SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES April 25, 2018
Members Present: T. Maxham (Chair); D. Patterson (Vice Chair); L. Kilcoyne; Gareth Hunt; J. Brightwell (Alternate); N. Hayward; R. Krebs (Alternate).
Public Present: Mitchel Richardson; Paul Boisvert (Engineering Ventures)
7:00 PM – T. Maxham opened the meeting.
Changes to the Agenda
There were none.
Continue Conditional Use and Site Plan Review for Auto Repair Facility at 138 Ferry Rd. – Richardson (18-48-FR138)
Mr. Richardson gave the Board a written description of the proposed business and its hours. He described the proposed project as a “multi-purpose building servicing commercial and agricultural equipment.” Maintenance and servicing of Keeler Bay Service and Sales, Inc.’s equipment and the farm’s equipment will be conducted after hours and on weekends as necessary. Hours of operation will be Monday through Saturday, 7AM to 6PM and will include 24-hour towing service. Trash and recyclables will be removed on a weekly basis.
Paul Boivert presented the site plan to the Board. Anticipated peak traffic estimations had been added to the plan. Mitchel agreed that the numbers correlated with traffic at his current location on RT 2. The plan showed a privacy fence along the Sherman property boundary. Mitchel explained that he had offered to install a fence that the Shermans’ had but could not confirm whether it will be installed due to communication issues. He said he would install a different fence if the Board requires one to be placed as additional screening. In discussions with Historic Preservation as part of his Act 250 review, Mitchel said he was told that current screening provided by trees on the Sherman parcel is adequate. He stated he would prefer not to install a privacy fence unless it is required by the Board.
A sign has been proposed for the business entrance off RT 314. The existing agriculture fence will remain. Temporary single-wire electric fencing for rotational grazing will keep livestock out of the garage site but is not shown on the site plan since it will not be permanent. Split-rail fencing will line the entry drive and be placed along the north side of the parking lot. 9-foot distances between the posts will denote the parking spaces. There will be temporary silt fencing placed on the northwest side of the site during construction.
A high-performance storm-water design will filter water to the north of the parking lot and building site. The plan showed swales and berms to direct water run-off, gravel wetland storm-water treatment areas, a stone-lined emergency spillway, a stone-lined dispersion pad and berm, and the storm-water outlet structure. The system had been pushed back farther from the parking area and separated by a grass swale. A 1-, 10-, 25-, and 50-year storm frequency chart was included on the plan. R. Krebs asked if there was any potential for oil or solvents to flow into the system. Mitchel stated that no work will be done in the parking area so there would be no opportunity for that to happen. Any regulation concerning floor drain within the garage will be reviewed during the Act 250 process. D. Patterson asked that the screen for the 1-inch discharge hole be added to the plan.
On the landscaping plan, the cedars that had been originally proposed have been replaced by a variety of trees, perennials and annuals, including maple, oak, apple, white pine, and arborvitae to be placed as screening throughout the proposed site. Various native grasses are proposed in the storm-water area. J. Brightwell asked if there was any additional screening proposed around the dumpster as both a screen and to contain materials placed there that do not fit into the dumpster. Mitchel said there was not. Scrap metal goes into a separate dumpster or area on the farm and old tires are picked up by a service. He said he would agree to a condition that no junk tires or scrap metal could be left for loner than a specified period of time.
Mitchel told the Board that the State Current Use Division had classified his property as a dual-purpose agriculture/commercial property. Because he will be working also on his own equipment, the proposed garage would be considered a farm building. R. Krebs asked if, during the Act 250 review, the entire parcel would apply or only the proposed site of the garage and its associated systems? Mitchel said that Act 250 could only regulate the proposed site and cannot regulate agricultural areas. He stated that he will not store old tires anywhere on the property.
Lighting had been added to the elevation drawings. A luminaire schedule showed the lighting does not spread and tapers off quickly. Paul Boisvert felt some of the lighting may be brighter than it needs to be. Cameras will be used for additional security. J. Brightwell asked if the driveway would be gated when the business is closed? Mitchel said he had no plans to do that (customers dropping off cars, etc). He intends to maintain the existing agricultural entrance and would consider adding a chain or cable there. That entrance may eventually disappear but he does not want to lose the curb cut there. The road to the existing barn on the parcel will remain and can be accessed from the business entrance.
There was additional discussion regarding possibly conditioning the installation of a privacy fence along the Sherman property line as optional, depending on further communication between the two parties. J. Brightwell asked if there would be any outdoor displays? Mitchel answered that her may be seasonal tire displays. Further discussion included whether the road-facing side of the site would be sloped or have a retaining wall.
The Board requested the following to be added to the site plan:
- Add language to the plan regarding the “potential” location of the privacy fence;
- Add a missing parking space line in the parking lot;
- Add lighting to the sign;
- Need parking space and parking lot dimensions, including distances between rows and to the structure;
- Need the location of P14 on the site plan;
- Details on how the lights in the parking lot are mounted;
- The construction schedule duration;
- Add the Grand Isle/South Hero town line;
- Topsoil stockpile location;
- Add the screen for the 1” discharge hole.
8:18 PM – D. Patterson moved to accept the site plan as presented and to allow the Zoning Administrator to review and confirm the above additions/corrections administratively before the scheduled Board deliberation on May 9, 2018; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
8:19 PM – T. Maxham closed the hearing.
Review of Minutes
- Kilcoyne moved to accept the minutes rom April 11, 2018; J. Brightwell second. All in favor.
Public Input
There was none. R. Krebs recommended moving Public Input to the top of the agenda so no one would need to sit through a hearing before they could speak. This will be instituted beginning at the next meeting.
Administrator’s Report
Martha told the Board that there will be a deliberative only at the May 9 meeting. There will be no meeting on May23rd as she will be at a seminar. No other hearings are scheduled at this time.
8:30 PM – R. Krebs moved to adjourn and move to deliberative; J. Brightwell second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA
Sighed: ______________________________________________ Date: ___________________
For the Development Review Board
These minutes are unofficial until accepted at the next regularly-scheduled meeting. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.