SOUTH HERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 7, 2019
Members Present: D. Patterson (Chair); S. Gregg (Vice-Chair); D. Roy; M. Gammal; B. Kerr
Public Present: T/ Maxham; M. Taylor-Varney, ZA
7:00PM – D. Patterson called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
There were none.
Public Input
There was none.
Review Final Draft of Development Regulations
-The members decided to reduce the minimum lot size within the Shoreland District from 1 acre to 0.75 acre (Table 2.2: Dimensional Standards for Non-Village Districts).
– Other typos and format inconsistencies were corrected throughout the document.
Discuss Schedule for Public Hearings for Development Regulations
- Patterson has asked Taylor Newton of NRPC to make the initial presentation to the public about the changes/additions in the updated Regulations. The Commission has scheduled Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 7PM for the Planning Commission’s public hearing. Martha will ask Keagan to reserve the Community Room at the Worthen Library for the hearing. Unless there are substantial changes to the document as a result of the Planning Commission hearing, that public hearing will be followed later in the Fall with a Selectboard public hearing. Possible dates for a Selectboard hearing are Oct. 28, Nov. 11, or Dec. 9. The Commission recommends Oct 28, if the schedule can be met.
Review NRPC Enhanced Consultation Report
Northwest Regional Planning is required to carry out consultation meetings twice in an 8-year period with all the towns and villages in the region to keep the lines of communication open and to access the effectiveness of municipal and regional plans and planning program. Taylor Newton of NRPC issued a report for the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and gave a copy to the Zoning Administrator. Martha presented the copy to the Commission members for their review. It can be viewed in the zoning office. The next review will be in 2022.
Municipal Planning Grant 2020
The Commission will recommend to the Selectboard that the scope of the study be for both water and wastewater throughout the town of South Hero, rather than limited to just the villages or to just water or ww. Taylor Newton of NRPC will write the grant application. The deadline for submission is October 2, 2019. The grant will be for NRPC to manage the project. If the grant is awarded, Taylor will be the administrator. D. Patterson will represent the Planning Commission.
Meeting Minutes
- Gregg moved to accept the minutes from the July 17, 2019 meeting; B. Kerr second. All in favor.
New/Old Business
- Kerr asked if she should still be working on a draft Noise Ordinance since the Selectboard had indicated they would not be supportive of it at this time. There was discussion regarding Island Racing and that the noise level there had diminished since the Selectboard Chair had paid them a visit. It was decided to table the ordinance for now. B. Kerr also asked if the Commission agreed that they needed to better understand the requirements of Act 250 reviews in South Hero. S. Gregg suggested inviting other towns form the Islands to attend an informational meeting that could be presented by a local representative of Act 250. The State legislature is currently working on improving the Act 250 process but has not yet issued any recommendations. B. Kerr will spearhead this.
Administrator’s Report
-The South Hero Town Plan is now on the 8-year cycle for updates. It was last done in 2015 and will not need to be revised now until 2023.
-The next meeting will be on August 21, 2019
8:30PM – S. Gregg moved to adjourn; D. Roy second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA
Signed: ____________________________________________ Date: ___________________
For the Planning Commission
These minutes are unofficial until approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.