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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Open Space IZ Committee - 06/19/2019South Burlington Open Space Interim Zoning Committee June 19, 2019 The Open Space IZ Committee held a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at 7:00 pm, in the Green Mountain Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street . Members present: Vince Bolduc, Alyson Chalnick, Meaghan Emery, Amanda Holland, Duncan Murdoch, Allan Strong, Sam Swanson, and Tami Zylka. Also present: Rob Chittenden and Jens Hilke. Absent members: Bernie Gagnon, Sophie Mazowita, and Betty Milizia. 1. Directions on emergency evacuation procedures from conference room: Allan called the meeting to order and provided instructions on emergency evacuation of the building. 2. Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items: No changes were made. 3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda: No comments were made. 4. Summary of public comments received during the June 19 Public Forum: Allan gave a summary of the public outreach meeting, noted that the feedback on our methodology was positive and that questions mainly pertained to Tier 1 and Tier 3, which we are still refining. He also noted that a member of the public referred to the soils map and that another member asked about compensation for landowners who might be approached by the City. 5. Input on conservation priorities from VTFWD biologist Jens Hilke Jens noted that his overview of our methodology was also positive. As a consultant, he would advise South Burlington that our priorities are the riparian network and where they combine with forest blocks. Jens showed how the map can be manipulated in BioFinder, an open online resource used by the Agency of Natural Resources’ conservation partners, land-use planners, and members of the general public. He also walked the Committee through the different tools on the site. One could choose to use an aerial map, the heat infrared map, or the US Geological Survey 7.5, aka “Topquad” (showing contour lines, vegetation, etc.). Jens also showed how to access the different layers on the map: Natural Resources Atlas, ANR Basemap, VCGI Open Data. A potentially useful tool for spatial communication is “draw,” which allows someone to choose an area to save and export as a shape file (using “map tools” and “map data”) that can be uploaded and used as a separate data layer to include on a custom map. Another feature allows the user to save a map image as a .jpg file. Left-clicking on the map opens the window most pertinent to what is being studied: “landscape scale,” showing the highest priorities and priorities; “rare species,” which give the EO number that identifies the species in question. When studying a particular feature (“habitat blocks,” for instance), the user can right-click on a block to see more details. Allan asked whether it was possible to get all of our data from BioFinder rather than flipping back and forth between BioFinder and the CCRPC map. Jens suggested that we ask the CCRPC to add the BioFinder map layers to the CCRPC map, which is not a “big ask.” The Prioritization data are provided through a single map service, and inventory is not, however. One would have to go layer by layer for Inventory. Allan asked about wildlife crossings. Jens shared that connectivity science is relatively new and gave more details. Wildlife crossings show where we know or think that animals cross in a discrete section, and wildlife linkages or connectors are intended to show where there is potential for wildlife movement. Wildlife linkage ratings are computer-generated and older data, he specified. Alyson asked about the riparian terminology in order to understand which elements Committee members should be focusing on. Jens pointed the group to “Riparian Wildlife Connectivity” for its work (under “Prioritization” and then “Landscape Scale Components”). He also showed members “Highest priority surface water and riparian areas” (under “Prioritization” and then “Landscape scale components”). Highest priority identifies the areas that are more likely to get wet (as opposed to priority for which existing development is taken into account when the data set is made). Highest priority also includes a buffer. These data (one pixel is equal to thirty meters) is not adequate for regulatory purposes in South Burlington, which requires specifications up to the foot since things are so tight here. Duncan asked about grasslands. Jens answered that the data is only reliable within a year, and the data on BioFinder is 10 years old. From a spatial data standpoint, the state does not have good grassland bird habitat data. Allan shared the Committee’s goal to capture the diverse ecological communities here in South Burlington, and noted that while we are densely populated, we do have bird species that are of value here. Jens confirmed that this criterion adds ecological value to our city and deserves a place in the Committee’s Tier 2 criteria. Allan directed the group to go back to our consideration of Tier 1 connectivity criteria. Looking at the city map, Jens showed the Committee statewide priorities for watersheds and then forest blocks (less numerous than elsewhere in the state because of our development density); he encouraged the Committee to prioritize forest blocks according to community priorities at the local scale. For working lands, Jens recommends conserving farms rather than prime ag soils or other underlying natural conditions. On BioFinder, under “Prioritization,” then “Layer Catalog,” then “Natural Resources Atlas,” then “Geology,” and then “Soils-Prime Agricultural,” one finds the different prioritized prime agricultural lands. Jens agreed with the Committee’s overall framework to give more points to Tier 1, our “network,” noting that Tier 2 should be used to support that prioritization. 6. Progress update on parcel rankings: Allan showed Committee members how our rankings appear so far: how many of the 130 parcels Committee members have evaluated scored on all five criteria under Tier 2 (broken down into how many scored on four, three, two, one, and zero); how many parcels scored multiple times per criterion; and, finally, which parcels and groups of parcels appear to be the highest priority on our City map. Members expressed the need to specify acreage for each of the parcels. 7. Next steps for producing final report Vince reviewed the final report’s form. It will be a 183 page document (one page per parcel), combined with an introduction and appendices. Vince suggests that for each parcel, an excel spreadsheet be included, but with vertical scoring so that it could fit on one page, along with a paragraph-long narrative. Allan will send out the Committee’s results combined in a single spreadsheet to the members so that they can all see how others have been writing their narratives. Allan stated that it is easy to add to members’ individual spreadsheets to a combined spreadsheet and asked that members make changes or edits to their original file and then re-send to him. Amanda asked how the Committee can ensure that the earlier studies (2002 Open Space Study and the Arrowwood Study) will not be lost in the Tier 1 ranking. Allan responded that members can access the 2002 study on the CCRPC map. Regarding Tier 3, members expressed a lack of confidence in determining ranking, particularly with regard to the historical/archaeological criterion. The fact that the members cannot address this criterion needs to be addressed in the final report. Jens Hilke recommended Brennan Gauthier (Brennon.Gauthier@vermont.gov) as a source for a data set for archaeological sites. Members agreed that Tier 3 should not be scored but that recommended uses are appropriate within the narrative, based on a checking off for each of the different supporting factors that apply. Allan encouraged Committee members to send him ideas for the format of the final report ahead of the next meeting. 8. Review and approval Meeting Minutes: June 4, 2019: Tami moved to approve the minutes, and Sam seconded. They were approved 7-0-1 (Vince abstained). 9. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned shortly after 9pm. The next meeting is on Tuesday, July 2 at 7pm, in City Hall.