for after-the-fact approval for a
contractor’s yard and alteration of grade. The project consists of authorizing the continued use of a
contractor’s yard to place fill materials, 24 Berard Drive.
COMMENTS
The Board reviewed this application on September 14, 2023. The Board continued the hearing for the
purpose of allowing the applicant to address Board feedback, particularly on the southern access to the
site. The applicant provided a vehicle turning movement plan to demonstrate their proposal.
A) SITE PLAN REVIEW STANDARDS
14.07 Specific Review Standards
C. Access and Circulation. All proposed development shall comply with site access and circulation
standards of Section 15.A.14.
The site has two access points on Berard Drive, one at the north off the cul-de-sac and a second at the
southern end of the public street frontage. The Board on September 19 expressed concern that the
southern entrance created unsafe conditions on Berard Drive due to the extremely limited sight distance
of approximately 40-ft.
As noted in the September 19 report, the speed limit on Berard Drive is 25 mph and on-street parking is
permitted on either side. The southern access point was developed for the adjoining property but
merged with the subject property in 2004 when a subdivision took place to convey land from the
southern property to the subject property.
The applicant is proposing an equipment storage area near the southern end of the frontage on Berard
Drive that would be accessed via the southern entrance.
The Board directed the applicant to provide a design that modified the southern entrance to create a
safe configuration.
The plan submitted by the applicant entitled “Southern Access Drive Plan,” dated 9/27/2023, depicts the
entrance movement of a 29-foot non-articulated three axle vehicle, a representation of which is shown
on the plan. The truck is depicted as not crossing the center line of Berard Drive when it enters the site
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at 6 mph, or a crawl speed. The applicant has proposed to widen the entrance radius to 30-ft on both
north and south sides of the driveway, though it is unclear why widening on the north is proposed since
the entrance is proposed to be one-way in only, and Berard Drive is a dead end street.
Given the existence of a northern entrance which does not appear to have as many potential issues, Staff
recommend the Board discuss the following aspects of the proposal with the applicant.
1. The design vehicle. As Staff alluded to on September 19, construction equipment is typically
moved on articulated “low-boy” trailers much larger than the vehicle shown on the submitted
plan.
2. The design speed. Staff considers the design should default to success rather than provide a
solution that only works in limited circumstances. What is a typical speed for an entering
vehicle?
3. The northern curb radius. Based on the discussion on 9/19, it seems a one-way in entrance
should not require anything but a very modest radius on the northern side. If the objective is
sight distance, a tree clearing zone should instead be proposed.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Board work with the applicant to address the issues identified herein.