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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Development Review Board - 03/05/2024 PAGE 1 MINUTES DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD 5 MARCH 2024 The South Burlington Development Review Board held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 5 March 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street, and via Go to Meeting interactive technology. MEMBERS PRESENT: Q. Mann, Acting Chair; S. Wyman, J. Moscatelli, C. Johnston ALSO PRESENT: M. Keene, Development Review Planner; M. Gillies, Planner; J. Larkin, K & M McGibney, B. Taylor, J. Mahoney, L. Rahlins, G. Dixson, A. Nagy, K. McClintock, J. Nunn, A. Robinson, J. Hodgson, E. Braco, T. Reilly, J. Spinelli & J Quong 1. Instructions on exiting the building in case of an emergency: Ms. Mann provided instructions on emergency exit from the building. 2. Additions, deletions, or changes in order of agenda items: Members agreed to move item #7 to precede item #6 due to a recusal for item #6. 3. Comments and questions from the public not related to the Agenda: No issues were raised. 4. Announcements: There were no announcements. 5. Site Plan application #SP-24-04 and conditional Use application #CU-24- 02 of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington to amend a previously DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD 5 MARCH 2024 PAGE 2 approved plan for a 126,875 sq. ft. educational facility (Rice Memorial High School). The amendment consists of reconfiguring and installing turf on the existing athletic fields, removing the existing track and bleachers, constructing new pervious walkways, and other minor site improvements, 99 Proctor Avenue: Ms. Mann noted the existing development is in an R-4 zoning district where educational facilities are a conditional use. There are existing athletic fields on the site. The regulations prohibit “commercial recreational facilities.” Mr. Dixson provided an overview of the project. He said Rice intends to rebuild the athletic fields. The track will not be rebuilt. The project will result in less impervious. Mr. Nagy added they want to be able to depend more on the fields and make it nicer for the athletes. Staff comments were then addressed as follows: #1. The applicant was asked to discuss the use of the fields as they relate to the educational facility. Mr. Nagy said the fields will be used for exactly what they are used for today including football, baseball, lacrosse, etc., for the students. #2. Staff asked about any historic use of the fields that might be outside the allowable use. Ms. Nagy said there are no tournaments outside of what Rice hosts as part of a school event. #3. Staff noted there will be a stipulation prohibiting renting out of the fields for uses that do not involve the student body. Ms. Nagy confirmed the fields are strictly for Rice use. The use will not be expanded. #4. Staff asked what the final grading will look like. Mr. Dixson said there is a slight slope up to the fields. They might extend the slope to the fields; the difference might be 3-4 feet. It will blend in and not look like a “mound.” Mr. Gillies asked if the City’s Stormwater Department had any issues. Mr. Dixson said they did tell them what they are planning but got no response. He added that the hydrology of the field won’t be changing. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD 5 MARCH 2024 PAGE 3 #5. Staff asked about protection for the tree on the west side of the existing track. Mr. Dixson said there won’t be grading near that tree. It is a 12-foot tree, and they will put erosion protection around the tree. #6. Staff noted they are still waiting for comments from City Stormwater staff. Mr. Dixson said they were told that impervious will be reduced and that they will use pervious pavers. Mr. Gillies said he talked with Marisa who was pleased and didn’t appear to anticipate any issues. Ms. Keene said she felt the Board can continue. Mr. Dixson noted the project will have to go through Act 250, so it will be scrutinized by the State stormwater staff. #7. Staff asked about bike storage. Mr. Dixson said they are proposing 9 new storage racks in addition to the 25 existing racks. Mr. Gillies noted that he had received the information he requested from Mr. Dixson. A total of 14 new racks will be going in. Mr. Dixson said some will be near the entrance, others by the baseball and football fields. The question of lighting was raised. Mr. Dixson said there will be no new exterior lighting. Mr. Gillies noted that any amendment to a conditional use would require a conditional use hearing, which always involves public notice and participation. Mr. Dixson said because of the time crunch, they would like to waive the appeal period. Mr. Gillies said it can be waived with consent of all present and participating. Public comment was then solicited and received as follows: Ms. Rahlins: Asked where runoff from storms and melting snow will go. Mr. Dixson said the entire property is under a State Stormwater Permit. Water is directed around the building and will end up in a new stormwater pond/gravel wetland. He showed the location on the plan. This will not change the hydrology. Ms. McClintock: She is a Rice field hockey coach and spoke in support of the application. She said they presently can’t host home games because of the condition of the fields. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD 5 MARCH 2024 PAGE 4 Ms. Mahoney: As how people will watch games with the bleachers coming down. Mr. Nagy said there will still be some bleachers, and people can stand in various places to watch games. Mr. Quong: Spoke in support of the application. He noted the baseball season is short, and this will help get athletes onto the fields sooner. Mr. Larkin: Was on the team that put the application together. Asked the DRB to consider allowing other uses so the fields don’t sit empty. Mr. Taylor: Noted that if the fields are rented out, there can be more traffic and noise. Mr. Johnston then moved to close SP-24-04. Mr. Moscatelli seconded. Motion passed 4-0. 6. Minutes of 5 December 2023 and 17 January 2024: Mr. Moscatelli moved to approve the Minutes of 5 December 2023 and 17 January 2024 as written. Mr. Johnston seconded. Motion passed 4-0. 7. Continued Master Plan application #MP-23-01 of John Larkin, Inc., to establish a master plan for an approximately 40-acre existing PUD consisting of 270 residential units in 8 multi-family buildings, a 20,000 sf movie theater, a 22,500 sf restaurant/medical office building, and a 3,500 sf restaurant with drive-through. The master plan includes 4 phases and consists of adding approximately 92,105 sf of commercial space including a 110-room hotel, approximately 281 homes in multi- family and mixed use buildings, 6 homes in 2-family buildings, approximately 5 acres of programmed and passive open spaces, and extending a city street, 1185 Shelburne Road: Ms. Wyman was recused from the application. Ms. Keene noted that with Ms. Wyman not being able to hear the application, there is no quorum, so it cannot be heard. There also cannot be a vote to continue. The application will be heard on the 19 March agenda. 8. Other Business: DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD 5 MARCH 2024 PAGE 5 No other business was presented. As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by common consent at 7:46 p.m. These minutes were approved by the Board on April 16, 2024.