HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Development Review Board - 12/03/2019DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD 3 DECEMBER 2019
The South Burlington Development Review Board held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 3
December 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street.
MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Cota, Chair; B. Sullivan, J. Wilking, M. Behr, D. Philibert, J. Langan, E.
Portman
ALSO PRESENT: D. Hall, Administrative Officer; M. Keene, Development Review Planner; D.
Marshall, D. Crawford, A. Rowe, M. Cohen, T. Poon, B. Israel, L. Yahyazadeh.
1. Directions on emergency evacuation procedures from conference room:
Mr. Cota provided directions on emergency evacuation procedures.
2. Additions, deletions, or changes in order of agenda items:
No changes were made to the agenda.
3. Comments and questions from the public not related to the Agenda:
No issues were raised.
4. Announcements:
Mr. Cota welcomed new DRB member Elissa Portman. He also noted an invitation to members
and the public to attend the CCTV Holiday Party on 12 December.
5. Sketch Plan Application #SD-19-33 of Heather Auclair to subdivide an existing
undeveloped 194 acre parcel and an existing 0.37 acre parcel developed with a single
family home into two parcels of 191 acres (Lot 1) and 3.43 acres (Lot 2) for the
purpose of consolidating the existing septic and lawn area for the 0.37 acre parcel
onto a single parcel (Lot2), 1650 Hinesburg Road:
Mr. Langan recused himself due to a potential conflict of interest.
Mr. Israel explained that they wish to expand the 0.37 acre lot for the purpose of allowing the
well and the septic system to be on that property.
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3 DECEMBER 2019
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Mr. Cota noted there will have to be a conservation plan. Ms. Keene explained that this is a
plan to protect the rest of the land when this development is done. Mr. Israel said that the
Vermont Land Trust will be providing that plan.
Mr. Israel asked if in the future it would be possible to change the zoning to allow them to build
an additional home on their land if one of the children wishes to live there. Ms. Keene said
changing the zoning would be an issue for the Planning Commission but the prohibition on
future subdivision may still apply. She will look into that for the applicant.
No other issues were raised.
Mr. Langan rejoined the Board.
6. Design Review Application #DR-19-03 of Thomas Poon to amend a previously
approved Master Signage Permit (MSP). The amendment consists of allowing wall-
mounted and freestanding signs in a range of colors with two font types and three
materials, 155 Market Street:
Mr. Poon said the existing sign permit does not work for the new uses. The range of colors and
materials being requested are:
Border/background: silver, metallic, white, gold, red, green blue, and black
Lettering: black, silver, white, blue
Font: Brixton, Arial, Bold, Italic, Symbol
Materials: metallic, wood framed or vinyl
Mr. Poon said they don’t currently know what their plan is for the freestanding sign but would
like to amend the sign permit for the wall signs so they can install them for their new tenant.
They will probably take down the freestanding sign and make a sign that lists all the tenants.
Members indicated he could come back to amend the previous approval for the freestanding
sign.
Members were OK with the color and material choices. They were also OK with locating the
wall-mounted sign beside the door instead of above the door due to the nature of the building
construction.
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3 DECEMBER 2019
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Mr. Poon noted that the illumination of the existing sign no longer works since Market Street
was built.
No other issues were raised.
Mr. Cota moved to close DR-19-03. Mr. Behr seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
7. Site Plan Application #SP-19-41 of Rieley Cohen Partnership to amend a previously
approved site plan for a 12,000 sq. ft. warehouse with outdoor storage. The
amendment consists of adding a 4,960 sq. ft. one-story accessory structure and
changing use to contractor or building trade facility, 4 Harbor View Road:
Mr. Rowe said this is a 1.8 acre parcel. The building was built for Wesco and is now for sale.
Mr. Cohen proposes to put a property management company in the building. There would be
no change to the existing structure. The proposed accessory structure would be for storage of
salt, sand, etc. Mr. Rowe indicated the portions of the property which are enclosed by a mesh-
backed fence.
Staff comments were then addressed as follows:
1. Height of the roof needs to be indicated: Mr. Rowe said it is 14 feet, which is
within the 15-foot limit.
2. Actual setbacks need to be defined: Mr. Rowe said setbacks are 22 feet to
the south and 44 to the west.
3. The wooded areas need to be maintained in robust health: Mr. Rowe said
that is the intention.
4. The opening for the dumpster needs to be addressed: Mr. Rowe said the
dumpster was approved at a different location but the plan shows where it
currently is. He showed where the opening will be and said it will not be
visible from the road.
5. Staff is suggesting additional screening for the outside storage area. Ms.
Keene noted there are no lower branches on the trees, and they would like
some screening to address that. Mr. Rowe suggested just extending the
mesh screening as there is a question of whether trees would thrive in such a
shaded area.
6. The wooded area needs to be maintained: Mr. Rowe said it will be.
7. Mr. Rowe said water and wastewater flows will not increase. There will be
only 4 employees, so use will go down.
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No other issues were raised.
Mr. Cota moved to close SP-19-41. Mr. Behr seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
8. Sketch Plan Application #SD-19-30 of CEA Properties, LLC, to construct a two-story,
7,200 sq. ft. office building and a one-story, 4,070 sq. ft. veterinary hospital on an
existing 3.1 acre lot currently developed with a 7,200 sq. ft. office building and 1,000
sq. ft. storage building, 10 Mansfield View Lane:
Mr. Marshall showed an overhead photo of the existing site. He noted they had approval for 2
additional buildings which they did not build. They are now looking to add the 2 buildings. He
then identified the surrounding properties and noted they are part of the Meadowland
Business Park.
Mr. Marshall showed the location of the rec path which they will construct on the west side of
the property (the east side of Hinesburg Rd.). He also noted a slight jog in the path due to trees
and a utility pole. Mr. Cota noted there will still be a disconnect of the path until the adjacent
property comes in.
Mr. Marshall noted there is an agreement for use of a shared driveway with the neighbor. Part
of that agreement involves a gate which is to be used only in an emergency. He noted that this
agreement runs counter to the regulations, and this issue needs to be addressed. There is a
concern with potential cut-through traffic which would further burden the intersection. Ms.
Keene said the Board has the option to deny the application until the easement with the
neighbor is changed. Mr. Marshall said this is not an area where moving from property to
property is important. Mr. Behr noted that people would not want to try to turn left without
the benefit of the signalized intersection.
Mr. Wilking noted that if money were not an issue, a secondary driveway from Hinesburg Road
on the south end of the property would solve the problem. Ms. Keene was not sure that would
be allowable as it would be an additional curb cut on Hinesburg Road.
Other staff comments were then addressed as follows:
3. Traffic calming measures: Mr. Marshall showed a possible location for a speed
table to ensure the safety of pedestrians. Ms. Keene asked whether the Board
would support additional trees, berms or other visual cues. Members said they
would.
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PAGE 5
4. Staff indicated the Fire Department will allow the driveway to be 20 feet wide.
Mr. Marshall agreed.
5. Regarding green space, Mr. Marshall said they were trying to have something
that would be an amenity, so they have moved one of the buildings to the south
and the other to the southeast. This also allows them to save a healthy tree.
This change requires setbacks waivers of 15 feet on the side and 25 feet in the
back.
6. Regarding pedestrian connectivity: Mr. Marshall indicated 2 options and said
they prefer to connect with rec path with a new sidewalk crossing that follows
along the south side of the road with a crossing to the east. Members agreed.
7. Staff asked about the architectural design: Mr. Marshall said they are looking
to create a campus feel. Elevations are being developed now.
8. Regarding phased development so as not to “overbuild”: Mr. Marshall said
there is the potential for a change in use of the second building which would
require fewer parking spaces.
Mr. Crawford suggested some trees in the open area.
Ms. Philibert asked what amenities are proposed for that park area. Mr. Marshall said they
would follow the form based code guidelines with places to sit, etc. A landscape architect will
No other issues were raised.
9 Final Plat Application SD-19-31 of R. L. Vallee, Inc., to consolidate two lots of 0.36
acres and 0.59 acres into one lot for the purpose of constructing an expanded service station
and retail sales and restaurant building, 793 and 907 Shelburne Road: and
10 Site Plan Application #SP-19-39 of R. L. Vallee, Inc., to demolish the existing
structures at 907 Shelburne Road and a portion of an existing service station at 703 Shelburne
Road and construct an expanded service station with two additional fueling positions for a
total of ten and an associated 4,265 sq. ft. retail sales and restaurant building, 703 and 907
Shelburne Road:
Messrs. Cota and Sullivan recused themselves due to a potential conflict of interest.
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Mr. Behr served as Chair during their absence. He noted the applicant has requested a
continuance until the second meeting in January (22 January).
Ms. Philibert moved to continue SD-19-31 and SP-19-39 until 22 January 2020. Mr. Wilking
seconded. Motion passed 5-0.
Messrs. Cota and Sullivan rejoined the Board. Mr. Cota resumed the Chair.
11 Minutes of 5 November 2019:
Mr. Cota moved to approve the Minutes of 5 November 2019 as written. Mr. Wilking
seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
12 Other Business:
It was noted that when a legal holiday falls on a Monday (e.g., President’s Day, Martin Luther
King Day), the City Council meetings are moved to Tuesday which creates a conflict with the
DRB meetings. It was suggested that in those instances and for Tuesdays when there is a
scheduled election, the DRB meetings be held on Wednesday. Members agreed to this change.
Ms. Keene also suggested that the August recess be for the second meeting in August (18
August) instead of the first. Members agreed to this as well.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by
common consent at 8:50 p.m.
These minutes were approved by the Board on December 17, 2019