BARRE TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES FOR APRIL 5, 2006

The Barre Town Planning Commission held a special meeting on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 7:05 p.m. at the Municipal Offices, Websterville , Vermont .

Members Present :

Cedric Sanborn, Co-Chair
Charlie Thygesen, Sr.
Harry (Marty) Miller
Therese Ackerman

Others Present :

Claire Duke
Michael Swift
Brian Bailey
Barry Stryker
Bob Vanarsdell
Marcel Roy
Janice Smith
Pat Dessureau
Kathy Bailey
Henri Dessureau
Gordon Booth

Staff Present :
Chris Violette – Planning Officer
Harry Hinrichsen – Town Engineer
Heidi Bennett – Board Clerk

A. WARNED PUBLIC MEETING – ZONING BYLAW :

1. Begin review of the proposed new zoning bylaw.

a. Review of zoning map and associated zones.

Cedric Sanborn opened the public meeting and explained to the audience that the plan was for Chris Violette to go over the map; the zones and how they became.

Chris explained that this is just a meeting, not a public hearing. Tonight will be an overview of how the Zoning Re-write Committee came up with the map. The idea of this meeting is to bring the Planning Commission up to speed on what the Zoning Re-write Committee did at the same time invite the public in to hear that.

Chris explained that the Zoning Re-write started in March 2002, finished in March 2006. The Zoning Re-write worked for the Planning Commission and presented their document to the Planning Commission. Once the Planning Commission is satisfied with the Bylaw, they then give it to the Selectboard. There is no public vote. The Selectboard by statue has the final say; they hold a final hearing and 21 days after that an Ordinance becomes the law of the land. Unless 5% of the voters ask for an Australian ballot, the Bylaw does not go to a citizen vote.

Claire Duke asked if the Town Attorney has reviewed the Bylaw. Chris stated that not as of yet, but he will. Burnt Rock is the expert and they have reviewed it.

Chris explained that the Zoning Re-write committee met 56 times. The first year and a half was spent looking at maps, before they looked at any of the document; their time was spent on Land Use. They looked at the current zoning map; current land development patterns; existing sewer service territory; and potential sewer service territory based on gravity and looked at the availability of water. The committee broke the Town down into three categories.

Chris explained what the new zones would be called:

Low Density Residential
Medium Density Residential
High Density Residential
Very High Density Residential
East Barre Residential
East Barre Commercial
Office Building Retail
Office Building Business
Highway Commercial
Industrial
Earth Resource Extraction
Conservation
Agriculture Overlay

Chris stated that one new change you will see is that in the Low & Medium Density Residential, lots must be able to sustain their own septic systems, including the leachfield.

After meeting with Brunt Rock, they suggested that the Agriculture Zone become an Agriculture Overlay. The underlying zone is Low Density Residential. The difference between Low Density Residential and Agriculter Overlay is that if you are in the Overlay, the Development Review Board would review the project as a conditional use.

Charlie Thygesen asked in the Industrial Zone, if the lot isn’t currently 10 acres, will the lot still be conforming. Chris stated that if it exists today, would remain conforming whether it is developed or not. If you have a lot that is undersized, you will still be able to develop that lot. Setbacks will still have to be met.

Setbacks for accessory structures currently must be 25’ from the property line, new Bylaw the setback will be 8’ in most zones, 5’ in others.

Henri Dessureau stated that he felt that the Zoning Re-write Committee didn’t listen to the residents and feels that the Planning Commission is going to do the same thing.

Gordon Booth stated that Bond Auto & Booth Bros/Hood are located in the Conservation area on the new map, would they be able to expand? Chris stated that they would not be able to expand because they are would be noncompliant. Mr. Booth stated that if that were the case, we would loose two key businesses’ here and many jobs.

Chris stated that zones are property line specific as much as possible.

Cedric Sanborn said that when the Planning Commission meets next week they would set a schedule of when these public meetings will be held. Mr. Sanborn feels that they need to take the plan that the committee put together and make it the Planning Commission’s plan. They should start by working in the front until all board members understand it.

Charlie Thygesen stated that he agrees by starting in the front and working with each zone. Mr. Thygesen would like a bigger map and would like the different zones not highlighted when discussing that particular zone. Chris stated that the map isn’t digital.

Chris reminded the Planning Commission that they need to look at the document and map as a whole, decide what is the best for the town, not for individual people.

Therese Ackerman stated that it wasn’t until that last few weeks did people start attending the meetings and giving some input, Ms. Ackerman stated that some of this would’ve been helpful from the beginning.

Chris stated that he was in talks with Gordon Booth the whole time, but knew that the bylaw would’ve taken 6 years to complete and that the committee didn’t have anything to offer the residents to read.

J. ADJOURN :

On a motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Thygesen, the Board voted to adjourn the special Planning Commission meeting of April 5, 2006 at 9:25 p.m.