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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Natural Resources Committee - 01/15/2020 South Burlington Natural Resources Committee 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.sburl.com Natural Resources Committee Meeting Wednesday January 15, 2020 at 6:00 PM Medium Upstairs Conference Room South Burlington Municipal Offices, 575 Dorset Street AGENDA 1) Review of Emergency Evacuation Protocol (6:00 pm) 2) Additions, Deletions or Changes in order of Agenda Items (6:05 pm) 3) Comments from the Public not related to the Agenda (6:10 pm) 4) Adoption of Minutes (6:15 pm) a) See Drafts of December 04 Minutes 5) Presentation/Discussion with Planning Commission Chair Jessica Louisos (6:20 pm) a) New approach to resource levels b) Natural resources per chapter 12 and JAM Golf c) Natural resources as they relate to subdivision and PUD work d) Express opportunities to work on additional resource concerns (including reserved sections in chapter 12, pollinators, tree canopy, etc.) e) Hear other work on resources that the NRC may be interested in or have been working on f) Brief update on qualifying open space updates to City Center and City -wide 6) Chair's Comments to NRC Members (6:50 pm) a) Chair is Resigning from the Committee b) Discuss Process for Appointment of Chair & Vice-Chair c) Update re: New Members & Quorum Status 7) Review & Possible Action Related to DRB & LDR Work Group Report (7:00 pm) a) Review Work Group Progress b) Members Discussion – Tim Hess to present Proposal c) Adopt Motions if Needed 8) SBLT Cents for Conservation Update (7:30 pm) 9) Members & Staff Reports (7:40 pm) a. Chair b. Staff Report c. Other Committee & Members Comments 10) Discuss Future Agenda Items (7:50 pm) 12) Confirm Next Mtg Date is Wednesday 2/5/2020 (1st Wed.) (7:55 pm) 13) Adjourn (8:00 pm) Natural Resources Committee December 04,2019 Attending: Ashley Parker, David Crawford, Duncan Murdoch, Jean Chaulot, Ray Gonda, Tim Hess Missing: Lisa Yankowski Meeting began around 6:05 PM. 1. Ashley reviewed emergency procedures. 2. Additions, deletions or changes to the agenda. 3. Comments from the public. 4. The Committee took up the Minutes from October 2nd and October 30th separately. Tim made a motion to take up the October 2nd minutes. Duncan seconded. There was unanimous approval of the minutes with a correction on item #11, related to replacing a ‘$0’ with ‘20’. The minutes from October 2nd were accepted. Ray made a motion to take up the October 30th minutes. Duncan seconded. They were accepted unanimously. 5. Presentation by UVM NR206 Members See power point print out. Duncan asked whether there was any information about indigenous people or the park’s agricultural history? The students responded that there is not for now, but there is potential for an extra sign or QR code linking to online resource. Ducan asked how the park is currently being managed: forest? Grassland? Ashley indicated that there is nothing officially established yet. Jean asked how the signs look? Ashley indicated that the City will be using the same package that was used for the new signs in Red Rocks. 6. Chairs comments to NRC Members The Chair noted that he is resigning as Chair of the Committee. Dave thanked the board for the opportunity to be the Chair. He is resigning for health reasons. He is not resigning from the Committee. It was suggested that an interim chair and vice chair be selected. The City Council will appoint new members soon. Candidates are welcome until December 10th. Tim discussed the need to look for a leader with efficient meeting agenda. Ray motioned to move 6(b) to the end of the meeting at 7:40. Duncan seconded. All yes but Dave abstained. 7. Review and Possible Action Related to DRB & LDR Work Group Report Ashley reminded the Committee that the NRC Charge is missing. The charge was created by City Council in the 70’s. Nobody has been able to find that charge. The mission statement was created and approved by the NRC, not Council. Tim suggested that the NRC could create a draft charge for the City Council to use as inspiration for a final charge. Tim offered to present a draft score card to evaluate projects for the NRC to review. This can be used as a guideline by Marla or Delilah to integrate NRC’s matters in the initial review process. This will not create delay. Tim would like to finalize this document. Ray suggested that this document be an ‘amendable’ document. Tim noted that based on two DRB agenda samples, the document he has been working on applies to several plat applications. Dave stated that he usually points out NRC items like open space and tree canopy. Tim said that the NRC should have a project point person assigned to each project. He is not sure that a liaison would be required to attend each DRB meeting. Dave thinks that being in the DRB meeting has a huge impact on the NRC’s influence. The NRC will consider a document at the next meeting for review and approval. Then it will be presented to Marla. 8. SBLT Pennies for Preservation Proposal & Discussion Duncan provided an overview of the SBLT’s proposal. There is a proposed 2 cent on the tax rate that would go towards open space funds to focus on land conservation via acquisition. In order to take action after the IZ recommended 20-25 priority parcels could be bought in a 14 year span. They will be protected by zoning in the meantime. Duncan indicated that he is not sure if this will be on the ballot in March, but that is the goal. Dave does support it if there is a note that commercial is needed to support residential. Tim asked Duncan to draft a letter of support for the NRC to review and approve. Ashley asked what the plan is for property that is bought in the future? Will there be lands for public access, solely protection? Who will be in charge of management? We should be mindful of future stewardship responsibilities for lands that are purchased. She noted that it looks like City Council will be reviewing ballot items in January – maybe January 13th. Duncan stated that the SBLT’s priority is acquisition and conserving the lands for now. Ray stated that the management plan for these parcels can be added to the mission of the NRC. Jean motioned to approve the 2 cents to acquire conservation of land to be put on the ballot. Ray seconded. Dave stated that he would vote no as it does not include a comment related to commercial vs residential or the management of the acquired land. The vote was 4 yeah, and 1 no. 6(b). The Committee revisited item 6(b) as time was running out. (Discuss process for appointment of Chair & Vice-Chair.) Ray volunteered to be interim chair. Dave said he will not vote for him. Duncan then volunteered to be interim chair. Jean made a motion, Tim seconded, there was a unanimous vote. Vice-Chair is not a required position for now. All the members present thanked Dave for his work with the Committee. Dave indicated that he will be present at future DRB meetings but only as a member of the NRC. Not as the NRC’s liaison to the DRB. He will note as much if or when he speaks at future DRB meetings. There was a motion to adjourn by Dave. Duncan seconded. There was a unanimous vote. Meeting adjourned around 8:03 PM. 575 Dorset Street, South Burlington, Vermont 05403 | www.southburlingtonvt.gov 1 TO: Marla Keene, PE, City of South Burlington Development Review Planner FROM: South Burlington Natural Resources Committee SUBJECT: Initial Natural Resource Considerations for Project Applicants DATE: January 15, 2020 _____________________________________________________________________________________ The Natural Resources Committee (NRC) requests consideration for the attached document entitled “Initiatl Natural Resource Considerations” to be utilized by the Planning Office during the initial stages of permit application from proposed project developers in the City. The intent of this document is to make project applicants aware of natural resource issues which they might need to ponder and address during the project design stage. Please let us know of any minor modifications which you choose to make to improve its usefulness. Perhaps there are additional ways in which you see our committee can be appropriately engaged to make the resulting process clearer or more comprehensible to project applicants and your office as you begin to gain experience with its implementation and use. INITIAL NATURAL RESOURCE CONSIDERATIONS Safeguarding South Burlington’s natural environment is important for maintaining community sustainability. Avoiding or at least minimizing natural resource degradation is important to both the city and development applicants so that proposals might be adjusted early on in their formation, well before more costly engineering designs are undertaken. Here are some actions to consider early in project planning. You may wish to start with these priorities in mind and design around them. • Protect and maintain existing high-quality native trees or tree stands (including even the occasional mature dead tree) that provide food sources, shelter and nesting habitat for birds and other species of wildlife, such as pollinators. • Plant a mix of native trees with wildlife and pollinator values where appropriate. Actively manage invasive plant species, especially during and immediately after the initial ground disturbance and project completion phases. Once established, invasive plants can be difficult to remove. • Protect native vegetation along wildlife corridors and riparian zones, especially where they extend onto or abut adjacent properties. Consider creating, restoring, and/or preserving existing continuous vegetated buffers and increasing the width of protected riparian areas and buffering vernal pools to benefit wildlife and habitat connectivity. This is especially important in the SEQ. Use drought- resistant landscaping to reduce onsite water use during dry periods in all areas. • Consider minimizing impervious surfaces on the project site and use rain barrels, rain gardens and swales where practical to slow runoff. Utilize light-colored roofs, sidewalks and pavement areas to decrease the warming of runoff, which can degrade downstream waters and Lake Champlain. • Reduce driveway lengths by minimizing setback distances. Scale down the dimensions of driveways and parking lots not required for safety purposes and share these where possible with abutting owners. • Minimize the number of vehicular crossings of riparian areas and wildlife corridors in the project area to avoid habitat fragmentation. Where crossings are necessary, utilize bridge or post designs over culverts and ensure all designs maximize the safe and effective downstream and upstream passage of mammals such as mink, otter, and beaver as well as aquatic organisms such as fish, frogs, salamanders, and turtles. • Minimize the use of outdoor lights and use low and shielded lights when lighting is necessary to avoid deleterious effects on wildlife behavior and survival and to ensure the light to be placed is having its intended purpose. Strongly consider other project power demand reduction design features (such as onsite rooftop solar production for community buildings) which are likely to lessen the impacts on natural resources both on and offsite. NRC Staff Update – 1/15/2020 - Regional Conservation: • The partnership did not meet in December. Their next meeting will be January 22nd. • The municipal partners are reviewing an online editable map that will help standardize the language used to identify conservation parcels. I am hoping we might have a first draft of this map to review in January. It has been challenging for me to update the South Burlington data, so that portion is not complete yet. Open Space Fund Projects – - Red Rocks Park: • Stormwater analysis of the Red Rocks parcel has is nearly complete. This information will help us prioritize trails and stormwater work for implementation. • Just a reminder that if you have not completed the Red Rocks Management Survey, please connect with me about acquiring one. I would like everyone’s input. • I received concerns about erosion at the CWD pump house so I wanted to remind everyone about the designs we have in process for dealing with those erosion concerns, in addition to other shoreline stabilization issues that we are aware of. If you have additional questions about these projects, let me know. - Wheeler Nature Park: • The City met with Audubon and Fish & Wildlife to discuss management options and potential funding opportunities. We have the opportunity to enhance/improve shrubland bird habitat at Wheeler, and the Fish & Wildlife service is interested in using grant funds to conduct management work next fall/winter. This will include the thinning of trees/shrubs in the wet meadow area of Wheeler, work that is already being done by DPW staff. Bringing Fish & Wildlife into the mix will give us the ability to make this work happen faster. The City will be working with both Audubon and Fish & Wildlife to conduct outreach about this work and let the community know why it’s important. • Staff have been working on new signage for Wheeler. The UVM NR206 class provided us with great information that we can use for new interpretive signs. We will also be installing 4 kiosks and many trail markers/directionals. We are hoping to send those out for fabrication in the next couple of months, with install over the summer/early fall. - Underwood Parcel: • The City met with Audubon and Fish & Wildlife to discuss management options and potential funding opportunities. The focus for next year will be management work at Wheeler. Underwood has the same opportunity for shrubland bird habitat. • Staff is working to select a design/engineer consultant to begin the design of Phase 1 park facilities, including the design of a shared use path, trail network, gravel parking area, picnic area, and pump track. Staff is hoping to select a consultant in the next month. - Management Plan Task Force Update: I am trying to schedule a kick off meeting for January. I need to ask the Committee to consider a new alternative representative. Lisa is still willing to participate, but with Duncan leaving, we need a member that can participate in meetings when Lisa can’t. - Other: • Community Hike Series & Weed Warriors 2020: I have been planning outdoor events for 2020. There will be events in the “Community Hike” series almost every month over the next year at all three natural area parks. These will range from walks with the County Forester, to bird banding. I am also coordinating events with our invasive plant removal expert. Stay tuned for the full listing of events. If you have immediate questions, let me know. • Speaker Series: I’ve heard from some residents that there is an interest in a natural resource speaker series. The NRC had at one time initiated a program like this in coordination with the Rec Department. I wanted to put this out there as a suggestion to see if anyone is interested in coordinating an event like this. • The Parks Foreman is going to be out for an extended time due to surgery and the City is working on a plan for backfilling and work completion. • Raise the Blade Campaign: Staff received an email from the coordinator of the Raise the Blade Campaign asking about the City’s interest in this program this year. Linda had been the contact for the Committee with this group, working on herbicide and other issues. Is the NRC interested in pursuing this effort? Would the Committee like a presentation from the group to learn more about the initiative? Was a letter from the Committee ever sent to Justin at DPW?