HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Natural Resources Committee - 10/23/2013South Burlington Natural Resources Committee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-4106
www.sburl.com
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
6:15pm
South Burlington Municipal Offices, 575 Dorset Street
MEETING MINUTES for Regular Bi‐Monthly Meeting
Present: Laurel Williams (Interim NRC/OSC Chair), Patrick Clemins (NRC/OSC Clerk), Russell
Agne (NRC/OSC Member), Jeff Dickson (NRC/OSC Member), Jim Duncan (NRC/OSC Member),
Larry Michaels (NRC/OSC Member), Betty Milizia (NRC/OSC Member), Cathyann LaRose
(NRC/OSC Staff Liaison ‐ SB City Planner), Helen Riehle (NRC/OSC City Council Rep), Barbara
Benton (OSC Member ‐ Planning Commission), Sarah Dopp (OSC Member ‐ SB Land Trust),
Jennifer Kochman (OSC Member ‐ Rec and Leisure Arts Cmte), Sharon Murray (OSC Consultant ‐
Front Porch Community Planning & Design)
OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE
Meeting called to order at 6:23pm.
9/25/2013 and 10/3/2013 Minutes: Kochman moved to approve both the 9/25/2013 and
10/3/2013 minutes. Dickson seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
City Center Open Space Memo: Murray circulated a draft of the memo earlier in the week in
preparation for the meeting and the committee provided feedback. The Recreation & Leisure
Arts Committee also reviewed the draft. They had strong support for the recommendations
contained in the memo and provided some other feedback and suggestions. The main issues
discussed were:
Adding a bullet point on primary conservation areas to the Urban Open Space definition,
Including an explanation of the different geographical definitions of “city center”,
Including information about the various surveys recently conducted on South
Burlington’s views of open space,
The differences between the TIF concept plan and the current version of the regulating
plan and the components of the TIF concept plan that the committee would like to see
better preserved in the regulating plan,
Specific recommendations around the central green including size and location,
Adding specificity to open space standards in the current LDRs, and
Conservation of existing natural resources (i.e. trees).
Agne moved to accept the draft memo with amendments as discussed. LaRose will amend the
memo before presentation to the Form‐Based Code Committee and the Planning Commission.
Kochman seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Underwood Property: John Belter has requested a three‐year lease to farm the Underwood
Property and the Natural Resource and Recreation and Leisure Arts Committees have been
asked if this conflicts with their plans for the property. There was a discussion of concerns
about potentially unrecoverable changes to the land, along with some other concerns including
access to the land so that a plan for the land can be developed. Williams moved that the
committee recommend that the city not enter into a lease of the Underwood property for any
purpose, but that if a lease is entered into, it should be for a single year at fair market value.
Michaels seconded and amended the motion to add that the land must be returned to the state
in which it was in prior to the lease and that the lessee provide proof that funds are available to
perform this restoration. Williams accepted the amendment. Dopp amended the motion to
include access to the land so that South Burlington Committees can assess the property and
begin work on a comprehensive vision for the property. Duncan seconded and Williams
accepted the amendment. The motion passed by a 6‐1 vote. Clemins will write a memo
outlining these recommendations for submission to the City Council.
Staff Report: The Form‐Based Code Committee is on schedule to wrap up their work on
October 31st. Any unfinished and future work will be reassigned to the Planning Commission.
The Form‐Based Code and Open Space Committees will present their progress at the next
Planning Commission meeting on November 12th.
Next Meeting: The next regular meeting of the Natural Resources Committee / Open Space
Committee will be Wednesday, November 6th at 6:15pm. Future meetings will be on the first
and third Wednesdays of each month at 6:15pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:43pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Clemins