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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP-24-06 - Decision - 1650 Shelburne Road#SP-24-06 1 CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING SRTB HOLDINGS, LLC 1650 SHELBURNE ROAD SITE PLAN APPLICATION #SP-24-06 FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION Site plan application #SP-24-06 of SRTB Holdings, LLC to modify a previously approved plan for a 10,210 sf automotive sales, service and repair building on an existing 2.07-acre lot. The amendment consists of a 3,980 square foot expansion, including an addition to the existing sales/showroom and the construction of a drop-off area for the vehicle service department, 1650 Shelburne Road. The Development Review Board held a public hearing on March 19, 2024. Tyler Barnard and Jay Langford represented the applicant. Based on testimony provided at the above-mentioned public hearing and the plans and supporting materials contained in the document file for this application, the Development Review Board finds, concludes, and decides the following: FINDINGS OF FACT 1. This project consists of Site plan application #SP-24-06 of SRTB Holdings, LLC to modify a previously approved plan for a 10,210 sf automotive sales, service and repair building on an existing 2.07-acre lot. The amendment consists of a 3,980 square foot expansion, including an addition to the existing sales/showroom and the construction of a drop-off area for the vehicle service department, 1650 Shelburne Road. 2. The subject property is located in the Commercial 2 Zoning District, Traffic Overlay Zoning District Zone 3, Transit Overlay District, and Urban Design Overlay District. 3. The owner of record of the subject property is SRTB Holdings, LLC 4. The application was received on February 16, 2024. 5. The plans submitted consist of the following: Sheet No. Description Prepared By Last Revised Date C001 Cover Sheet Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C002 Site Legend and Notes Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C100 Existing Conditions Plan Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C101 Demolition Plan Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C102 Site Layout Plan Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C103 Grading & Utility Plan Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C104 Erosion Prevention & Sediment Control (EPSC) Plan Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C500 Site Details Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C501 Stormwater Details and Earthwork Notes Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 C502 Erosion Protection and Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 #SP-24-06 2 Sediment Control Details L100 Proposed Planting Plan Engineering Ventures 10/04/2022 SD-1 Presentation First Floor Plan Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 SD-2 Proposed Exterior Elevations Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 SD-3 Rendering (view from NW) Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 SD-4 Rendering (view from W) Engineering Ventures 02/15/2024 6. The applicant received Board approval for a very similar project (#SP-22-045) on November 4, 2022. The decision associated with that application included a Condition of Approval requiring that the applicant “obtain a zoning permit within six (6) months from the date of the decision or the approval expires and is null and void”. The applicant did not obtain a Zoning Permit or request an extension prior to May 4, 2023. Article 14.04.B(1)(b) of the South Burlington Land Development Regulations allows the Administrative Officer to re-approve plans if a permit issued by the Development Review Board has expired within the preceding six months and no changes or alterations of any kind are proposed. The Board approval for #SP-22-045 expired on May 4, 2023, and the six-month window in which the Administrative Officer could re-approve those plans closed on November 4, 2023. The only way at this point for the applicant to obtain approval for this project is to submit a new Site Plan application to the Board, which is what they have done with the subject application. 7. Article 14.04.B allows the Administrative Officer to approve minor amendments to site plans involving a principal permitted use. The applicant submitted Site Plan application #SP-23-010 on March 10, 2023 to alter the design of the upper story of the primary and secondary facades. The Administrative Officer approved this application on March 23, 2023. This approval has also expired. The applicant included the same elevations submitted as part of #SP-23-010 in this subject Site Plan application #SP-24-06. The Administrative Officer has previously found these elevations to be permissible with respect to the Urban Design Overlay standards that require the appearance of two stories in Secondary Nodes of the Urban Design Overlay District. This subject application incorporates the altered elevations that were first submitted as part of #SP-23-010, which is a different elevation design than was reviewed and approved by the Board as part of #SP-22-045. ZONING DISTRICT & DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS Commercial 2 Zoning District Required Proposed Min. Lot Size 40,000 sf 90, 170 Max. Building Coverage 40% 15.37% Max. Overall Coverage 70% 66.75% Min. Front Setback (Urban Design Overlay District) 20 ft. 47.6 ft. Max Front Setback Coverage 30% 21.9% Min. Side Setback 10 ft. 63.9 ft. (no change) Min. Rear Setback 30 ft. N/A (corner lot)  Building Height (flat roof) 35 ft. 24.5 ft.  Meets requirement #SP-24-06 3 Commercial 2 Zoning District (C2) The purpose of the Commercial 2 Zoning District is to encourage general commercial activity. In addition to uses permitted in the C1 District, large lot-retail uses, such as sale of motor vehicles and building materials, may be permitted. A range of industrial uses as well as clustered residential development may be permitted in locations that are mutually compatible with general commercial activity. 10.01 Traffic Overlay District This property is located in Zone 3 of the Traffic Overlay District, which allows 45 trips per 40,000 sf of land area without provision of additional mitigation measures. The trip budget is increased by 15% for properties where a raised median prevents left turns in or out. The trip budget for the 90,170 sf subject property is therefore 117 trips per PM peak hour. The applicant estimates the proposed expansion will generate an additional 9 trips per PM peak hour, bringing the total trips for the property from the existing 25 per PM peak hour to 34 trips per PM peak hour. This figure is below the allowed trips for the property. As such, no additional study or mitigation measures are required. 10.05D Urban Design Overlay District Standards This project lies within the Secondary Node designation of the Urban Design Overlay District. If less than 50% of the façade is proposed to be altered, the applicant must comply with the Urban Design Overlay Standards for only the altered portion of the façade. This applies to the northern façade. The entirety of the Urban Design Overlay District Standards applies to building facades which are proposed to be altered by more than 50%. Based on the provided elevations, more than 50% of the western façade is proposed to be altered. (1) Entries. Buildings on subject properties must have at least one entry facing the primary road in the corridor. Any entry shall: (a) Be an operable entrance, as defined in these regulations. The proposed entrance facing Shelburne Road is proposed to be usable and open for entry and exit. The Board finds this criterion met. (b) Serve, architecturally, as principal entry. Front entries shall be a focal point of the front façade and shall be an easily recognizable feature of the building. Possibilities include accenting front entries with features such as awnings, porticos, overhangs, recesses/projections, decorative front doors and side lights, or emphasis through varied color or special materials. This requirement does not preclude additional principal entry doors. The proposed entrance facing the primary road is directly accessible by a stair-stepped sidewalk connection to the sidewalk along the primary road. The sidewalk connection leads only to the proposed entrance, and the proposed entrance is accented by a polished aluminum awning and emphasized by a distinctive orange stripe on the façade. As such, the Board finds this criterion met. (c) Shall have a direct, separate walkway to the primary road. This walkway shall be at least eight (8) feet in width and may meander for design purposes, but must serve as a pedestrian-oriented access. #SP-24-06 4 The proposed entrance has an 8.5-foot wide direct, separate walkway connection to the sidewalk along Shelburne Road that includes two sets of stairs with railings. The Board finds this criterion met. (2) Glazing. Windows are key to the overall design of a building and the relationship between its exterior and interior. (a) For all properties in the Urban Overlay District, a minimum of 75% glazing shall be transparent. With the below condition, 100% of the proposed glazing is transparent. The Board finds this criterion met. (b) In non-residential units, first story glazing shall have a minimum height of 7 vertical feet The first story glazing is proposed to be 10 feet high. The Board finds this criterion met. (c) For residential uses, first story glazing shall have a minimum height of 5 vertical feet. This criterion is not applicable. (3) Dimensional Standards. Within a Designated Secondary Node, first stories must have a minimum of 60% glazing across the width of the primary building façade, and a minimum of 40% glazing across the width of the secondary building façade. The building must have the appearance of two stories, the corner of the corner building must have a significant architectural feature, and the building must be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the R.O.W. In the elevations submitted with the previous Board application for this project (#SP-22-045), the northern and western facades featured a 20-foot-tall window with views of the one-story showroom, although the window was divided by a two-foot-wide aluminum strip running horizontally across the windows at an elevation of ten feet. The width of the first floor of the proposed primary façade was approximately 65.0% glazed and the width of the first floor of the modified portion of the proposed secondary façade was approximately 51.9% glazed. In the elevations submitted with this application, the width of the first floor glazing is unchanged from the previous application, and remains 65.0% glazed along the primary façade and 51.9% glazed along the secondary façade. Both the secondary facades feature glazing from ground level to ten feet in elevation, a two-foot break between “stories” that includes awnings for the entrances, and then twelve vertical feet of façade above these awnings. This twelve-foot-tall section above the first floor glazing is intended to appear as if it is a second floor. The applicant attempts to achieve this appearance by providing six 4’ x 6’ windows above the glazed portions of the first story façade. The tops of the second story windows are four feet below the upper parapet, and the bottoms of the second story windows are four feet above the two-foot story break described above. In the submitted elevations, the applicant is proposing to install spandrel glass in the six second-story windows. The upper-story glazing proposed in previous applications #SP-22-045 and #SP-23-010 was transparent glass. The Board finds that the use of spandrel glass does not create the appearance that the proposed building addition is two stories, and further finds that the spandrel glass proposed in the second- story windows shall be replaced with transparent glass. #SP-24-06 5 The corner of the building closest to the intersection of the primary and secondary streets includes both the primary and secondary entrances to the structure, the terminus of the primary access walkway, and a distinctive orange stripe along the façade. The building is set back 47.6 feet from the R.O.W. at its closest point, along the principal street, and is set back a minimum of 63.9 feet from the R.O.W. along the secondary street. The Board finds these urban design dimensional criteria met. (4) Building Stores, Heights & Rooftop Apparatus (a) Minimum stores of buildings within the Urban Design Overlay District are defined as per Article 2-Definitions and Section 8.06(F)(1) of these regulations. Minimum stories are discussed above. (b) Section 8.06(G) of these regulations shall apply to rooftop elements of buildings within the Urban Design Overlay District. Rooftop mechanical equipment and appurtenances are required to be arranged so as to minimize visibility from any point at or below the roof level of the subject structure. Such features in excess of one foot in height must be enclosed by outer building walls or parapets, grouped and screened, or themselves designed so that they are balanced or integrated with respect to the design and materials of the building. The applicant has not yet selected building mechanical equipment but previously testified that all such rooftop elements will be located on the existing roof of the showroom, approximately six feet below the top of the proposed parapet. The applicant further testified that if the selected rooftop equipment is visible at or below roof level, the equipment will be screened in accordance with this criterion. The Board finds this criterion met. Where flat roofs are used, architectural elements such as cornices shall be included along all primary and secondary building facades. The applicant is proposing to include a six-inch cornice cap with two-inch relief at the top of the proposed parapet wall. A rooftop may be used for any use permitted for the building. Enclosed or partially enclosed building features are permitted and shall not be considered as an additional story, subject to conditions. No uses are proposed for the rooftop of this building. This criterion is not applicable. Utility features such as generators, gas lines or meters, or electric meters may not be located on any façade parallel to and adjacent to a street and must be screened from view of any such street. Gas and electric features are on the south side of the building. The Board finds no additional screening to be required and considers this element of 8.06G is met. (5) Landscaping. Projects within the Urban Design Overlay District shall meet minimum landscaping requirements as per Section 13.04 of these regulations. Projects are also subject to the following supplemental standards: (a) Landscaping which is required elsewhere in these Regulations to serve as a buffer between properties shall not count towards the minimum landscaping budget. #SP-24-06 6 No buffering is required. This criterion is not applicable. (b) For lots with buildings which are set back 50 or more feet from the front lot line, at least 50 % of the required landscaping shall be installed between the front building line and the front lot line. This property is situated on a corner lot and therefore has two front yards, one facing the primary street and one facing the secondary street. The structure is set back approximately 47.6 feet from the principal street front lot line and 63.9 feet from the secondary street front lot line. The front yard along the principal street, Shelburne Road, is presently well landscaped. The front yard along the secondary street, Green Mountain Drive, presently has relatively fewer landscaping elements and is not in compliance with the above criterion. The applicant is proposing to put a large portion of the additional landscaping to be installed as part of this application along the front yard abutting Green Mountain Drive, including twenty-seven hydrangeas, four Green Gable Tupelo trees, ten yew shrubs, and various other perennials and flowering shrubs. The Board finds that the proposed landscaping plan locates at least 50% of the required landscaping between the front building lines and the front lot lines on both Shelburne Road and Green Mountain Drive and therefore complies with the above criterion. SITE PLAN REVIEW STANDARDS 14.06 General Review Standards A. 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. Transitions from structure to site are considered by the Board to be adequate. Adequacy of planting and pedestrian movement are discussed elsewhere in this document. The Board finds the quantity of parking areas to be adequate. (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. No modifications to the existing non-conforming parking to the north are proposed. Parking on the south side of the building is being reconfigured. The proposed parking configuration meets the standard. The Board considers this criterion met. (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 footprint of the building is proposed to increase by approximately 36% and is proposed to be 24.5 feet tall and one story. The other buildings within this Designated Secondary Node along with the proposed structure are of a similar height, a slightly larger footprint, and a similar use. The Board finds the scale and height of the proposed structure to be compatible with the neighboring structures. #SP-24-06 7 B. 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. The proposed materials and design of the building are relatively similar to the existing materials and design used by the adjacent credit union to the south. The existing parking area for the Jeep dealership is between these buildings and serves as a visual interruption between them. The Board finds this criterion met. (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. The proposed structures will be constructed in a very similar style and with many of the same materials. The vicinity is otherwise rather non-descript and has no elements that appear to clash with the proposed structure. The Board finds this criterion met. (3) To accomplish (1) and (2), the DRB shall consider: (a) Pattern and Rhythm. Update or maintain or extend the overall pattern of development defined by the planned or existing street grid, block configurations, position and orientation of principal buildings, prevalence of attached or detached building types. The Board finds the proposed addition to improve compliance with the reduced minimum setbacks of the Urban Design Overlay District. (b) Architectural Features. Respond to recurring or representative architectural features that define neighborhood character, without adhering to a particular architectural style. The Board finds the proposed addition to respond to the features of the neighborhood character without adhering to a particular style of construction. (c) Privacy. Limit impacts and intrusions to privacy on adjoining properties, including side and back yard areas through context sensitive design. No impacts to the privacy of adjoining properties are proposed. C. Site Amenity Requirement This non-residential expansion adds fewer than 5,000 square feet to the building area. As such, this criterion is not applicable. 14.07 Specific Review Standards In all Zoning Districts and the City Center Form Based Codes District, the following standards shall apply: A. Environmental Protection Standards. All proposed development shall be subject to the applicable requirements of Article 12, Environmental Protection Standards. There are no recorded wetlands, wetland buffers, habitat blocks, or river corridors on the site. This criterion is not applicable. #SP-24-06 8 B. Site Design Features. All proposed development shall comply with standards for the placement of buildings, parking and loading areas, landscaping and screening, open space, stormwater, lighting, and other applicable standards related to site design pursuant to these Land Development Regulations. These standards are contained in Article 13 and are discussed below. C. Access and Circulation. All proposed development shall comply with site access and circulation standards of Section 15.A.14. The proposed changes to site access and circulation include the addition of a pedestrian walkway linking the storefront to the sidewalk along the principal street and the addition of four short- term bicycle parking spaces. These changes do not affect vehicle circulation, are in compliance with the existing standards, and serve to improve pedestrian access. The Board finds this criterion met. D. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) [reserved] E. Building Form. Development within the City Center Form Based Code District, the Urban Design Overlay District, and other districts with supplemental building form standards shall adhere to the standards contained therein. See discussion of urban design overlay standards under dimensional standards above. F. Streetscape Improvements. A proposed new construction or extension/expansion of an existing structure exceeding the thresholds listed in either (a) Section 14.09(B) or (b) Section 8.11(D) within the City Center Form Based Code, or Section 3.11(D) in all other zoning districts, shall be required to upgrade adjacent sidewalks, greenbelts, and related street furniture (trees, benches, etc.) to the standards contained within the applicable Street Type and Building Envelope Standard. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit requirements for additional upgrades as necessary to meet the requirements of these Regulations. The Boards finds no upgrades to be required. G. 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 arterial or collector street, to provide additional access for emergency or other purposes, or to improve general access and circulation in the area. See 13.02F below for discussion of access. H. 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.A.18, Infrastructure, Utilities, and Services, shall also be met. The South Burlington Director of Public Works reviewed the plans on 3/6/2024 and offers the following comments: Work in the Route 7 ROW will require an 1111 permit from VTrans. If City owned utilities are impacted the applicant will also need a ROW permit from the Department of Public Works. The Boards requires the applicant to comply with the comments of the Director of Public Works as a condition of approval. #SP-24-06 9 I. 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. There are no proposed changes to the location or screening of the existing dumpster, which presently meets this criterion. SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS 13.02 Off Street Parking and Loading F. Access management Requirements. It is the intent of the City to minimize traffic and pedestrian conflicts caused by vehicular driveways on public roadways by reducing the number of required driveways and by minimizing the number of vehicles utilizing such driveways off public roadways. All applicants must make an effort to reduce these impacts. All commercial lots (retail, restaurant, office, service uses, excluding residential, agricultural and industrial uses) located adjacent to other commercial lots must provide a driveway connection to any adjacent commercial lot. If the adjacent property owner does not want to provide for that connection, the applicant must provide an easement to do so in the future when circumstances may change. This driveway connection or easement should be located where vehicular and pedestrian circulation is most feasible. LDR 13.02F requires all commercial lots located adjacent to other commercial lots to provide a driveway connection to any adjacent commercial lot. It goes on to state that if the adjacent property owner does not want to provide for that connection, the applicant must provide an easement to do so in the future when circumstances may change. This driveway connection or easement should be located where the vehicular and pedestrian circulation is most feasible. An access easement is proposed between the subject property and the adjacent property to the south. This criterion is not met with regards to the property to the east. However, the Boards finds that the existing topography precludes creation of a cross-lot connection and therefore exercises its limited waiver authority to waive this requirement. G. Design requirements for Parking Spaces, Parking Aisles, Lighting and Landscaping (1) Design requirements for off-street parking and loading are provided in Table 13-2 and Figure 13-1, Section 13.04, Landscaping , Screening, and Street Trees, and Section 13.07, Exterior Lighting. All paved parking spaces shall be striped or otherwise physically delimited. The South Burlington Deputy Director of Capital Projects reviewed the plans on 8/31/2022 and offered the following comments: If the unstriped parking areas located to the south and east of the proposed service area are for Goss cars for sale, and not for public parking, then the property has sufficient accessible parking spaces. If the spaces in question are for the public, an additional accessible parking space will be required. #SP-24-06 10 The Board acknowledges that the ADA is a separate regulatory body and recommends that the applicant take the above comment under advisement, while confirming their compliance with ADA's regulations with ADA directly. Parking lot landscaping is discussed under 13.04 below. (2) The location of parking areas and loading docks shall prevent conflicts with entering and existing traffic onto a public street and prevent conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. The distance between access points and parking areas shall be adequate to minimize blockage and prevent back-ups onto the public street. The applicant is proposing to construct a service area with 4 garage bays on the south side of the building. The Board finds this configuration does not create conflicts with traffic and considers this criterion met. (3) Provision shall be made for access by police, fire and emergency vehicles. The Board finds no changes affecting emergency access are proposed. (4) Pedestrian safety. Insofar as practicable, pedestrian and bicycle circulation shall be separated from motor vehicle circulation. Safe and convenient pedestrian circulation, including appropriate sidewalks, shall be provided on the site and its approaches. The pedestrian circulation on site shall be designed to minimize adverse effects of vehicular traffic on sidewalks and recreation paths. The proposed primary entrance faces the primary road and is directly accessible via an 8.5-foot wide direct, separate walkway connection to the sidewalk along the primary road that includes two sets of stairs with railings The sidewalk connection leads to the proposed entrance and continues towards the north side of the building, where there are two entrances facing the secondary street and four bicycle parking spaces. Given this, the Board finds this criterion met. (5) Bicycle parking or storage facility. Bicycle parking is discussed under 13.03 below. (6) Stormwater management strategies that facilitate infiltration including but not limited to recessed planting islands, bioretention facilities, and pervious parking spaces are encouraged in the design of any off-street parking or loading area. Stormwater management is discussed under 13.05 below. 13.03 Bicycle Parking and Storage. The applicant has proposed to install two “inverted-U” bicycle racks, creating four short-term bicycle parking spaces. These bike racks meet the requirement for minimum bicycle parking spaces for this property and are proposed to be located in an area that is both easily accessible by pedestrians and protected from vehicle traffic. Long-term bicycle parking requirements do not apply to this project. The Board finds this criterion met. #SP-24-06 11 13.04 Landscaping, Screening & Street Trees B. Except for parking spaces accessory to a one-family or two-family dwelling, all off-street parking areas subject to review by the Development Review Board shall be curbed and landscaped with appropriate trees, shrubs, and other plants including ground covers, as approved by the Development Review Board. Sections of recessed curb are permitted if their purpose is to allow stormwater runoff from the adjacent parking area to reach stormwater collection, treatment and management infrastructure. The Development Review Board shall consider the adequacy of the proposed landscaping to assure the establishment of a safe, convenient, and attractive parking area and the privacy and comfort of abutting properties. The applicant is proposing to reconfigure parking to the south of the building, including striping previously unmarked spaces and removing existing parking spaces. The proposed changes bring the existing nonconformities within the parking area closer to compliance. As such, the Board finds the parking area as proposed to adequately meet the relevant criteria. (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 existing parking areas are to the north, east, and south of the principal structure and are not proposed to expand. The existing landscaping includes a variety of landscaping features around the perimeter of the parking areas. Furthermore, the applicant is proposing to install two shade trees along the east property line along the existing parking area. As such, the Board finds this criterion to be met. (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. The parking lot is designed in such a way that this criterion does not apply. Modifications to the parking area consist only of removal of existing parking spaces and include the addition of a large interior landscape island. The Board finds compliance with this criterion to have been improved to the extent necessary. (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 13.04(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. There are no proposed planted islands as part of this project, so this criterion does not apply. (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. #SP-24-06 12 The South Burlington City Arborist reviewed the plans on 2/27/2024 and offers the following comments: The Tree Protection detail included on Sheet C502 should probably be drawn on the plans or it’s easy to miss. The Board requires the applicant to comply with the comments of the City Arborist as a condition of approval. (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. This criterion is not met for the entirety of the existing parking lot. However, noncompliance with this criterion is reduced by reducing the number of parking spaces. (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. Proposed tree sizes are provided in calipers, and all provided calipers are greater than or equal to the minimum. This criterion has been met. (d) Where more than ten (10) trees are installed, a mix of species is encouraged; the species should be grouped or located in a manner that reinforces the design and layout of the parking lot and the site. Only 5 trees are proposed. (e) Within the City Center FBC District, landscaping required within this section shall not count towards meeting minimum landscape budget requirements as detailed in Section 13.04(G). This property is not located within the City Center FBC District and therefore this criterion does not apply. (7) 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. The proposed snow storage area is located in the southeast corner of the existing parking lot. Snow storage eliminates some display vehicle spaces but does not impact customer parking. The Board finds this criterion met. C. Screening or buffering. The Development Review Board will require landscaping, fencing, land shaping and/or screening along property boundaries (lot lines) whenever it determines that a) two adjacent sites are dissimilar and should be screened or buffered from each other, or b) a property’s appearance should be improved, which property is covered excessively with pavement or structures or is otherwise insufficiently landscaped, or c) a commercial, industrial, and multi-family use abuts a residential district or institutional use, or (d) a parking or loading area is adjacent to or visible from a public street. The Board finds that the proposed site is not dissimilar enough from the adjoining properties to require additional screening beyond that required in B(1) above. D. Front Yards of Non-Residential and Multi-Family Uses. In the case of non-residential and multi- family uses, the required front yard and/or the frontage along designated arterial and collector #SP-24-06 13 streets (see Article 3, Section 3.06 for this list) shall be suitably landscaped and maintained in good appearance. Landscape elements that reduce stormwater runoff and promote stormwater infiltration are encouraged. The Development Review Board shall require the applicant to meet the provisions of sections 13.04(F) and (G). The Board finds compliance with this criterion is met by the applicant’s proposed landscaping plan. G(3) Landscaping Budget Requirements. The Development Review Board shall require minimum planting costs for all site plans, as shown in Table 13-4 below. In evaluating landscaping requirements, some credit may be granted for existing trees or for site improvements other than tree planting as long as the objectives of this section are not reduced. The costs below are cumulative; for example, a landscaping budget shall be required to show a planned expenditure of three percent of the first $250,000 in construction or improvement cost plus two percent of the next $250,000 in construction or improvement cost, plus one percent of the remaining cost over $500,000. The landscaping budget shall be prepared by a landscape architect or professional landscape designer. The cost of the proposed building addition is $2,827,000, requiring $35,770 in plantings. The applicant has proposed 5 shade trees, 77 deciduous and evergreen shrubs, and five distinct areas to be planted with perennials and ornamental grasses, including an area in and around the stormwater treatment area. The applicant has also proposed to relocate seven existing shrubs and is not seeking credit towards their landscaping budget for this relocation. The applicant has proposed the following elements be counted towards the required minimum landscaping budget: Item Cost Shade Trees $8,043.75 Deciduous & Evergreen Shrubs 14,088.25 Perennials; Ornamental Grasses $15,056.25 Total $37,188.25 Minimum Requirement $35,770.00 The Board finds the proposed landscaping items to be acceptable and finds the minimum budget requirement met. 13.05 Stormwater Management Stormwater standards apply when one-half acre or more of impervious surface exists or is proposed to exist, and where 5,000 sf of impervious is created or reconstructed. The City Stormwater Section had previously reviewed the proposed plans on 9/12/2022 and had offered the following comments. 1. This project is located in the Bartlett Brook watershed. This watershed is listed as stormwater impaired by the State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). 2. It appears that the infiltration test was conducted in a separate location from where the infiltration system is being proposed. The infiltration system is located between soil boring B-2 and I-1. While the soil conditions at I-1 look favorable for infiltration, it is less clear if soils near soil boring B-2 would meet the infiltration requirements. The applicant should conduct a soil boring in the location where the infiltration practice is proposed. 3. Soil materials should be specified for the berm along the downhill side of the infiltration basin to ensure there is no seepage through the berm. #SP-24-06 14 4. Include anti-seep collars on the outlet pipes from the infiltration basin. 5. The DRB should include a condition requiring the applicant to regularly maintain all stormwater treatment and conveyance infrastructure The applicant has provided a letter from the geotechnical engineer confirming that infiltration testing has been completed and that the soils are consistent across the site, including the results of soil borings to corroborate that assertion and has updated the plan details to address the comments of the City Stormwater Section. 13.07 Exterior Lighting Lighting requirements are summarized as follows. (1) Fixtures must be downcast and shielded (2) Illumination must be evenly distributed (3) Fixtures must be placed to minimize lighting from becoming a nuisance (4) Poles shall be rustproof metal, cast iron, fiberglass, finished wood or similar structural material, with a decorative surface or finish (5) Poles & building mounted fixtures may be no higher than 30-ft (6) Poles must be located in safe locations Specific requirements for maximum illumination levels are included in Appendix A and are limited to 3- foot candles average at ground level. The applicant has indicated no changes to existing exterior lighting are proposed, and that existing fixtures are downcast and shielded. The applicant has confirmed that no building-mounted lighting is proposed. DECISION Motion by Mark Behr, seconded by Frank Kochman, to approve Site Plan application #SP-24-06 of SRTB Holdings, LLC, subject to the following conditions: 1. All previous approvals and stipulations shall remain in full effect except as amended herein. 2. The plans must be revised to show the changes below and shall require approval of the Administrative Officer. a. As per the comments of the City Arborist, the Tree Protection Detail shown on Sheet C502 must be included on Sheet L100. b. Sheet SD-2 must be revised to remove the spandrel glass in the proposed second-story windows in favor of transparent glass. 3. A digital PDF version of the approved final plan set must be delivered to the Administrative Officer before issuance of a zoning permit. 4. This project shall be completed as shown on the plan submitted by the applicant and on file in the South Burlington Department of Planning and Zoning as conditioned herein. 5. Prior to issuance of a zoning permit, the applicant must post a landscaping surety for $22,885 in plantings in accordance with the methodology in LDR 17.15B. This bond shall remain in full effect for three (3) years to assure that the landscaping has taken root and has a good chance of survival. 6. Prior to issuance of a zoning permit, the applicant must demonstrate that all proposed rooftop equipment and machinery is located and/or screened in such a way that it is not visible at or below roof level. #SP-24-06 15 7. Prior to issuance of a zoning permit, the applicant must demonstrate compliance with the comments of the Director of Public Works. 8. The applicant must obtain a zoning permit within six (6) months from the date of this decision or this approval expires and is null and void. The applicant may submit a request for an extension to obtain a zoning permit under the terms outlined in Section 17.04 of the LDRs, but the request must be submitted prior to the expiration of this approval. 9. Temporary structures used in conjunction with construction work shall be permitted only during the period that the construction is in progress. 10. The applicant must regularly maintain all stormwater treatment and conveyance infrastructure. 11. All exterior lighting must be installed or shielded in such a manner as to conceal light sources and reflector surfaces from view beyond the perimeter of the area to be illuminated. 12. The applicant must continue to maintain the approved landscaping in a vigorous growing condition throughout the duration of the use. 13. Pursuant to Section 15.13(E) of the Land Development Regulations, any new utility lines, services, and service modifications must be underground. 14. The proposed project must adhere to standards for erosion control as set forth in Section 16.03 of the South Burlington Land Development Regulations. In addition, the grading plan must meet the standards set forth in Section 16.04 of the South Burlington Land Development Regulations. 15. Bicycle racks must meet the minimum requirements of 13.14 and Appendix G. 16. Any change to the site plan shall require approval by the South Burlington Development Review Board or the Administrative Officer as allowed by the Land Development Regulations. 17. The applicant must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Administrative Officer prior to use of the proposed expansion. Mark Behr Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Charles Johnston Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Frank Kochman Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Quinn Mann Yea Nay Abstain Not Present John Moscatelli Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Dawn Philibert Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Stephanie Wyman Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Motion carried by a vote of 6 - 0 - 0. Signed this ____ day of March, 2024, by _____________________________________ Dawn Philibert, Chair Please note: An appeal of this decision may be taken by filing, within 30 days of the date of this #SP-24-06 16 decision, a notice of appeal and the required fee by certified mail to the Superior Court, Environmental Division. See V.R.E.C.P. 5(b). A copy of the notice of appeal must also be mailed to the City of South Burlington Planning and Zoning Department at 575 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403. See V.R.E.C.P. 5(b) (4)(A). Please contact the Environmental Division at 802-828-1660 or http://vermontjudiciary.org/GTC/environmental/default.aspx for more information on filing requirements, deadlines, fees and mailing address. The applicant or permittee retains the obligation to identify, apply for, and obtain relevant state permits for this project. Call 802.477.2241 to speak with the regional Permit Specialist.