SOUTH HERO PLANNING COMMISSION December 15, 2021
Members Present: Doug Patterson (chair); Sandy Gregg (Vice-Chair); Michele Gammal; David Roy
Member Absent: George Harwood
Public Present: Tim Maxham; Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA)
6:00PM – D. Patterson called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
- Patterson asked to add the 2022 Municipal Planning Grant to the agenda.
Public Comment
There was none.
2022 Municipal Planning Grant
- Gregg announced that the 2022 MPG for the 2022 Town Plan had been awarded, fully funded for $16,000. S. Gregg will be the grant administrator and David Carter will be the Municipal Authorizing Official. Greta Brunswick and/or Emily Klofft will be invited to meet with the Commission at their Jan. 5, 2022 meeting to discuss the timeline of the project.
Accessibility Waiver
Bob Buermann will be invited to the Jan. 5th meeting to continue discussion on adding an accessibility waiver to the Development Regulations.
Update to Sec. 703 – Fences
The regulations on fences will apply to all fences, but only fences 5 feet and over will require a fence permit from the Zoning Administrator. It was suggested that requiring screening of fences along a public roadway be removed from the Regulations, and that the “more visually appealing side of the fence is required to face the neighboring properties” be added. The Commission decided to keep fence regulations in the Town’s Development Regulation rather than recommend that they be included as a stand-alone ordinance.
Renewal of Village Center Designations
- Gregg made corrections to the list of Keeler Bay and South Hero businesses (name changes/additions/deletions) that were on the 2015 (Keeler Bay) and 2020 (South Hero) VCD maps. These will be sent to NRPC for maps to be updated. The deadline for the renewal is April 2022. The Selectboard will need to sign a resolution. Sandy will prepare this.
List of recommended minor corrections/amendments to the Development Regulations
- Delete Sec. 305.A.2 (Setback waivers — Pre-existing Structures, Driveways, and Parking Areas)
- 305.A.1 – Setback waivers — delete “Driveways” and ‘Parking Areas”; narrow to non-conforming lots in the Shoreland district and Village districts, or Shoreland only?
- Table 4.1 — Subdivision Requirements – re Engineer’s/Surveyor’s Certification – clarify wording. Why was this included? Ask NRPC.
- 703 – see Update to Sec. 703 in these Minutes
ARPA Committee update
- Patterson reported that the committee had its first meeting on Dec. 9. They plan to put together 2 surveys – one for residential and one for businesses – using the survey developed by the Town of Jericho as a template. Their next meeting will be Jan 6, 2022 at 7PM.
Wastewater Planning and Assessment Committee update
No report.
Meeting Minutes
- Gregg moved to accept the minutes from Dec. 1, 2021, as amended; D. Roy second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
- The Commission discussed an email Martha had received from Jay Buermann asking about review options for adding another accessory structure to an existing condominium development. The Commission stated that the Applicants would need to apply for a specific review and that the request was out of the PC’s purview.
- The next meeting will be Jan. 5, 2022 at 6PM.
7:45PM – 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.