SOUTH HERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES July 5, 2023
Members Present: Sandy Gregg (Chair); Michele Gammal (Vice-Chair); David Roy; George Harwood.
Member Absent: Don Bedard
Others Present: Tim Maxham; Rachel Gammal; Mike Gammal; Donna Boumil representing VOREC, via Zoom); Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA).
6:00 PM – S. Gregg opened the meeting.
Changes to the Agenda
There were none.
Public Comment
There was none.
Town Plan Status
There was discussion regarding signs that have appeared throughout town that say, “Save South Hero.” There is nothing on the signs that indicate what organization posted them nor their contact information. What is the motivation of the signs? Also discussed was a Front Porch Forum submission by Joan Falcao [attached to minutes on the Town website]. The letter was read into the record. The Board discussed how to respond. They agreed with the first paragraph but felt the second paragraph was misleading. G. Harwood felt the Board needed to refute the incorrect information. The Plan was not written by Northwest Regional Planning. NRPC has provided assistance gathering statistics that are required by statute to be in the Plan, and the expertise to put the full document together. The Commission produced the Plan, determining the focus, direction, and local content of the Plan. A municipal planning grant paid for the consultant’s (NRPC’s) help. George also suggested letters to the editor of the Islander by a couple of Commission members and members of the public to clarify the proposal. D. Roy suggested signs that say “Support the Town Plan.” Mike Gammal felt it was important to stress that the Town Plan is meant not to mandate over-development but to instill control to development, framing it in a positive way. Should the Commission produce an ad for the Islander? Rachel Gammal suggested including the Plan’s mission statement in an ad and encouraging the public to read the rest of the Plan (available online and at the Worthen Library and Town Office).
Joan also added an announcement for a “community discussion” in FPF at the Worthen Library on Thursday, July 20 about the Town Plan. Consequences for the Town should the Plan not be approved by the voters were discussed [also attached to the minutes on the Town website].
Old Business
- Gregg told the Board that she felt the weather affected the turnout for Community Cheers and Cheese, held June 26 at the Meeting House. On and off-again storm warnings continued throughout the afternoon. She hopes that next year it can be held at the new Town park, and to possibly invent a new name for the event – “Celebrate South Hero”?
- Bedard had not yet had the opportunity to connect with Selectboard member Ross Brown to discuss the Sidewalk Maintenance Study Inquiry Report (included as part of the Sidewalk Scoping Study). He will report at the next meeting. S. Gregg updated the Commission on the status of the Scoping Study. South St. and the Class 1 Highway analysis have been removed from the study as part of a negotiation to reduce the costs, leaving only RTs 2 and 314 in the scoping study. She would like to invite VTrans to a future PC meeting for a Class 1 Highway presentation. The Selectboard and Town Highway Supervisor would also be invited to attend. The PC intends to present to the SB at their July 10 meeting that they want to pull the Scoping Study at this time, but ask that the $10, 000 matching funds be set aside by the SB to put into a sidewalk project fund. Donna Boumil suggested that the VOREC (Vermont Outdoor Recreation) grant, for which she is administrator, can overlap some of the scoping study’s previous focus on South St. The grant includes ‘pop-up’ events, such as a temporary crosswalk across South St. at Folsom, and temporary flashing speed signs for “school zone”, both of which could eventually become permanent. All would get prior approval from the Selectboard. Another idea is a ’bike rodeo’ for kids, held at the school – possibly in Spring 2024? The VOREC grant includes the Safe Routes to School study.
- Gammal moved to negate the Sidewalk Scoping Study and ask the Town to put $10,000 in an account for future sidewalks; D. Roy second. All in attendance voted in favor.
New Business
- Zoning Administrator Martha Taylor-Varney asked the Commission for clarification on the setback requirement for incidental structures from the edge of public or private rights-of-way. The Regulations state 35 feet. Is that a typo, or is it correct? The Commission will look at this further and discuss it at a future meeting.
- A recent Planning and Zoning Forum, hosted by VT League of Cities and Towns, held a discussion on regulating short-term rentals. There was little support among Commission members to consider any restrictions in South Hero.
Approve Minutes of June 21, 2023
- Harwood moved to approve the minutes of June 21, 2023; M. Gammal second. A quorum of the Board (G. Harwood, D. Roy, and M. Gammal) voted to approve; D. Roy did not attend that meeting, and D. Bedard was absent.
Administrator’s Report
- A memorandum explaining Act 47 (HOME Act) by Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development was distributed to the Board. This will be attached to the minutes on the Town website. Effective on July 1, 2023 was the provision of the Act that requires duplexes and small multi-unit dwelling units to be reviewed the same as a single household dwelling in all zoning districts. Other sections of the Act become effective in September 2023 and December 2024.
- A traffic study will be conducted on Hochelaga Rd. later this summer to determine whether the 35mph speed limit can be reduced to 25mph, as requested by residents of the area.
Announcements
There were none.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be July 19, 2023 at 6PM at the Town Office.
Adjournment
- Harwood 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 stated.
Consequences of Lapsed Town Plan