Public Meeting: The Selectboard will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, June 22 at 7:30 PM at the Colchester Meeting House to solicit input on a number of suggested changes to their building code ordinances.    Please note one particular change regarding renovations and the removal of exemptions.  Under the suggested change, any electrical, plumbing or structural work done in a home would require a permit.  The suggested changes can be found in bolded language below, and can be accessed at http://colchestervt.gov/Manager/Public%20Hearings/Chapter4.pdf

Sec. 4-25. Exemptions.

(a) No building permit or building permit fee will be required for minor renovations or repairs when the following conditions are met:

(1) The cost of the materials is less than two thousand five hundred dollars

($2,500.00); and

(2) The work is to the interior of the structure and does not include electrical, plumbing, or structural work; and

(3) The work does not result in a change in the occupancy or use of the

structure; and

(4) The work does not include the installation of a woodstove, pellet

stove, or gas stove.

Town of Essex

Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, June 24 at 6:30 PM at the Essex High School cafeteria.  The agenda is below.

• Public Comments
• Consent Agenda

o   David, John & Bettyjayne Whitcomb and Thomas & Karen Whitcomb-SIMPLE PARCEL -proposal to subdivide a 7.19 acre parcel out of the 35.79 acre parcel located at 200 Jericho Road in the (AR) Agricultural Residential Zoning District. Tax Map 8, Parcel 4.

o   EuroWest Retail Partners, LTD.-SITE PLAN AMENDMENT- -proposal to add outdoor seating to existing restaurant and sign for property located at 21 Essex Way in the Business Design Control District (B-DC) & MXD-PUD (B1) Zoning Districts. Tax Map 2, Parcel 92-1.

o   Hector & Debra Boutin and David & Jessica Moulten BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT between 319 & 341 Brown’s River Road. Tax Map 15, Parcels 15-0&15-1.

o   Hector & Debra Boutin- SIMPLE PARCEL-Proposal to create one new lot to existing 2-lot subdivision located at 319 Brown’s River Road. Tax Map 15, Parcel 15-1.

• Draft Plan Continued Public Hearing
• Minutes (6-10-10)
• Communications and Other Business

o   PC Folders

Hinesburg

Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, June 23 at 7:30 PM in the Lower Level Conference Room at the Town Office.  The agenda is below:

• Village Growth Area Rezoning (cont’d from 6/9 mtg.)
  • Finalize master plan requirement language
  • Next steps – finalize changes, forward Selectboard
• Town Plan Revisions
  • Wrap-up & review of comments from 5/26 public hearing
  • Top 10 list of implementation priorities
  • Next steps – finalize changes, forward to Selectboard
• Minutes of June 9, 2010 Meeting
• Other business & Announcements

Shelburne

Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, June 24 at 7:00 PM at the Town Center Meeting Room.

South Burlington

Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, June 22 at 7:30 PM.  The agenda is below:

• Public Comment
• Planning Commissioner announcements & director’s report
• 2011 comprehensive plan update
  • Continue review of draft Social Infrastructure Objectives & Strategies
  • Begin review of draft Blue infrastructure chapter, objectives and strategies
  • Second review of “Top Ten” goals of the city
• Review Upcoming Meeting Schedule
  • July 13, July 27, August 10
• Approve minutes of last meeting
  • May 18, May 25

Some major changes have been proposed to Chapter 11 and Chapter 3 of the Essex Town Plan which have the potential to jeopardize the protection of Saxon Hill Forest and to increase industrial areas at the expense of natural and recreational space. The change in chapter 11 is in opposition to the original goals of the Town Plan to preserve Saxon Hill for recreation and preservation. The proposed changes in chapter 3 (The Economic Development portion of the plan) are based partly on a survey with only 100 responses that didn’t track IP addresses. It is baffling why the Planning Commission and the Selectboard are incorporating the newly released Economic Development Study into the Town Plan so prematurely before the Economic Development Committee has reviewed it or the Board as approved it as a valid study.

Also incorporated into the Plan is a well thought out and scientific study and action plan to preserve our scenic vistas and open space, which has been a goal of our citizens and our Town Plan for many years.

Please come and shape your Town’s future and please have a voice about the potential destruction of Saxon Hill recreational area.

If you would like to add your name to an e-mailed letter that is being sent to our town representatives please send your full name and address to vtjohns@comcast.net. We hope to send the letter before May 27th. The letter you will be adding your name to is as follows:

“Dear Friend of Saxon Hill Forest:
As you may know the preservation of Saxon Hill Forest as a community resource for conservation and recreation is threatened. Saxon Hill Forest is one of only two (together with Indian Brook Reservoir) large natural areas open to Essex Town and Village residents for recreation.

For more than 30 years, under the guidance of the Town Plan and the unique protections of the Resource Preservation District-Industrial (RPD-I) zoning regulations, the majority of the Saxon Hill Forest has been preserved for conservation and passive recreation by the public. With the newly revised Town Plan, the Planning Commission is considering changes that would severely jeopardize these protections.

In order to maintain the established protections of Saxon Hill Forest for the residents of Essex, we feel the PC should retain the wording below exactly as it was approved in the Town Plan in 2006:
11.12.2: Ensure that residential uses are not to be allowed in the RPD-I District.
11.13.1: Retain the present zoning provisions specifying the amount of land to be reserved for recreation/conservation uses.

Please join us at the Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at Founders Elementary School (33 Founders Road, off Sand Hill Road in Essex) and urge the PC to reverse the changes that have been introduced.

        Public
Meeting:  There will be a special meeting of the Planning Commission
on Tuesday, February 3 at 7:30 PM.  The agenda is below.

                   
I.           
Agenda

                 
II.           
Public Forum – Time Certain (7:35 pm):
The Public Forum is an opportunity for any member of the public to
address the Commission on any relevant issue.

              
III.           
Joint City Council/Planning Commission Committees
Recommendations:  The Commission will continue its discussion of
the recommendations brought forward by the two joint City Council and
Planning Commission committees:

a.       Downtown
Committee

b.       Institutions
Joint Committee

               
IV.           
Adjourn (9:30 p.m.)

Charlotte

        Public
Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, February 5 at 7:00
PM. 

Colchester

        Public
Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, February 3 at
7:00 PM.  The agenda is below.

                   
I.           
Call to Order

                 
II.           
Discussion with Town Assessor or Zoning &
Taxes

              
III.           
Minutes of January 20^th

               
IV.           
Packet Information

                 
V.           
Adjourn

Village of Essex

        Public
Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, February 5 at
7:00 PM.  The agenda is below. 

                   
I.           
Audience for Visitors

                 
II.           
Additions or
Amendments to Agenda

              
III.           
Minutes

a.      
Regular Meeting – January 15, 2008

               
IV.           
Planning Commission Discussion on Open Space

                 
V.           
Public Hearing

a.      
Deliberation of
Preliminary plan for 48 units in a Planned Residential Development at 216 Maple
Street (off Woods End Drive and Kiln Road) in the R-1 District, by Sheppard,
Brogna, Gardner Essex LLC, agent for Patricia Sutliff, Michael Bouffard,
Richard Bouffard and Paul Bouffard, owners.

               
VI.           
Public Meeting

a.      
Conceptual Plan for
conversion of single family dwelling to duplex; construct six additional units
at 4 Park Terrace in the VC District, by Frank and Judy Naef, owners. (Tabled
from January 15, 2009 meeting)

            
VII.           
Adjournment

Jericho

        Public
Meeting:  The Planning Commission will hold a second public meeting on
Tuesday, February 3 at 7:00 PM to discuss Jericho
Land Use and Development Regulations.

Milton

        Public
Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, February 3 at
7:00 PM.  The agenda is below.

                   
I.           
Call to order

                 
II.           
Roll call

              
III.           
Additions to or
deletions from the agenda

               
IV.           
Public forum

                 
V.           
Discussion on
proposed zoning changes

a.      
Clarify section 130
– zoning permit exemptions

b.      
Height limitations
proposal

c.      
Articles II and III
changes

d.      
 Definition
changes

e.      
Boundary line
adjustment changes to zoning district map

f.       
General housekeeping
amendments

               
VI.           
Approval of
minutes – January 27, 2009

            
VII.           
Other business

          
VIII.           
Planning
Director’s Report

               
IX.           
Adjournment

Underhill

        Public Meeting: 
The Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, February 4 at 6:30 PM.

        Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:30 PM.  The agenda is below.

• I. Agenda
• II. Public Forum – Time Certain: 6:35 pm

The Public Forum is an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Commission on any relevant issue.

• III. Report of the Chair – Emily Stebbins, Chair
• IV. Committee Reports
• V. Report of the Director – David E. White, AICP, Director
• VI. Public Hearing re: Miscellaneous zoning amendments Time Certain 7:00pm

The Commission will hold a public hearing regarding a series of proposed amendment to

Burlington’s Comprehensive Development Ordinance. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to revise the City’s zoning regulations to:

• (a) ZA-09-05 Projecting Signs Allowable Size – Correct the allowable size of projecting signs allowing 4 square feet instead of 1 square feet. (Modify Table 7.2.1-1); and,
• (b) ZA-09-06 Exceptions to Lot Size & Density for RL & WRL – Cross reference lot size and density requirements for RL, WRL and Large Lot Overlay. (Modify Table 4.4.5-1); and,
• (c) ZA-09-07 Minimum Side Setback Clarification – Clarify minimum side setback requirements in residential districts to 10% of lot width but in no event less than 5′. (Modify Table 4.4.5-3); and,
• (d) ZA-09-08 Parking Lot Shading Requirement – Remove the 30% tree shading for parking areas and leave as general statement that adequate shading needs to be provided. (Modify Sec. 6.2.2 (l)); and,
• (e) ZA-09-09 Neighborhood Mixed-Use Districts Dimensional Standards – Change the side setback requirements in Neighborhood Mixed-Use Districts to require 5′ instead of the current 0 feet. (Modify Table 4.4.2)
• (f) ZA-09-10 Existing Small Lots Definition – Correct and clarify the definition of existing small lots (Sec. 5.2.1); and
• (g) ZA-09-11 Fuel Station Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements – Change fuel station off-street parking requirements to 1.5 on each side of pump instead of per number of employees per shift.
• VII. Joint City Council/Planning Commission Committees Recommendations

The Commission will begin discussion of the recommendations brought forward by the three joint City Council and Planning Commission committees:

•A.     Downtown Joint Committee

• a. Public Forum

•B.     Institutions Joint Committee

• a. Public Forum
• VIII. Committee Reports
• IX. Commissioner Items
• X. Minutes / Communications – Minutes for the December 9, 2008 Commission meeting.
• XI. Adjourn (9:00 p.m.)

Charlotte

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, January 15 at 7 PM.

Essex Jct.

        Public Meeting: The Planning Committee will meet on Thursday, January 15 at 7:00 PM. 

Hinesburg

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, January 14 at 7:30 PM at the Hinesburg Town Hall to receive public comment on a proposed Official Map and proposed changes to the following regulations: Zoning Regulations, Town of Hinesburg, adopted November 7, 1972, as amended September 19, 2005; Subdivision Regulations, Town of Hinesburg, adopted September 4, 1979, as amended September 19, 2005.

Underhill

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, January 14 at 6:30 PM. 

South Burlington

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30 PM at Public Works, 104 Landfill Road.

        Public Meeting:  A special meeting of the Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 6 at 6 PM at the Firehouse Center (135 Church Street).

Colchester

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 6 at 7 PM at the Meeting House.  The agenda is below.

• I. Call to Order
• II. Village Intersection Rezoning Discussion
• III. Review Draft Seawall Language
• IV. Minutes of December 16th
• V. Packet Information
• VI. Adjourn

Town of Essex

        Public Meeting: The Planning Committee will meet on Thursday, January 8 at 6:30 PM.  The agenda is below:

• I. Public Comment
• II. Minutes (12-11-08)
• III. Communications and Other Business
• a. PC File Folders
• IV. CONSENT AGENDA
• a. Matthew Stevens and Inergy Propane LLC d/b/a Steven’s Gas – MINOR SITE PLAN AMENDMENT-PUBLIC HEARING-proposed addition of a third propane storage tank and associated site improvements for property located at 189 Colchester Road in the Industrial (I1) Zoning District. Tax Map 78, Parcel 3-1.
• b. Tom Sheppard dba 41 Gauthier Drive, LLC-MINOR SITE PLAN AMENDMENT-PUBLIC HEARING-proposed changes to interior office square footage and additional parking for property located at 41 Gauthier Drive in the Industrial (I1) Zoning District. Tax Map 9, Parcel 3, Lot 20.
• V. Homestead Design, Inc.: MASTER/FINAL & SITE PLAN AMENDMENT-BUILDING “O” & “O-1″-PUBLIC HEARING-proposal to modify its existing approval to construct two 3,722 sf, 3-story buildings into two 3,672 sf, 2-story buildings, including footprint lots and associated site improvements. Property is located at 7 Carmichael Street in the MXD-C & B-DC Zoning District. Tax Map 91, Parcel 1.
• VI. Armand LeClerc: SKETCH & MASTER PLAN-PUBLIC HEARING-proposed 5-lot residential subdivision for property located at 35 Discovery Road in the Agricultural-Residential (AR) Zoning District. Tax Map 73, Parcel 1.
• VII. Bernard Yandow: SKETCH & MASTER PLAN-PUBLIC HEARING-proposed single & multi-family residential 6-lot subdivision for property located at 53A Center Road in the Medium Density Residential (R2) Zoning District. Tax Map 87, Parcel 1.

Jericho

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 6 at 7 PM.  The agenda is below.

• I. Minutes: December 16, 2008
• II. Review Comments from September 16 Public Hearing (7:00)
• a. Stream Buffer Vegetation
• b. List of Substantive Changes
• III. Town Plan Objectives / 2009 Work plan (8:15)
• IV. Adjourn

Milton

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 6 at 7 PM.  The agenda is below.

• I. Call to Order
• II. Roll Call
• III. Additions or Deletions from the Agenda
• IV. Public forum
• V. Discussion on Proposed Zoning Changes
• a. Subdivision Regulation Changes
• b. General Housekeeping Amendments
• VI. Approval of minutes – December 2, 2008 and December 16, 2008
• VII. Other business
• VIII. Planning Director’s Report
• IX. Adjournment

Richmond:

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, January 7 at 7 PM.

Shelburne

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, January 8 at 6:30 PM.

Williston

        Public Meeting:  The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 6 at 7:15 PM.