SOUTH HERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES December 20, 2023
Members Present: Sandy Gregg (Chair); Michele Gammal (Vice-Chair); Don Bedard; Dave Roy
Others Present: Bob Fireovid; Joan Falcao; Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA)
6:00 PM – S. Gregg called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
There were none.
Public Comment
There was none.
Old Business
- Sidewalk Mapping Project – Gregg read an email from Kyle Grenier of Northwest Regional Planning Commission on the status of the sidewalk mapping that NRPC will be conducting for towns within their region. The first town they are collecting data for is South Hero.
- Housing Inventory – the Listers are unable to help with this. Would having a database with this information be helpful to the Planning Commission? What categories of housing would be needed? Is there an existing database that could work?
New Business
- Village Master Plan – Is this needed? Roy agreed that it would be good to look cohesively at the village areas but doesn’t think the town has reached the point where it is needed yet. S. Gregg pointed to limitations of Fire District #4 due to lack of capacity. This is impactful to development in the villages and the rural residential districts. Are there plans to expand? Accessible potable water is difficult and expensive, and well water quality is low (sulfur). D. Roy said that it will be helpful to see what comes out of the sidewalk inventory study. S. Gregg told the Board that a community get-together is planned for June at White’s Beach, where there will be an opportunity for more public outreach.
- Village Core and Village Neighborhood Districts – the Commission reviewed regulations from Hyde Park and St. Albans Bay village to see how other towns have further divided their village districts [attached]. There was discussion on the benefits of fewer zoning districts. The Commission members need to review various samples and prioritize what changes are needed in the current Regulations. Purpose statements will be needed for village core and village neighborhood districts. Gammal stated that the regulations need to face the reality that more people will want to move here from Chittenden County, and the Commission needs to consider how to make South Hero more welcoming. How does the town do that and plan for that? The Commission’s homework for the next meeting will be to begin to craft purpose statements for each village district.
Joan Falcao asked how many ADU’s there are in South Hero. ZA Martha Taylor-Varney said that there is no database to give the total numbers, but building permits issued since 2015 could give that information. Two ADU’s have been permitted in South Hero is 2023. ADU’s are generally built for family, rental income, or short-term rentals. However, construction costs and septic capacity limit the number of units in South Hero.
Approve Minutes
November 1, 2024 – D. Bedard moved to approve the minutes of November 1, 2023; D. Roy second. All in favor.
November 29, 2023 Special Meeting and Public Hearing – M. Gammal moved to approve; D. Bedard second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
- The Selectboard adopted the proposed amendments to the Development Regulations after their Dec 11, 2023 public hearing. The amendments will become effective on January 1, 2024. Martha will have edited pages from the Regulations prepared for Commission members at the first meeting in January. Amended Regulations will be posted on the Town website.
- There is a question about whether Fire District #4 is considered a municipal water supply that could affect additional requirements of the Home Act. Since the Fire District has limited capacity, does that make a difference? Must there also be municipal sewer service for the HOME Act to apply? Martha will research this further.
Announcements
- Meeting House – Gregg was looking for signatures for a petition for the Meeting House to place an article on the ballot for Town Meeting regarding additional public funding.
- Town Office Committee — The Town has received a grant for a feasibility study for a new town office.
Next Meeting
The next Planning Commission meeting will be January 3, 2024 at 6PM at the Town Office.
Adjournment
- Gammal moved to adjourn; D. Bedard 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.
Hyde Park Village Zoning Standards
St Albans Bay Village Core District