HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 09A_SP-19-02_435 Dorset St_Champlain Housing Trust_memo
575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 tel 802.846.4106 fax 802.846.4101 www.sburl.com
TO: South Burlington Development Review Board
FROM: Marla Keene, Development Review Planner
SUBJECT: SD‐19‐02 435 Dorset Street Site Plan Application
DATE: April 2, 2019 Development Review Board meeting
Champlain Housing Trust, hereinafter referred to as the applicant, is seeking site plan approval to amend a
previously approved plan by removing trees. At the March 5, 2019 hearing, the Board heard the applicant and
continued the hearing for three purposes.
1. The applicant failed to notify all abutters, and the Board requested they notify the omitted abutters to
give those abutters an opportunity to participate in the hearing.
The Applicant has provided documentation that they notified the omitted abutters and Staff considers
public notice requirements to have been met.
2. The Board requested the applicant submit a plan with the trees to be removed actually having been
removed so the Board can more fully understand the impact of the request.
The applicant has submitted two new plans for this hearing, one showing graphically the existing tree
cover, and one showing graphically the proposed tree cover after the removal of 109 trees.
3. Third, the Board requested the applicant reconsider whether any of the trees proposed for removal
could be instead maintained, taking into consideration aesthetics, forest health, and building health.
For this final request, the Board recommended the applicant’s landscape arborist consult with the City
arborist or Natural Resources Committee as appropriate.
The applicant has provided a memorandum from their landscape architect. It does not appear to Staff
the applicant has reduced the proposed number of trees to be removed.
Since the March 5 hearing, it has come to Staff’s attention that the property is not in full compliance with
13.06C(1) and 13.06C(2), which pertain to screening of trash areas and utility cabinets. These standards require
dumpster and utility cabinets be screened with “a permanently maintained landscape of evergreen or a mix of
evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, and/or a solid fence.” Staff has discussed this standard with the
applicant and they will provide screening for trash areas and utility cabinets. Staff recommends the Board
discuss with the applicant what they plan to use for utility cabinet screening and require the applicant to amend
their plan to include a note describing the planned utility cabinet screening as a condition of approval.
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Similarly, Staff has observed one light fixture on the property which does not meet the downcast and shielded
requirements of 13.07A, and the Applicant understands they will need to replace the fixture prior to obtaining
a certificate of occupancy to close out this permit. Staff recommends the Board include as a condition of
approval that non‐compliant light fixtures must be replaced with downcast and shielded fixtures.
Finally, Staff notes the applicant must also provide for bicycle parking for six (6) bicycles as described in the
March 5 staff notes, and maintain erosion control. Staff recommends the Board discuss with the applicant
where they intend to place their bicycle parking, and require the applicant to show the bicycle parking locations
on their plan as a condition of approval.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Board discuss the project with the applicant and close the hearing.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________________
Marla Keene, Development Review Planner