Development Review Board Meeting

Present: Shirley Maiden, Brenda Madkour, John Watanabe, Perry Green, Ray Ferrarin, Devin Halligan, Julie Nolan; Tim Waker, Bob Bushee, Alan Benoit, John Watanabe, Gerry Deyo, John Griffin, Howard Kalinsky; Kaitlyn Filippi, Sydney Schiffman; also Planning Director/Zoning Administrator Lee Krohn, and others per sign in sheet.

Motion Deyo to approve the minutes of 10/28/09;seconded by Griffin and OK by all.

Design Review applications:

Stifel & Nicolaus, 647 Depot Street: Design Review OK with new signs as proposed. Motion Kalinsky to approve as presented; seconded by Benoit and OK unanimously.

Vermont Foam Insulation/Jon Albee Home Energy Consulting, 5018 Main Street: Design Review OK with proposed signs; solar powered lights may be considered. Motion Kalinsky to approve as presented; consult with staff before installing any lights; only one flush mounted sign allowed, so these must be created/mounted/installed so as to become a single sign; seconded by Benoit and OK unanimously.

Up for Breakfast building, 4935 Main Street: Restaurant owner Bonnie Bruce has bought this building from longtime owner Rosemary Zurmuhlen.

Design Review OK with new paint colors. Motion Griffin to approve as presented; seconded by Kalinsky and OK unanimously.

Sharon’s Style Shoppe, 42 Bonnet Street (behind the Lawyer and the Baker restaurant): Long time operator Sharon Morrissey passed away, and owner Peter Sanders wishes to remove this non-historic building, and add minor fill in the driveway/parking lot to even things out before winter.

Design Review OK as proposed. Motion Griffin to approve as presented; seconded by Bushee and OK by all.

Maclean, 467 Three Maple Drive

Applicants were sworn. Proposed is a six lot residential subdivision, which would be accessed off of both Beartown Road and Three Maple Drive. The existing home would remain on an 18 acre lot; the remaining lots would be roughly 6-8 acres in size, and served by individual wells and mound systems. A conservation easement (granted to whom?) would be placed on a section of the 18 acre lot. Access off of Beartown requires Selectboard approval, being a class 4 road; the other new road would be a private road, to be maintained privately. Discussion regarding access, whether the new road is even needed, and whether all access could be off of Beartown, since that would need to be upgraded anyway. This will be pursued. Applicant stated that there is no disturbance of 20% slopes, no existing trails on the property, and no mapped wetlands. Stormwater drainage and firefighting infrastructure were addressed. All letters of service except the Fire Department are in hand. It was suggested that building and clearing envelopes be considered and shown on plans; and that some form of cutting restrictions be put in place for the balance of the wooded lands. It was also suggested that a ‘no cut’ buffer 50' wide be included along the westerly boundary of these lots, which would create a form of wildlife corridor and connection.

Upon further discussion of roadway access issues, motion Kalinsky to recess the hearing to the next DRB meeting on 12/2/09; seconded by Benoit and approved 5-2, Deyo and Griffin opposed.

Upcoming schedule, and other informational items were discussed. A letter from the State of Vermont was discussed, which ruled the Chamber of Commerce banner lawful under statute, but finding that the support structure itself intruded into both highway and rail rights of way and must be relocated. Information, background, and draft bylaws were offered regarding the November 30 Planning Commission public hearing on signs, flood hazard regs, and the C-1 zoning boundary along Main Street.

With no other business, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.

Respectfully submitted by Lee Krohn.