HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Wheeler Conservation Easement Task Force - 09/12/2016
Wheeler Nature Park
Conserva on Easement
Task Force
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-4106
www.sburl.com
Monday, September 12, 2016
Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Jennifer Kochman, Mike Simoneau, Donna Leban, Be y Milizia, Cathy Frank, Sarah Dopp, Michael
Mi ag
Staff and Consul ng Team: Cathyann LaRose (City Planner), Maggie Leugers (Recrea on and Parks)
The mee ng began at 7:05 PM.
Agenda Review: Addi ons, Dele ons or Changes in Order of Agenda Items
None.
Comments and Ques ons from the Public Not Related to the Agenda
None.
Review July 21 Mee ng Minutes
Mee ng minutes inadvertently were not distributed to all members. Members agreed to con nue the minutes to the
next mee ng.
Review Dra Report
Ms. LaRose stated that the consultants had provided a revised dra an hour earlier which reflected many of the
comments that had been submi ed by several of the members of the Task Force. The consul ng team also provided a
memo addressing which comments were not [yet] incorporated and why. Some required clarity and others were
substan ve and deserved a group discussion before incorpora on.
Ms. LaRose also provided hard copies of the new Execu ve Summary, which was in response to member concern that the
document may appear too cumbersome for someone with only a few minutes. As members were just receiving it, they
agreed to read and provide comments at the next mee ng.
Members discussed the report and made several changes over the course of several hours. The following are highlights of
what was discussed- or decided- as noted:
1. Several minor changes to words or sentences.
2. Map changes. The taskforce felt that the bulge area was odd and not representa ve of where they saw the line.
Staff will follow up. The TF agreed to send out a few people to visit the site and try to communicate where they
believe the line should be.
3. There was consensus to move the word cloud and list of features to an appendix, and which would include an
asterisk or very obvious statement that it was not a scien fic or all-inclusive inventory but rather that it was the
brainstorming session and represented quick responses from those in a endance.
4. Small change to dra purpose statement.
5. Members discussed and ques oned the line between MP and CE designa on. Staff will follow up.
6. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the future of structures on the property: Members were unanimous
that there should never be any on the natural area, but there was disagreement with some undecided as to the
Homestead area. Discussion included elements such as permanency, types and sizes of buildings, and defini on
of ‘structure’. Members asked if there was a good reason this can’t be a CE element? Staff to follow up on the
la er with SE Group.
7. Regarding consultant recommenda ons: members asked staff to strongly recommend that consul ng group
remove “poten ally more urban” from bullet 1, and remove item number 6 completely. Staff will convey.
8. Ques ons and discussion arose regarding the treatment of the historic building. A er lengthy discussion,
members agreed to address this with a new bullet 7 under NEXT STEPS: Engage City Council to develop and
appoint a Historic and Cultural Resource Task Force with their first task being the considera on of the Wheeler
building.
Next steps
Staff will follow up on stated ques ons, work with GIS staff, and send doodle poll for next mee ng. Members will organize
a small group to visit the property. Ms. Leban will begin work on a transference memo to accompany the final report to
the City Council.
Adjourn
Mee ng adjourned by common consent at 9:40 pm.
Approved October 18, 2016.