SOUTH HERO PLANNING December 6, 2017
Members Present: D. Patterson; S. Gregg; B. Kerr; D. Roy
Members Absent: R. Henry
Public Present: Liza Kilcoyne (DRB); T. Maxham (DRB); J. Brightwell (DRB); S. Corbin (DRB); M. Taylor-Varney, ZA
7:02 PM — D. Patterson called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
Review of re-written material for ‘fence’ and ‘marinas’ originally scheduled for this meeting were postponed until the December 20 meeting.
Continue Development Regulations Draft Review — Article 10 (Definitions)
Under ‘Abandoned Use’, the Board discussed whether a ‘use’ applies to a structure — can the use be abandoned if a home has not been inhabited for a long time, then restored or rebuilt? The Board decided that a residential use is not abandoned in this case. The Board, however, decided to add ‘abandoned conditional use’ to the definition.
In reference to definitions, the Board questioned whether ‘Affordable Housing’ should be included since there is no reference to it within the Regulations. Martha will ask NRPC for their reason to include it. It was also decided to further break down the definition for ‘camping facilities’, and add ‘residential camping facilities’ to the definition of ‘Lodging Establishment’. This new category will also be added to the Table of Allowed Uses (Table 2.1).
The definition for ‘footprint’ was confusing, with some members wanting the term ‘drip line’ included. Could a structure be expanded in volume in the future to meet the edge of the overhang, thereby increasing the foundation size but not the ‘footprint’? Martha will work on this for the next meeting. Additional discussion centered on ‘frontage’, and whether there should be separate designations for ‘road frontage’ and ‘lake frontage’.
The Board again questioned whether definitions for Agricultural Uses should be included since there is no language in the document pertaining to agriculture. The Board added the term ‘pre-construction’ to the definition for ‘Average Natural Grade’. The definitions for ‘Building Envelope’ and ‘Seasonal Dwelling’ were simplified. The Board added references to several definitions to the specific sections of the Regulations for further clarification.
The Board will complete review of Article 10 at their December 20, 2017 meeting.
Review Planning Commission Rules of Procedure Document
Martha distributed the current document to the members for their review and it will be added to the agenda for the December 20 meeting.
Review Draft Sign Ordinance
Sandy will send to members to review for discussion at later date.
Meeting Minutes
- Gregg moved to accept the minutes from November 8, 2017; D. Roy second. All in favor.
Public Input
The Board thanked Tim Maxham for the apple cider and snacks he brought to the meeting.
New/Old business
Doug asked the Board to add to the agenda for the next meeting a presentation by Jim Brightwell on propose incentives to encourage Planned Unit Development in South Hero. The Board agreed.
Administrator’s Report
Martha shared with the Board responses that she had received from NRPC of questions concerning the duties of the Planning Commission, the definition of ‘interested persons’, the definition of ‘manufactured homes’, and ‘abandonment’.
There will be a public hearing in Montpelier on December 12, 2017 on whether construction contractors should be licensed in Vermont.
9:36 PM — D. Roy moved to adjourn; S. Gregg 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.