May 12, 2004
Town Hall 7:00 PM
Dana Farley (Village Resident), Chair
Moe Harvey (Citizen at large)
John Owen (Affordable Housing Committee)
Charles Russell (Selectboard)
Ruah Swennerfelt (Conservation Commission)
Jack Clemmons (Economic
Development Committee)
Members absent:
Jessie Bradley (Recreation Committee)
Chris McGee (Citizen at large)
Al Moraska (Planning Commission)
Others present:
Mark Moser
Karen Frost
Robin Reid
Carrie Spear
Dean Bloch, Town Planner
The meeting convened at 6:30 PM.
Minutes of April 14th were approved with a spelling correction.
Dana wondered whether, because several committee members were absent and Steve Libby would not be able to be at the meeting until 7:30 PM (which is when several members needed to leave), there should be another meeting prior to the monthly meeting in June. Dean will check with committee members by e-mail.
Dana provided a summary of the meetings of the Core Village Neighborhood and the South Village Neighborhood, both on May 10th. (At this point Mark and Karen had not arrived).
Jack had put together some notes in preparation for holding a North Neighborhood meeting. He wanted to get feedback from the Committee, and also wondered whether there should be a common approach for each neighborhood. He had started a list of “geographic items”, but felt that it was important to do more than make a list, and that each item should be discussed to determine how it is important and how it relates to other items and a larger context. Then he created a list of “demographic items.” This included issues such as social cohesiveness, health care and diversity.
Charles wondered whether each neighborhood might use the format of the Charlotte Town Plan, which is broken into sections entitled Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Dana said that Jack’s list is important for providing context for the planning process, but that the committee should remember its immediate goal is to address the Memorandum of Agreement between the town and the Vermont Land Trust and the Preservation Trust of Vermont.
Robin felt that people do want to live in a place because of its “geographic character,” (such as the amount of open space), not just because of its “social character” as Jack had indicated.
There was discussion about creating a little more structure to the process for the neighborhood groups, and incorporating Jack’s list into this structure.
Mark had arrived at this point, and expressed the need for a “one-pager” to distribute to his neighborhood, which describes the purpose and process of the neighborhoods’ involvement.
Mark summarized the Core Village Neighborhood meeting. He said it was a little bit of “what I like and what I don’t like,” which he said seemed a little superficial. Ruah said that this was OK, that this is how many groups start discussions.
Some of the issues discussed by the Core Village Neighborhood were:
C taxes
C whether commercial development will or won’t reduce taxes
C contentment with the current amount of commercial development
C contentment with feeling of “established, older neighborhoods”
C don’t want to be like Shelburne village, but like being close to such amenities
C like proximity to ruralness
C like flower memorial at intersection of Ferry Road and Greenbush Road
C traffic (or speed?) is a big (BIG) concern—including speeding tractors
C perhaps speed bumps or tables would help
C bike lanes are appreciated
C don’t want street lights—people like the current level of lighting
C would like pedestrian separation from Ferry Road, especially in winter (plowed?)—not necessarily paved & curbed
C would like more trees along Ferry Road
C septic concerns
C WIZN interference is major concern; unclear whether the tower is a concern (ie: visual)
C discussed school—no resolution
C affordable/elderly housing—want to know genesis of discussion; question whether there is need
Karen summarized the South Village Neighborhood discussion
C want to walk the property
C want to look at previous studies/plans
C wondered if there is a need for consensus
C like trails
C like open landscape
C wondered about meeting community needs
C wondered about relation to LeBoeuf property
C it was discussed that the Burns property is a big part of the neighborhood
Charles asked whether people consider the whole Burns property to be part of the South Village Neighborhood, or mostly the western portion. Karen said probably mostly the field area.
Robin said that a lot of people walk their dogs on the field and trails that run across to the flea market area.
Robin said that sometimes she sometimes wonders about a “Plan B”; eg: possibly 3 or 4 houses built by Habitat for Humanity or a similar organization. Jody Benjamin and John Wright currently live on the Burns parcel (in mobile home leased by the Town).
Ruah said the context of how the village fits into the rest of the town should be considered.
Dana said that this portion of the process is to hear from the villagers, ie: what do they want to see? She encouraged them to make use of Diane Gayer’s (of Vermont Design Institute) design skills.
Mark expressed the need for a more active co-leader of the Core Village Neighborhood.
Dana said that committee members are supposed to inform various other town committees of the Planning Process (as indicated in the minutes of April 14th). It was unclear whether this has been accomplished yet.
(From 4/14/04 minutes: Jessie will discuss with the School Board and the Recreation Committee, Al will discuss with the Planning Commission, John will discuss with the Affordable Housing Committee, Ellie/Charles will discuss with the Selectboard, Dana will discuss with the Charlotte Land Trust, Robin will be asked to discuss with the Trails Committee.)
Ruah was appointed to the Burns Committee as a representative of the Conservation Commission—she will discuss with the Conservation Commission.
Meetings will also need to be scheduled with organizations such as the Student Council, Grange, Fire and Rescue, Senior Center, Grange, etc.
C Dean will check with Committee by e-mail for an additional meeting.
C Dana, Jack and Dean will meet on Friday @ 9 AM to create “one-pager.”
Next Meeting
Ruah requested that meetings during the summer be on the third rather than second Wednesdays.
The meeting adjourned at
8:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dean Bloch