SOUTH HERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 7, 2024
Members Present: David Roy (Chair); Don Bedard (Vice-Chair); Michele Gammal
Others Present: Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA)
6:00PM – D. Roy called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
There were none.
Public Comment
There was none.
Old Business
- Sidewalk Mapping Project Report: Bedard told the Commission that Kyle Grenier at Northwest Regional Planning can produce a map to use for a public meeting regarding the discussion of sidewalks on South St. A large map can be printed in the Clerk’s Office.
- Confirm Plans for September 11 Public Meeting: The Commission members are calling it a “discovery meeting” to begin discussion with South St. residents on their thoughts about a possible sidewalk on South St. from RT 2 to the school. The meeting will be on September 1 at the Library. The Commission will send a mailer to each property owner along that part of South St. inviting them to the meeting. There will also be a notice placed on Front Porch Forum and in the Islander. The agreed time of the meeting will be 6:30PM.
- Continuing discussion on updating Table 2.1 – Allowed Uses: Gammal asked the Commission if adding Conditional Use review to Site Plan review for restaurants and retail in the Village districts could be considered too much regulation. Are Conditional Use requirements discouraging businesses? Is the Town over-regulating? This will need more discussion.
New Business
- New PC Candidate? – No one yet.
- Sign NRPC contract for update to Hazard Mitigation Plan – Roy signed the contract as representative of the Commission. The contract will also be signed by the Selectboard at their August 12 meeting.
- Add “sign rules of procedure” to the August 21 PC agenda.
Review of July 17, 2024 PC Minutes
Don Bedard moved to approve the minutes from July 17, 2024; M. Gammal second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
- Martha Taylor-Varney will not be available to attend the September 11 public meeting at the library. There is a regular DRB meeting that evening.
- Martha asked the Commission if private courts (basketball, tennis, pickle ball) need regulating? Does this need to be defined? What do other towns do? Discussion to continue.
Announcements
- Meeting House – no updates, at this time
- Town Office Committee – Roy reported that an RFP will be presented to the Selectboard on August 12 for their signature and will be posted on Registry.com. He estimated that construction could begin by June of 2025, with possible occupancy by March 2026.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be August 21, 2024. There will be no regular meetings in September due to the lack of a quorum. The September 11 public meeting will be a special meeting (not a regular PC meeting night).
Adjournment
7:06PM — D. Roy moved to adjourn; M. Gammal 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 meetings. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.