South Hero Planning Commission Minutes July 17, 2024
Members Present: David Roy; Michele Gammal; Don Bedard
Public Present: Tim Maxham; Martha Taylor-Varney ZA)
6:00PM – D. Roy called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
The Commission added a reorganization meeting under “New Business” as item ‘C’.
Public Comment
There was none.
Old Business
- Traffic Ordinance Update: The Selectboard approved the 2024 Traffic Ordinance at their July 8 meeting. The ordinance was an update of the 2013 document and included the reduction in speed on Hochelaga Rd, from 35 to 25mph. The ordinance will become effective on September 8, 2024.
- Sidewalk Mapping Project: Bedard will check with Kyle at NRPC to make sure the Commission has the most up-to-date sidewalk map. The Commission expressed appreciation to the Road Crew and Ross Brown for the work they did to clean up and repair the sidewalks along RT 2.
New Business
- The Commission members considered what topics to prioritize from the Implementation List. Discussion centered on local emergency operations for Climate and Flood Resilience, and to continue their focus on sidewalks on South St. Gammal suggested inviting South St. residents to a public meeting in September to ask for input, “discovery sessions” before the planning process begins. The main point will be kids and safety. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for September 11th. David will check with the library to reserve space in their downstairs room. It will be warned as a Special Meeting since it will not be on the first or third Wednesday of the month.
- New PC candidates: Martha will ask the Town Administrator to place another announcement in Front Porch Forum and place another ad in the Islander.
- Planning Commission Reorganization: Gammal moved to appoint D. Roy as Chair; D. Bedard second. All in favor. D. Roy moved to appoint D. Bedard Vice-Chair; M. Gammal second. All in favor. Martha will send the members a copy of the Planning Commission Rules of Procedure before the next meeting to review before adopting and signing on August 7.
June 5, 2024 Review of Minutes
- Gammal moved to approve the minutes of June 5, 2024; D. Bedard second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
ZA Martha Taylor-Varney asked the Commission to consider updating Table 2.1 (Allowed Uses) to add conditional use review to 3 uses in the Village Zoning District – Retail Establishments, Restaurants, and Recreation (Public). Currently these are permitted with site plan review only. There are concerns that the DRB should be able to consider conditional use issues such as hours of operation, the number of required parking spaces, noise/lights/etc. These were added to the list of suggested edits to the Development Regulations that the Commission is considering. Also discussed were recent changes to Open Meeting Law, including a new policy for submitting complaints re violations to open meeting law, required training for Board Chairs, and new rules on posting minutes anda recordings of meetings.
Announcements
Meeting House – The Meeting House Foundation was awarded a $500,000 Northern Borders Grant.
Town Office Committee — D. Roy reported that the committee will recommend to the Selectboard that the new Town Office be built on the south side of RT 2, on the site of the craft shop next to the current Office. He and Nate Hayward are drafting an RFP for architect/engineering services.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be August 7, 2024 at 7PM at Town Office.
Adjournment
7:06PM — Don Bedard 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 meeting. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.