CHARLOTTE PLANNING COMMISSION

Minutes of Meeting of

June 19, 2003

APPROVED

 

Charlotte Town Hall – 159 Ferry Road

Town Office – (802) 425-3533

 

Members Present:          Chair Jeff McDonald                 Robin Pierce

Linda Radimer                           Gene Diou

Gordon Troy

 

Members Absent           Jim Donovan                            Al Moraska

 

Staff Present:                 Dean Bloch

 

Public Present:               Sharon Murray                           Laurie Stavrand

                                    Ellie Russell                               Linda Hamilton

                                    Frank Thornton                         Sylvia Knight

                                    Bob Wright                               Jonathan Fisher

                                    Nell Fraser                   

 

Chairman McDonald called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AND REGULAR AGENDA

Nothing was on Consent Agenda.  Jeff indicated the following additions to the Regular Agenda:  discussions of VELCO, the Varney Farm, and reappointment of the Zoning Administrator (in executive session).  Dean asked to add moving the PC’s next meeting to July 2, a clarification about the Aube/Grover Sketch Plan, and a presentation by CCRPC of the buildout analysis.  Robin Pierce motioned to accept the agenda.  Gene Diou seconded and the motion passed.  Gordon said he won’t be present on July 17th.  Jeff said there may be a need for an extra meeting, possibly in August.  Dean said that there is an extra meeting scheduled for July 24th.

 

NEXT MEETING

All members present except Jeff indicated that they could attend July 2, and would prefer this to July 3.  Dean said he would contact the applicants to see if this works for them.

 

AUBE/GROVER

Dean asked if the Planning Commission had wanted the applicant to come back with a revised Sketch Plan.  Gordon said that they had left that up to the applicant, depending on whether they want to add additional lots.  Linda said that the Sketch Plan Review could be continued if the applicant wants to revise the plan.

 

CCPRC PRESENTATION OF BUILDOUT ANALYSIS

Most commissioners felt that August 21st at 6:00 PM would work.  This will be a night when Burnt Rock will be here, and they will be asked to attend.

 

EXTRA MEETING

There was no decision about an extra meeting (in addition to the one on July 24th, which will be a work-session for reviewing the land-use regulations.)

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Sylvia Knight spoke about the VELCO proposal.

 

NEW MAP

Linda Hamilton (on behalf of the Charlotte Conservation Commission) and Laurie Stavrand (on behalf of the Charlotte Land Trust) presented a map that they have been working on for two years.  It’s called Natural and Cultural Features with High Public Values, and combines many layers of data that make up other maps already included in the Town Plan.  This map consolidates information onto one map, and also provides a historical snapshot.

 

Laurie said that the map represents a local effort at what Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission is calling an Open Space Plan.  Laurie said that the term “open space” may not be a meaningful term.

 

Linda said that the map is not a policy document in and of itself.  It is more of an inventory.  Linda warned that there shouldn’t be an expectation of complete accuracy—the use of the map should be to raise flags for further examination and analysis.

 

The following items were raised as needing more work, or are difficult to display:

C         Viewsheds

C         Night sky

C         Ridgelines

C         Cross reference to other maps

C         Mooring management areas.

 

It was asked whether data from adjoining towns is available.  Linda said some but not all.

 

Gordon said that he would like the map layers to be presented (to the Planning Commission) with development application materials, ie: as part of a “checklist”.  Also Gordon asked if the Land Use Regulations should indicate that the presence of certain items on the map (ie: related to a development proposal) would trigger review by the Conservation Commission.  There was no decision on this.

 

LAND USE REGULATIONS

Sharon Murray of Burnt Rock, Inc. was present to discuss drafts of Chapters I and VIII.  After the discussion, Jeff said that any additional comments should be forwarded to Dean, who will send them to Sharon.  Dean indicated that the next meeting with Burnt Rock will be July 24 (because July 17 was reserved for application reviews).

 

VELCO

After discussion, it was decided that the Selectboard should appoint a study committee to be made up of one member of the Selectboard, one Planning Commissioner, and one member of the public.  The purpose of the committee would be to determine whether the town would have any grounds for objecting to the proposal within the Certificate of Public Good (Act 248) process.

 

VARNEY FARM

After discussion, Planning Commissioners present indicated their support for the town entering into a Memorandum of Agreement towards accepting the property.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Gordon Troy motioned to go into executive session, to discuss personnel issues.  Robin Pierce seconded the motion and it passed.  Ellie Russell of the Selectbboard was invited to attend.

 

Gordon Troy motioned to come out of executive session.  Linda Radimers seconded the motion and it passed.

 

ADJOURN

Robin Pierce moved to adjourn; Linda Radimer seconded.  All were in favor and the motion was unanimously accepted.  The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Dean T. Bloch