HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Natural Resources Committee - 10/05/2016Text Box: DRAFT
South Burlington Natural Resources Committee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-4106
www.sburl.com
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
6:00pm
South Burlington Municipal Offices, 575 Dorset Street
MEETING MINUTES for Regular Monthly Mee ng
Members Present: Be y Milizia, Melissa Cuke, Sean Devine, David Crawford, Gwen Kozlowski, Kris n Williams
Also Present: Cathyann LaRose (NRC Staff Liaison - SB City Planner); Sarah Dopp (President of South Burlington Land
Trust); and Students from UVM Community Development and Applied Economics and Environmental Studies: Kevin Irwin,
Kate Libby, Cara Stapleford, and Katherine Pate.
The mee ng was called to order at 6:05 pm.
1) Addi ons, dele ons or changes in order of agenda items.
Melissa Cuke recommended reminding the commi ee about the upcoming AVCC Conserva on Conference. The
original agenda had been changed to accommodate discussion of Act 174 – The energy ci ng bill. Members agreed.
Brief introduc ons were also added since there are newer commi ee members and students from UVM present.
2) Comments from the public not related to the agenda.No comments from the public. Students introduced themselves, the class they were taking and their major.
3) Approval of mee ng minutes for September.David Crawford made a mo on to approve the minutes, Sean Devine seconded, and minutes for September wereapproved.
4) Act 174: the Energy Si ng Bill.
Cathyann explained Act 174 and the contract the CCRPC has through the Department of Public Service (DPS) to create
a regional energy plan, as part of a larger statewide effort with mul ple regions, in effort to meet VT’s energy goals.
This is a planning tool, not a regulatory tool, which may add greater weight to their plans in the energy si ng process
before the Public Service Board (PSB). The CCRPC presented to the SBPC on Sept. 27th. Cathyann presented to the
commi ee slides from this presenta on, including maps showing iden fied areas of poten ally appropriate energy
genera on si ng, using a set of constraints generated by CCRPC. The SBPC has asked both the Natura Resource and
Energy commi ees to weigh in on these proposed constraints by the next SBPC mee ng, so the SBPC can submit
comments to the CCRPC by November, who will then submit dra maps to DPS by Dec. 1st.
There was clarifica on about the role of PSB as opposed to Act 250 / Environmental Board. There was also discussion
of ‘substan al deference’ language in Act 174. Commi ee members discussed poten al constraints proposed by the
CCRPC – as either a ‘level 1’ which would likely preclude development (FEMA corridors, federal wilderness, rare
natural areas, vernal pools, class 1 or 2 wetlands, and transporta on infrastructure) or ‘level 2’ constraints that would
impact but not necessarily prevent energy development (agriculture/hydric Soils, FEMA 100 yr flood zone, 500 yr
flood zone, habitat blocks, conserved lands, deer wintering areas, and class 3 wetlands), along with addi onal
suggested ‘level 1’ constraints (ANR lands, 1 km buffer around industrial wind, and wetland and surface water
buffers). Wetland and surface water buffers were discussed further in rela on to impaired surface waters, habitat
blocks were discussed as poten ally being a ‘level 1’, and there was clarifica on as to how conserva on easements
work in rela on to energy si ng. CCRPC proposed constraints were compared to ‘primary and secondary resources’ as
iden fied in the Open Space Plan.
Addi onal factors, such as scenic views, historic sites and cultural areas were discussed as poten ally important
considera ons. There was also discussion of how data changes over me and how that data is updated. The
commi ee considered how energy planning relates to the City Center and discussed developing a list of loca on
types that would be most appropriate for energy si ng par cularly in the first stages of the planned growth that
would match both alterna ve energy and conserva on goals. There was serious concern about the lack of me in
iden fying and priori zing both constraints and opportuni es within one commi ee mee ng with all the different
‘moving pieces’.
David Crawford made a mo on for the co-chairs Melissa Cuke and Be y Milizia to dra a le er to give the Planning
Commission with Cathyann’s help for accuracy, including sugges ons for poten al constraints. The dra will be sent
to commi ee members for feedback. The mo on was seconded by Sean Devine and all approved.
5) Wheeler Conserva on Taskforce Update.
The Wheeler taskforce reports to the City Council on Wheeler Park and the developing conserva on easement. There
was a recent mee ng of the taskforce with an updated dra report in progress and discussion of boundary lines
between the homestead and natural area. Those on the taskforce agree that the boundary should be adjusted to be
more prac cal. Cathyann LaRose displayed a map of the current boundary designa on and discussed how it might
change. The taskforce will be upda ng the map and another taskforce mee ng is planned soon but TBA.
6) Open Space Fund Taskforce Update
Postponed as nobody was in a endance who could speak to this.
7) Future Commi ee Topics.
Be y Milizia and Melissa Cuke a ended a leadership workshop on Sept. 29th hosted by the City, and they discussed
how to be er foster connec on between commi ees and what is the framework for how staff support and relate to
commi ee chairs. This may be a topic for future discussion. The commi ee would like to invite Jens Hilke (Associa on
of VT Conserva on Commissions and Department of Fish and Wildlife) back to discuss / facilitate further conserva on
work plans. The commi ee plans to go over its “good ideas” list and invite members to contribute new ideas or
general focus goals. The commi ee would like to give further a en on to the discussion of possible loca ons of
alterna ve energy genera on. There will be further updates on Wheeler dra report. Those who a end the AVCC
Summit will give a report. Finally, since there are new commi ee members, some of whom could not a end this
mee ng, the commi ee will address whether the mee ng me and day works with everyone’s schedules.
8) Adjourn.
The Next mee ng will be November 2, at 6pm, South Burlington Municipal Offices, 575 Dorset St. Mee ng
adjourned by mutual consent at 8:00 pm.
Respec ully submi ed,
Kris n Williams