South Hero Development Review Board Draft Minutes March 8, 2017
Members Present: T. Maxham (Chair); S. Corbin; D. Patterson; R. Brown; L. Kilcoyne (Alternate); N. Hayward; G. Hunt
Public Present: Rich Gardner (Camp Ta-Kum-Ta); Hattie Johnson (Camp Ta-Kum-Ta); Joseph Farnham; Minke Donoghue (Islander); Patrick Gallivan (Camp Ta-Kum-Ta); Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA
7:00PM – T. Maxham called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
There were none.
Reconvene 17-48-SV077 – Camp Ta-Kum-Ta request for Site Plan Review (from February 22, 2017)
[The DRB had conducted a Site Visit on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 11AM.]
Hattie Johnson told the Board that the Site Plan had been updated to include the details requested by the Board at the 2/22 hearing. A pole barn that had been built in the field to the east of the ropes course by the previous owners for the storage of large equipment was also added to the current site plan. The building dimensions on the plan are approximate but are mostly true to size. G. Hunt recommended adding the preface “not to exceed” to dimensions which will allow for options without having to come back before the Board for approvals before building permits are issued if the sizes change. The engineer verified that the road behind the Activities Barn will bump out no more than 10 feet further to allow for the construction of the storage shed.
The current wastewater and potable water permit already allows for the proposed pool house, and the proposed ‘splash pad’ will require no additional usage as it will use water continually recycled from the pool. The expanded site plan now shows all the septic mounds for the camp in addition to the road that circles behind the chapel to the staff parking field (for use during camp week only) and ending at a gate at the southwest boundary of the camp property.
Hattie showed that the existing lighting leading down the path from the Activities Barn to the cabins, and along the memorial garden to the chapel, had been added to the site plan.
Hattie stated that the large gravel parking lot proposed in the field to the south of the Activities Barn will be levelled with a slight slope for runoff. The engineer calculated 57 spaces available in the previously-proposed 50-car lot. There will be both an entrance and exit for this lot and parking staff will be used during special events.
There was additional discussion regarding the sign at the entrance to the camp off Sunset View Rd. S. Corbin felt the sign was not adequate as a recognizable landmark for the entrance and too many people were missing it. The proximity to the steep hill immediately west on Sunset View Rd. added to the safety concerns for people who may attempt to turn around in that area.
There was considerable discussion regarding whether the site plan needed to show the finished contours as they will be when the development is complete. The areas of concern were the 50-car parking lot, the pavilion, and the shed area behind the Activities Barn. The Development Regulations require site plans to include ‘grading.’ R. Brown felt it wasn’t necessary to require an applicant to pay for expensive engineering drawings before the plan is approved and that approval could be conditioned on coming back to the Board with finished engineer’s drawings before construction could begin. D. Patterson felt that since it is included in the Regulations that the site plan should include them before approval could be granted. L. Kilcoyne asked what the order of priority was for the proposed projects. Hattie explained that the splash pad is long-term, but that the priority right now was the pool house, the pavilion, and the 50-car lot – all of which was dependent on funding. S. Corbin proposed approval of the ‘Master Plan’ with engineering requirements for individual projects to be brought back to the DRB for approval as they are developed. D. Patterson agreed to allow a phased plan. T. Maxham agreed that in this case the Board could not grant a simple approval for the proposal as a whole. S. Corbin asked to see an enlarged site plan of the area that encompasses the proposed 50-car lot, the pavilion, and shed that could show more detail and definition of the finished contours. The Board agreed that the level part of the area for the proposed 50-car lot could be used as temporary parking for fewer cars until the larger lot is built.
The Board agreed that the 2 smaller 12-car parking areas proposed along the drive (which will require no site work), the pool house, and the splash pad conform to the regulations and can be permitted by Martha upon site plan approval by the DRB. Hattie asked if they were in a place with the Board where they could continue planning the large parking lot, pavilion, and shed? The Board said yes. N. Hayward stated that although the Board needed additional information, they could approve the concept with conditions.
8:20PM- S. Corbin moved to approve the request for waiver from showing access points of adjacent properties, building elevations, completion schedule, and showing all utilities, to be identified as Exhibit #1; R. Brown second. All in favor.
8:23PM- S. Corbin moved to accept as Exhibit #2 a revision of the site plan titled “Overall Site Plan”, dated March 3, 2017, by Rich Hamlin, certified professional engineer; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
[T. Maxham asked that the original site plan remain in the file.]
8:30PM- T. Maxham closed the hearing.
Approval of Minutes
- Hunt moved to approve the minutes from February 22, 2017; N. Hayward second. All in favor.
Administrative Officer’s Report
Upcoming schedule includes at this time:
– March 22, 2017: Deliberative
– April 12, 2017: 1-lot subdivision with associated boundary adjustment. Tim will recuse himself from this hearing. An alternate will be asked to replace him.
8:40PM- G. Hunt moved to adjourn; N. Hayward second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA
Signed: __________________________________________ Date: ______________________
For the Development Review Board
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These minutes are unofficial until approved at the next regularly-scheduled meeting. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.