HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Chamberlin Neighborhood Airport Planning Committee - 04/28/2016
CHAMBERLIN NEIGHBORHOOD-AIRPORT PLANNING COMMITTEE
COMMUNITY MEETING
MEETING MINUTES 28 APRIL 2016
The South Burlington Chamberlin/Airport Study Commi ee held a public mee ng on Thursday, 28 April 2016, at 7:00
p.m., in the Gymnasium of Chamberlin School, White Street.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: C. Sargent, Chair; K. Robinson, G. Maille, L. LaRock, J. Simson, P. Nowak, K. Schlenter,
W. Rooney, G. Severance
ALSO PRESENT: P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; L. Krohn, C. Forde, CCRPC; B. Chamberlin, S. Smallridge, C.
Schlessinger, Consultants; E. Allen, N. Anderson, M. Ashton, T. Barri , W. & C. Boardmen, E. & B. Bouvier, L. Boyajian, R.
Brice, T. Chi enden, E. Clark, N. Corron, E. Diner, S. Dooley, L. Edson, M. Emery, D. Finnegan, M. Goyet, T. Gravelin, A.
Hanaway-Corrente, R. Hubbard, M. John, M. Jonswold, R. Joy, E. Malone, L. & S. Marrio , K. Mercure, A. Morton, J. Nolin,
R. Nowak, C. Orfe, B. Paque e, R. Plumley, S. & D. Quennelle, J. Rasewski, S. Reid, G. Shepard, C. Sheppard, C Sicard, M.
Sunderland, C. Thompson, M. Townsend
1. Welcome:
Mr. Conner welcomed members of the public and reviewed the history of funding for a commi ee to focus on ideas for
the future of the Chamberlin-Airport neighborhood. He then introduced the commi ee Chair, Carmine Sargent.
2. Chamberlin Neighborhood Airport Planning Commi ee Remarks:
Ms. Sargent asked members of the Commi ee to introduce themselves. She then explained that the Commi ee was
created by the City Council a year ago because of quality of life issues in the neighborhood. The Commi ee meets once a
month with consultants. A number of residents also a end mee ngs. Ms. Sargent cited help from City Planner, Paul
Conner, and from Lee Krohn of the Regional Planning Commission.
The Commi ee has three main goals: strengthening the neighborhood, crea ng walkable streets, and addressing noise
mi ga on. To address noise issues, a noise sub-commi ee was formed. Their report will be presented at the next
community mee ng in June. Tonight’s mee ng will focus on transporta on.
Ms. Sargent noted that it is the Commi ee’s hope that the City Council will create a “standing commi ee” to con nue to
address issues in this neighborhood.
3. Consultants’ Presenta on:
Mr. Chamberlin of RSG cited the work of the Commi ee to come up with improvements for the community. These
improvements fall into 3 categories: transporta on improvements and civic improvements, and ins tu onal
arrangements. Mr. Chamberlin drew a en on to posters around the room based on ideas from people in the
neighborhood.
The project has three main objec ves:
a. To establish an on-going process for a dialog with the Airport
b. To develop a neighborhood land use transporta on plan
c. To submit recommenda ons to the City Council
The next mee ng of the Commi ee will be on 11 May. The next community mee ng will be on 7 June at which the final
plan will be presented.
Mr. Maille noted that the Commi ee is discussing a “noise commi ee” which would survive the present commi ee. He
also stressed that land acquired by the Airport has limited use.
Mr. Chamberlin then asked members of the audience to view the displays and to provide feedback.
4. Community Feedback:
Members of the audience provided feedback as follows:
An audience member ques oned the Airport Drive display and did not understand the configura on of the second
diagram, whether it was a possibility for the present of for the future. Mr. Conner explained that this is the Airport’s plan,
not the city’s plan. The vision is for 2030 and beyond. The Airport is considering an Interchange directly into the Airport.
There is another version of this that is less complex. Both are long-term visions. Mr. Conner added that the city does
have a vision of connec ng Airport Parkway and Airport Drive. This is also a long-range plan. The cost for such a project
would range from $12,000,000 to $20,000,000.
Mr. Chamberlin noted that the top graphic indicates suggested street closures, which is a short-term vision. There is
some agreement on the CNAP Commi ee regarding those closures.
An audience member expressed an interest in seeing the study for connec ng Airport Parkway and Airport Drive. Mr.
Conner said there will be 2 addi onal community mee ngs in the next few weeks. An Airport mee ng in June will have
that study as will the next CNAP community mee ng.
Ms. Nowak asked Mr. Conner to explain the ownership of roads.
Mr. Conner said all roads in the neighborhood are owned by the City of South Burlington except the drive into the Airport
for dropping off passengers. Anything to do with those roads is a city decision made through the City Council. A
connector road would involve the Airport as an adjacent property owner. Ms. Sargent noted that because Airport Drive
accesses the Airport, federal money can be obtained for a project that involves that road. Mr. Conner said this would
depend on the type of project as there are different “pots” of money.
A community member asked about the road closures going into Elizabeth and Patrick Streets on Plan B.
Ms. Sargent said the Airport wants to close both streets, but they are s ll on the Airport Master Plan and probably won’t
happen soon. Mr. Conner said there are op ons to try something and see how it works. Ms. Sargent said one aim is to
get “cut-through” traffic out of the neighborhood. She noted that most of that traffic is going to the Airport. Mr.
Chamberlin added that there is also a goal of having fewer curb cuts, which would reduce poten al accident points.
There are several driveways being closed down.
Mr. Conner stressed the need to always consider “unintended consequences” of an ac on and whether traffic would
affect a different street if a street were to be closed. He also stressed that the aim is to have safer neighborhood streets
with cars going slowly when they should be going slowly.
A resident felt that Williston Road traffic could be kept moving by making it back to 4 lanes instead of having drivers going
through the Chamberlin neighborhood to avoid Williston Road.
Another community said Williston Road is very scary where it goes into one lane, with big cars cu ng off smaller cars.
She asked why Williston Road was changed to allow this to happen. Mr. Conner said there was a transporta on study
done to improve safety, and this was considered. There were pros and cons, and the City Council decided that a center
turn lane and slow lanes with bike lanes was safer.
A resident wanted to see more bike lanes through the neighborhood and neighborhood greenways.
Another community member noted that since Williston Rd. was changed, traffic backs up from Gracey’s to Lacy’s, and
there are over 320 cars an hour on White Street, some of them going in excess of 50 or 60 miles an hour. Crossing guards
have almost been hit many mes by people who refuse to stop.
Mr. Conner said they are trying to think crea vely about bringing neighborhood streets back to being neighborhood
streets and to make streets feel like a place to go slowly. Mr. Chamberlin noted that White Street is a very straight street.
He thought bike lanes might make it seem to be a street to go slower on.
Ms. Sargent noted there is a plan to change how White Street goes onto Williston Road by making it a 4-way intersec on
at Midas Drive. Mr. Conner said the city is in the design phase of that plan.
A resident asked for more enforcement of speeders. He noted a “ni y” STOP sign on Tilley Drive and suggested one for
this area.
Ms. Nowak said the City Council is very concerned with traffic on White Street, but trying to control traffic is an issue. The
city is ge ng new units to monitor car speeds, and this may be helpful.
Mr. Paque e spoke in favor of a bike lane instead of a second sidewalk on the north side of White Street. He also
suggested benches at viewpoints and a boardwalk along Centennial Brook Ravine.
Ms. Dooley asked how successful the ameni es could be. Mr. Simson cited a “library” established in the Southeast
Quadrant that is very successful. He cited it as something a community can do without government help. Mr. Conner
added it is also a great way for neighbors to meet neighbors.
Mr. Conner thanked members of the public for a ending and reminded them of the next community mee ng in June.
Mr. Conner also reminded the community of Green Up Day on 7 May. Bags on picked up trash can be brought to City Hall
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
As there were no further ques ons or comments, the mee ng was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Commi ee May 11, 2016