SOUTH HERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES September 21, 2022
Members Present: Sandy Gregg (Chair); Michele Gammal (Vice-Chair); Fred Bartle; David Roy
Members Absent: George Harwood
Others Present: Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA), Bob Fireovid (Zoom), Joan Falcao (Zoom), Tim Maxham, James Carroll, Pamela Surprenant
6:01PM – Chair S. Gregg called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
Add Weekend in the Islands under new business.
Public Comment
There was none.
Continue 2023 Town Plan work
- Village Vision Workshop: Review notes from the discussion on Village Zoning Districts. Topics of discussion included:
- Wastewater concerns
- Development concerns
- PUDs
- ADUs
- Zoning district size concern
- Managing noise levels
- Split zoning
- Zoning type concerns
- Sidewalks
- South Hero Vision Statement
- Reviewed draft statement (see attached)
- Will be sent to NRPC to be added to town plan
- Reviewed draft statement (see attached)
2022 VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
- Gregg reported that Ashley Andrews is the agency project manager. She sounds informed and enthusiastic. We are in “hold” mode until State gets contract going, which may take several months. M. Taylor-Varney reported the Selectboard’s request to expand the study to include the intersection of Rt. 2 and Featherbed Lane was denied.
ARPA Committee Update
There was no report at this time.
Wastewater Planning and Assessment Committee Update
There was no report at this time.
Old Business
- CONSERVATION COMMISSION – Their organizational meeting was held last night, Tuesday, September 20, 2022. They elected officers. They are working on by-laws and rules of procedure, drafting a mission statement. CC is looking to map forests to avoid fragmentation. It was recommended to request the Selectboard consider funding for grants and starting a budget. Selectboard starts budgeting discussions in late October. Fireovid reported that they will be looking at funding from outside the town.
New Business
- Weekend in the Islands – weekendintheislands.org
- Local businesses giving ad space/radio time to help advertise.
- Lots of local businesses are getting in on the action, lots of social media
Administrator’s Report
- NRPC submitted a bill for the municipal planning grant services that covers work from April 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022.
- M. Taylor-Varney and T. Maxham toured Bayview for the certificate of final occupancy. Folks will start moving in October 3. Residential units are complete. Ribbon cutting is November 14th at 1:30pm.
- M. Taylor-Varney attended a webinar on retail cannibas sale. Sales can begin on October 1 if they are fully licensed. There are currently none in South Hero. Small cultivators can be considered farming by statute, defined by less than 1000 sq. ft and less than 150 plants (Tier 1 cultivator license). Communities can opt to have their own local control board.
Meeting Minutes – September 7, 2022
- Roy moved to accept the minutes as amended from September 7, 2022; S. Gregg second. All in favor.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be October 5th at 6PM at the Library..
Adjournment
7:34PM – D. Roy moved to adjourn; M. Gammal second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Bartle, Planning Commission
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.