HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Natural Resources Committee - 03/02/2016South Burlington Natural Resources Committee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-4106
www.sburl.com
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
6:00pm
South Burlington Municipal Offices, 575 Dorset Street
MEETING MINUTES for Regular Monthly Meeting
APPROVED 4/6/2016
Present: Betty Milizia (NRC Chair), Patrick Clemins (NRC Clerk), Russell Agne (NRC Member),
Melissa Cuke (NRC Member), Sean Devine (NRC Member), Jeff Dickson (NRC Member),
Cathyann LaRose (NRC Staff Liaison - SB City Planner)
The meeting was called to order at 6:02pm.
Comments from Public: No members of the public were present.
Approval of 2/3/2016 Minutes: Agne moved to approve the 2/3/2016 minutes. Cuke seconded.
The minutes were unanimously approved.
Announcements and Staff Reports: The new Land Development Regulations (LDRs) are still
under review by the City Council, with various changes being made.
The ballot question on the use of ½ of the Open Space Fund for the repayment of a bond / loan
to make improvements in the city’s current natural areas passed. There is an opening on the
Development Review Board as a result of yesterday’s election. The Department of Planning and
Zoning has hired a new Development Review Planner.
City Council has had an on-going conversation about reducing the overlap of effort between
city committees and making more efficient use of staff time. To advance this conversation, city
staff is organizing meetings between committee chairs to discuss ways to improve collaboration
between, and delineate the roles of the committees.
The Planning Commission has decided to have a “Committee Night” for their April 26th meeting
as part of their on-going effort to strengthen their relationship with the other city committees.
They will be sending the committees a questionnaire in advance of Committee Night to help
guide the conversation that evening.
Clemins gave an update on the Chamberlin Neighborhood Airport Planning Committee
(CNAPC). CNAPC had their initial meeting on Transportation improvement options, with
meetings on Civic Enhancements and Land Use upcoming. The consultants will then return to
the committee with detailed improvements options in each of the above three categories
followed by a public forum to gain public feedback on those options. Committee work should
wrap up by the end of June.
The Planning Commission has expressed interest in moving forward on sustainable agriculture
issues including crafting regulations supporting agro-tourism.
All city agendas and minutes are now at
http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=SouthBurlington-vt.
The first Saturday in May is Green-Up Day.
Wheeler Nature Park Conservation Easement: The Wheeler Nature Park Conservation
Easement Task Force meeting is on March 16th. The task force consists of the Natural
Resources, Recreation & Leisure Arts, and Bicycle & Pedestrian Committees. Milizia, Agne, and
Cuke will represent the Natural Resources Committee.
Scenic Views: Jennifer Kochman, Agne, and Milizia visited the last Planning Commission
meeting to talk about the work of the Open Space Committee pertaining to identifying and
evaluating scenic views. Agne noted that the Commission was especially interested in how best
to conserve open space and scenic views. One issue the discussion focused on was the
significance of the foreground of the view, and not just the mountain or lake view.
CCRPC Funding Update: The Planning Commission and City Council submit prioritized grant
requests to the Unified Planning Work Program each year. A scenic view inventory project was
included in this year’s set of proposals. A second proposal submitted would establish a
additional natural resource protection standards.
Action Items:
· Committee: Review Good Ideas List and come to the next meeting with your top three
priorities. Your priorities may include new items for the list.
· Clemins and LaRose: Look at Good Ideas List for those that might result in regulatory
action.
· Milizia and LaRose: Schedule visits from the Williston Conservation Commission, the
Winooski Valley Park District, and UVM Planning at a future Committee meeting.
Next Meetings: The Natural Resources Committee normally meets on the first Wednesday of
each month.
The next meeting will be:
· April 6th, 6:00pm – Committee Organization, John Painter from Fellowship of the Wheel,
Planning Commission Questionnaire
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Clemins