The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutSP-15-48 - Decision - 0075 Green Mountain Drive#SP-15-48 CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING VERMONT COMMONS SCHOOL —75 GREEN MOUNTAIN DRIVE SITE PLAN APPLICATION #SP-15-48 FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION Vermont Commons School, hereinafter known as "applicant", is seeking site plan review to amend a previously approved plan for a 26,700 sq. ft. educational facility. The amendment consists of: 1) increasing the size of the lot from 1.31 acres to 1.40 acres when the applicant adjusted the boundary with the adjacent parcel to add 0.09 acres of land (#AD-15-03), 2) adding an outdoor classroom/grass volleyball court, 3) constructing a retaining wall, and 4) revising the landscaping plan, 75 Green Mountain Drive. Based on the plans and materials contained in the document file for this application, the Administrative Officer finds, concludes, and decides the following: FINDINGS OF FACT Applicant Vermont Commons School seeks site plan approval to amend a previously approved plan for a 26,700 sq. ft. educational facility. The amendment consists of increasing the size of the lot from 1.31 acres to 1.40 acres when the applicant adjusted the boundary with the adjacent parcel to add 0.09 acres of land (#AD-15-03), 2) adding an outdoor classroom/grass volleyball court, 3) constructing a retaining wall, and 4) revising the landscaping plan, 75 Green Mountain Drive. 2. The owner of record of the subject property is Vermont Commons School. 3. The application was received on July 23, 2015. 4. The subject property is located in the Commercial 2 Zoning District. 5. The plan submitted consists of a three (3) page set of plans, page one (1) is entitled, "Vermont Commons School Site Improvements 75 Green Mountain Drive South Burlington Vermont 05403", prepared by Civil Engineering Associates, Inc., dated 3/18/15, and last revised on 6/4/15. 6. The project involves, among other things, amending the site plan to reflect the increase in size of the lot when the applicant adjusted the boundary with the adjacent parcel to add 0.09 acres of land (#AD-15-03). 7. Zoning District & Dimensional Requirements C-2 Zoning District Required/Max. Proposed 4 Max. Building Coverage 40% 22.5% #SP-15-48 4 Max. Overall Coverage 70% 56.7% V Max. Front Yard Coverage 30% 5.9% v/ Min. Front Setback 30 ft. NO CHANGE Min. Side Setback 10 ft. NO CHANGE �I Min. Rear Setback 30 ft. NO CHANGE ✓zoning compliance 14.06 General Review Standards The following general criteria and standards shall be used by the Development Review Board in reviewing applications for site plan approval, They are intended to provide a framework within which the designer of the site development is free to exercise creativity, invention, and innovation while improving the visual appearance of the City of South Burlington. The Development Review Board shall not specify or favor any particular architectural style or design or assist in the design of any of the buildings submitted for approval, The Development Review Board shall restrict itself to a reasonable, professional review, and, except as otherwise provided in the following subsections, the applicant shall retain full responsibility for design, A. Relationship of Proposed Development to the City of South Burlington Comprehensive Plan. Due attention by the applicant should be given to the goals and objectives and the stated land use policies for the City of South Burlington as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan, B. Relationship of Proposed Structures to the Site. (1) The site shall be planned to accomplish a desirable transition from structure to site, from structure to structure, and to provide for adequate planting, safe pedestrian movement, and adequate parking areas. Already existing; no changes proposed. The Administrative Officer finds this criterion satisfied. (2) Parking; (a) Parking shall be located to the rear or sides of buildings Any side of a building facing a public street shall be considered a front side of a building for the purposes of this subsection. Already existing; no changes proposed. The Administrative Officer finds this criterion satisfied. (3) Without restricting the permissible limits of the applicable zoning district, the height and scale of each building shall be compatible with its site and existing or anticipated adjoining buildings, (4) Newly installed utility services and service modifications necessitated by exterior alterations or building expansion shall, to the extent feasible, be underground, #SP-15-48 C. Relationship of Structures and Site to Adjoining Area, (1) The Development Review Board shall encourage the use of a combination of common materials and architectural characteristics (e.g., rhythm, color, texture, form or detailing), landscaping, buffers, screens and visual interruptions to create attractive transitions between buildings of different architectural styles (2) Proposed structures shall be related harmoniously to themselves, the terrain and to existing buildings and roads in the vicinity that have a visual relationship to the proposed structures Already existing; no changes proposed. The Board finds these criteria satisfied. 14.07 Specific Review Standards A. Access to Abutting Properties The reservation of land may be required on any lot for provision of access to abutting properties whenever such access is deemed necessary to reduce curb cuts onto an arterial or collector street, to provide additional access for emergency or other purposes, or to improve general access and circulation in the area. No changes proposed. The Administrative Officer finds this criterion satisfied. B. Utility Services Electric, telephone and other wire -served utility lines and service connections shall be underground insofar as feasible and subject to state public utilities regulations Any utility installations remaining above ground shall be located so as to have a harmonious relation to neighboring properties and to the site. Already covered above. The Administrative Officer finds this criterion satisfied. C. Disposal of Wastes. All dumpsters and other facilities to handle solid waste, including compliance with any recycling or other requirements, shall be accessible, secure and properly screened with opaque fencing to ensure that trash and debris do not escape the enclosure(s). Small receptacles intended for use by households or the public (ie, non-dumpster, non -large drum) shall not be required to be fenced or screened. The plan should be revised to indicate the dumpster enclosure will be enclosed on all four (4) sides. D. Landscaping and Screening Requirements See Article 13, Section 13.06 Landscaping, Screening, and Street Trees The applicant is proposing to revise the landscaping plan by altering the mix of plantings from the last plan approved (#SP-15-13) and to remove an 18" Pine tree. Five (5) River birch trees are proposed to replace the Pine tree being removed. The last approved plan showed $3100 of new plantings. The current plan shows $10,432 worth of plantings for a difference of $7,332. The City Arborist in an email dated 8/18/15 indicted that this revised plan "looks good to me". #SP-15-48 DECISION Based on the above Findings of Fact, the Administrative Officer herby approves site plan application #SP-15-48 of Vermont Commons School, subject to the following conditions: 1. All previous approvals and stipulations shall remain in full effect except as amended herein. 2. This project shall be completed as shown on the plans submitted by the applicant and on file in the South Burlington Department of Planning and Zoning. 3. All exterior lighting shall consist of downcasting, shielded fixtures. Prior to the issuance of a zoning permit, the applicant shall provide the Administrative Officer cut -sheets of any new exterior light fixtures. 4. Prior to permit issuance, the applicant shall post a $7,332 landscaping bond. This bond shall remain in full effect for three (3) years to assure that the landscaping has taken root and has a good chance of survival. 5. The applicant shall obtain a zoning permit within six (6) months pursuant to Section 17.04 of the Land Development Regulations or this approval is null and void. 6. The applicant shall obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Administrative Officer on the effective date of the zoning permit. A Signed this day of !� _ 2015, by Ra '" and J. Belair, Ad inistrative Officer PLEASE NOTE: Pursuant to 24 VSA §4465, an interested person may appeal this decision by filing a Notice of Appeal with the secretary of the Development Review Board. This Notice of Appeal must be accompanied with a $233 filing fee and be filed within 15 days of the date of this decision. The applicant or permittee retains the obligation to identify, apply for, and obtain relevant state permits for this project. Call 802.879.5676 to speak with the regional Permit Specialist.