Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - Open Space IZ Committee - 11/14/2019South Burlington Open Space Interim Zoning Committee November 14, 2019 The Open Space IZ Committee held a regular meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2019, at 7:00 pm, in the second-floor conference room, City Hall. Members present: Vince Bolduc, Meaghan Emery, Duncan Murdoch, Allan Strong, Sam Swanson, and Tami Zylka. Absent members: Alyson Chalnick, Bernie Gagnon, Amanda Holland, Sophie Mazowita, and Betty Milizia. Members of the public: Tom Bailey, Tim Hess, and Karen and Alan Long. 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: Allan asked that Declan McCabe’s student research project be added to the agenda. Tami asked that a discussion on the Affordable Housing Committee’s request to use the Committee’s research for their work. 3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda: No public comments were made. 4. Request for information from Declan McCabe for student research program at Saint Michael’s College Declan McCabe of Saint Michael’s College and the Master Naturalist Program presented an idea to have students place 20 cameras in different areas of interest to the Committee (either existing properties that the city owns or remaining open space parcels). He had already looked at Underwood and Muddy Brook Corridor. All he needs is trees to attach them to and permission, and he’s ready to begin work on November 16, placing cameras that will remain in place until mid- February. The students will present their data at a professional meeting in spring semester. He asked for properties that might be of interest to the Committee. Murdoch stated that he had been in contact with Declan and suggested areas along highway underpasses, particularly along Potash Brook, and Bartlett Brook that goes under Rte 7 adjacent to the Farrell property. Allan suggested the Great Swamp, along the east side of the South Village expansion. Alan Long provided additional information on the site as an adjacent landowner. Meaghan asked whether there was a relationship between South Village parcel and the Underwood parcel, and Mr. Long confirmed that there was. Tim Hess suggested that the closing of the bridge on Kimball Ave. might encourage more animal crossings in that area. Tami asked whether there was a relationship between the Kimball Ave. crossing and Whales Tails. Vince stated that an active spot was the north end of Muddy Brook. 5. Finalize priority parcel groupings: Allan provided a history of the Committee’s methods: with the exception of 4 parcels, the rankings are based on parcels meeting Tier 1 criteria and a minimum of 2 criteria from Tier 2; in addition, no conservation regulations are on the parcels. By separating the UVM lands from them and using acreage and level of protection as further eliminators, the Committee arrived at a list of 22 parcels. Karen Long, a landowner of one of the 22 parcels, asked about the conservation process. Allan responded that there would be an iterative process between the City and landowners if the City expressed an interest in conserving any of the parcels and there were willing sellers. Mr. Long shared history of the City’s constraints on development on the back of the property and expressed his concern that the family is paying taxes on property that they currently cannot develop under Interim Zoning. Allan suggested reducing the list to 20 requiring that criteria be met on Tier 1 criteria (which eliminated 2 of the four exceptions). This met the Committee’s support. Bernie suggested including in the final report a narrative on parcels that did not make the top 20 but that were close contenders. 6. Finalize outline and remaining tasks of final report: Sam suggested that the report could be shortened for the public’s benefit, and Tami concurred. Vince explained that the commentary was designed to respond to the public’s concerns expressed throughout the IZ process. Tami suggested that the report address the reason for passing IZ bylaws a second time so soon after the first interim zoning period (2012-2014). Bernie added that it would be good to include prior studies in a bibliography. Sam recommended adding the reasons why the methodology included a two-tier approach. Allan also suggested including a section covering tools for conservation, and Bernie noted the importance of adding some caveats to that description. 7. Request to share the Committee’s maps with the Affordable Housing Committee: Vince outlined the request, and members agreed to share the Committee’s maps with the Affordable Housing Committee. 8. Approval of minutes: Meaghan moved to approve the October 23, 2019 minutes, Bernie seconded, and they passed unanimously. Minutes passed 7-0. Sam moved to approve the October 1, 2019 minutes, Duncan seconded, and they passed unanimously. Minutes passed 7-0. 9. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned shortly after 9:00pm. The next meeting is on December 4 at 7pm.