Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Natural Resources & Conservation Committee - 09/04/2024 NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA September 4, 2024 ParƟcipaƟon OpƟons In Person: 180 Market Street, Third Floor, Conference Room 301 Assistive Listening Service Devices available upon request Electronically: https://meet.goto.com/704687613 You can also dial in using your phone. +1 (571) 317-3122 Access Code: 704-687-613 Regular Session 6:00 p.m. 1. Welcome (6:00 p.m.) 2. Additions, deletion, or changes in order of Agenda Items (6:01) 3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda (6:04) 4. City updates (6:15) a. Staff b. Council 5. Public Meeting: Bartlett Bay Road Culvert. Discussion of VTrans grant funded project, South Burlington TAP TA23(26), to replace an undersized culvert on Bartlett Bay Road (6:30) 6. Homegrown National Parks. (6:45) 7. Discuss wildlife corridor mapping in South Burlington (7:00) https://tinyurl.com/ycx3syrm 8. Review of DRB submissions (7:20) https://tinyurl.com/bddtbr7a 9. Recruitment (7:35) 10. Member updates & reports: (7:45) 11. Other business 12. Adjourn (8:00) Next meeting: October 9, 2024 1. NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION COMMITTEE 2. The South Burlington NRCC held a regular meeting on Wednesday August 07, 2024, at 6:04 pm, in Room 301, 180 Market Street and by GoToMeeting remote participation 3. Members present: D. Wheeler, City Liaison; J. Chaulot, Chair; J. Bossange; K. Boyk; J. Keene; L. Yankowski, M. Korpos 4. Public attendees: R. Doyle, R. Greco and F. McDonald 5. Mr. Chaulot welcomed everyone and Mr. Wheeler reviewed emergency procedures. 6. No additions, deletions or changes to the agenda. 7. Comments from the public. a. Mrs. Greco inquired about the city owned Ash trees on her street that are slated to be cut down due to the Emerald Ash Borer which has been identified in South Burlington. Some of the neighbors were asking if they could adopt a tree and they would cover treatment costs. Mr. Chaulot reminded the group that many of the trees selected to be removed were done so because they are compromised- there had been some planted without the wire basket around the root ball being removed. Mr. Doyle inquired if the tress had been rated . Craig Lambert, the city arborist, did do an assessment selecting the healthiest trees for treatment. Mr. Wheeler will check to see if the neighbor adoption plan is a viable option. 8. City Updates. a. 2 trees were removed outside the CSWD site. They were infected with the ash borer. b. December/January, with help from a new vendor- the city is launching an updated website. The site is expected to be user friendlier and similar to sites used by other municipalities. Mr. Wheeler reminded us we have a page on the city site where we can post information, articles, events, etc. Ms Yankowski commented that we should already have some items on the current site. c. Chittenden County forester, Ethan Tapper, has written a book. The SB Library is asking if the NRCC would help to co-host an event to present the book to the public. Probably sometime in December or January. d. The water ordinance has been approved. Specific language was included for “special cases”. The city had been checking into the rates charged to Queen City Park residents. They have their own water system but are on city sewage lines. They do not have water meters and are currently charged a flat rate for sewage. QCP residents may be paying more than others. Trying to install meters may not be practical in some homes due to the lack of basements on many of the dwellings. e. We need to select a date for our October meeting since it falls on a holiday. The committee will decide on a better date via email. f. The NRCC will have a public meeting for two VTrans (VT Agency of Transportation) funded projects. SB also received a grant from CCRPC (Chittenden County Regional Planning) to assess and upgrade culverts. Culvert washout has been a big issue this year in this region. 9. The city has received 3 proposals for the Open Space Consultant. SEGroup had previously done the plan for Hubbard Park. Weston & Sampson are park focused being an engineering firm. CRO Planning & Design has a member who came from SE Group. Their proposal mentions working with groups/committees. Adam Matth & Silken Kershner are expected before the city council around August 19, with their recommendations. The NRCC is hoping to meet with the consultant(s) in October. 10. Discussion of documents submitted to the Planning Commission regarding tree regulations in the LDRs. a. The Planning Commission has not gotten to our recommendations yet. Mr. Wheeler noted all of the other work that the PC was busy with, while Mr. Bossange is concerned the time involved and our suggestions will disappear with time delays. Mr. Keene reminded the group that Mr. Smith, our city council liaison, is supposed to be trying to get this pushed ahead to Planning. It has been suggested it be reviewed and enhanced before going to the city level. In the meantime- Mr. Wheeler will reach back out to Kelsy in Planning for an update while Mr. Chaulot will reach out to Mr. Smith with help from Mr. Bossange. 11. Sections of the LDRs the NRCC may want to review. a. Mrs. Greco inquired if the LDRs define wildlife corridors. Discussion ensued and Mr. Doyle stated the habitat blocks were removed when maps were updated. But some of this information seems to be in the water service area maps. Ms Yankowski suggested the information should be available with studies that have been conducted by groups at UVM, the state, the Arrowwood Group. We need to check the various resources at our disposal and review this topic in the future. b. Natural Resource Regulations Map Viewer (arcgis.com) shows wildlife overlays 12. City Ordinances the NRCC may want to review. a. Possibly noise- we need to check and see what already exists. Noise can impact the environment and wildlife in negative ways if allowed. 13. Review of DRB submissions. a. We did not see anything currently we should be concerned about. 14. Member updates and reports. a. CAD (Common Area for Dogs Committee) is looking for new members and our chair is stepping down due to family issues. The NRCC is also looking for new committee members. b. The Land Trust has a new bench honoring Sarah Dopp at Wheeler Park. Sarah was very involved with the VT Land Trust and SB Land Trust. She was a longstanding South Burlington resident. 15. Other business. a. Black Rock will be able to build – but they need to purchase the land first. Mr. Bossange and others near him have been fighting this. b. Burton Snowboards has backed out of letting High Ground Music Venue move into their building on Queen City Park Rd opposite Central Ave. in SB. Queen City Park residents along with nearby Burlington residents were fighting this venue due to noise concerns, traffic concerns across a one-lane bridge and possible after concert partying in Red Rocks Park. c. Mr. Doyle questioned view corridors and LDRs. We may want to see what protections are in place. 16. OUR NEXT MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 04, at 6:00pm'. 17. Adjourned 8:00 PM