HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Dog Park Committee - 03/04/2019
South Burlington Dog Park Commi ee
APPROVED
Mee ng Minutes
March 4, 2019
Present: Barb Sirvis (at large), Elizabeth (Be y) Milizia (NRC), Linda Chiasson (at large), Larry
Kupferman (at large), Mike Simoneau (RPC), Maggie Leugers (Staff Advisor), Paul Connor (City
Planner) and Jus n Rabidoux (Public Works Dept.)
Member of the public: none present
1) Safety Procedures: Maggie directed us to rear doors and outdoor mee ng area in case of an
emergency.
2) Larry serves as Clerk tonight.
3) Agenda adopted as presented.
4) Minutes – 2/20, 2019 approved as presented.
5) Review trends and summary of SoBu Dog Park Survey and Community Forum;
Barb noted there weren’t par cularly new ideas but rather reinforcement and support for what
we are doing and where we are going. All agreed.
6) Site selec on op ons and considera ons with Paul Connor and Jus n Rabidoux:
a. Farrell Park expansion and modifica ons
Jus n thought that some assessment will be made in the spring of Farrell Park as to
making it larger.
Issues of wet areas and size (too small). Expansion ideas:
Give some idea of moving it southward at Farrell Park
Move some if it closer to Swi St by taking up some of the parking area and
considering what he called “upper Farrell park,” par cularly using a por on of deep le
field of the ball park possibly for small dogs.
Water is possible on the lower sec on, not the upper sec ons.
Some reconfigura on of the bike path would need to be considered. Some safety
concerns now with bikers coming east and down the path at good speeds while others
are crossing it to get the dog park or the small play area for children.
Shape could be made irregular if the dog area could be made larger.
Be y recommended pea stone as a preferred surface for dog parks in general and
Jus n agreed it is the recommended surface.
If expanded, Farrell Park would s ll be under ½ acre in size.
b. Other areas to consider: City owned.
Picard Circle now a storm water and grassed area as well as other stormwater
projects over the next 10 years.
Dorset Park, Underwood, and Wheeler Park all were discussed for pros and cons:
natural resource concerns, parking, water, proximity to neighbors.
Wheeler Homestead area adjacent to the small parking area on Swi St Ext. as a
poten al site.
Butler Farms along Hinesburg Rd: a stormwater site with an area fenced but not
used. Parking available along the road ways leading to the housing development.
Red Rocks parking areas.
Garvey Park.
Berard Drive and Airport Parkway and/or Ethan Allen and Lime Kiln Road
intersec ons on airport owned lands
c. Other areas to consider NOT City owned:
Barb asked about process from City Council to approach owners of private lands—
whether staff should inves gate and/or ask Council approval for seeking use of private
lands and the approach to take with a 5-10 year lease.
Tilley Dr as it connects to Technology Park. Tech Park area reserved for a possible
off ramp from the Interstate (may be the same parcel as above) currently owned by
Pizzagalli.
O’Brien development and lands at Kimball and Old Farm Rds.
Meadowlands Dr off Route 116.
7) Review of previously-iden fied and new sugges ons for loca ons.
Garvey Park - needs another look
Underwood Master Plan - with current programs being discussed as well as a
wetland study underway
Wheeler Park - between the farmhouse and parking area on Swi St Ext.
Red Rocks - s ll possible but close to Farrell Park
Meadowlands Proper es suggested for staff inves ga on.
Barb and others would like to have us revisit City Parks (Dorset in par cular) in a different
way. Maggie will have a look at any reconfiguring that could happen.
Removed from considera on:
Oak Creek
Area under the landing strip at Airport Parkway
Lime Kiln intersec on at airport proper es.
This ended the mee ng without any other agenda items discussed.
Mee ng Schedule:
3/25 at 5-6:45
4/8 at 5-6:45
4/24 at 5-6:45 (changed from 4/22)
5/6 at 4:30-6 pm
Late May: 2nd community mee ng
6/3 SBCC presenta on