Planning Commission Minutes 6-24-2021

Publish date: June 29, 2021

Planning Commission 6-24-2021

TOWN OF RUTLAND PLANNING COMMISSION

MEETING MINUTES

 

DATE: June 24th, 2021

Publicly accessible conference line

OPEN MEETING 6:35 P.M.

 

Commission Members Present: Chair Barbara Pulling, Howard Burgess, Sherman Hunter, Andy McKane, Mary Beth Poli, Jerry Stearns, Jim Hall, and Norman Cohen

Members of the Public Present: David Cleary

Approval of the Agenda:

Mr. Cohen moved to approve and amend the agenda by adding Energy Committee update to old business. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Questions / Comments from the public

  1. Town resident David Cleary was present and provided the commission with information related to a planned request for a boundary line adjustment.
    1. Mr. Cleary gave an overview of what he is proposing to do, which is to purchase property behind his to straighten out the lots. Mr. Cleary provided exhibits.
    2. A surveyor has been hired to create survey maps of the parcels involved.
    3. Discussed if each property involved would need their own application. Each property owner involved would need to fill out their own “page 1” of the application.
    4. Mr. Cleary will return once the surveys have been completed.

New Business: Letter of Support for VELCO Expansion

  1. The Selectboard was in favor of doing a joint letter for this project and this was approved at their recent meeting.
  2. Mr. Cohen moved to approve the letter and to authorize Ms. Pulling to sign on behalf of the Commission. Mr. Hunter seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

New Business: Act 250 application for Amendment Schedule G – Shared Use Path

  1. The town filed and amendment for the shared use path to connect Northwood Park to Chasanna Drive.
  2. No action is needed from the Planning Commission.

New Business: Revisions to Stormwater Ordinance map

  1. The suggestions and questions given to Watershed Consulting were used to update the map tool.
  2. The members were asked to review the tool using the information provided to them and additional comments will be discussed at a future meeting.
  3. Discussed approving the payment for the map tool work. Mr. Hunter moved to approve the payment in the amount of $1500. Mr. McKane seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Old Business: Assign responsibilities for potential town conservation commission

  1. There is still work going on with researching what towns around the state are doing with their commissions. The Selectboard would like to have information presented to them in July.
  2. Discussed adding a formal vote on forming this commission to a future Planning Commission agenda. It may be appropriate to have other town residents participate as part of the Conservation Commission and not have the Planning Commission serve as both.

Old Business: Article 4 of draft helipad/airstrip ordinance (pp 4-6)

  1. A person who could help provide input to the group on this has not been found yet.
  2. Mr. McKane has spoken to some individuals who provided some information on suggestions for sizes of airstrips and helipads. Other members are going to discuss this topic with people they know.

Old Business: Energy Committee Update

  1. Mr. Cohen commented that holding off on forming a committee since there may be some state funding coming to the Regional Planning Commissions from the state to help support this effort.
  2. Discussed the draft letter Mr. Cohen has been working on address to the Selectboard and he has asked for members to review the draft again and provide him feedback to help create a final draft.
  3. Some members of energy committee from other towns in Vermont may be invited to attend a future meeting to discuss what their group does.
  4. The Regional Planning Commission has been given an overview of what they can except. State funds will be available and other resources of information will be available to assist Rutland County and towns that have energy committees will be able to participate.

Announcements

The Selectboard has asked for some input on ways the anticipated ARPA funds could be used. At least $400,000 is expected. A link will be sent to the members, so they are able to participate. Two meetings are planned. One on June 29th and the other on July 20th.

Mr. McKane spoke on the topic of zoning and asked that the topic of establishing zoning guidelines be put on the next agenda for discussion. Mr. McKane asked the group to really think about petitioning the Selectboard for authorization to proceed with this project, of reviewing the previous documents created on establishing zoning.

Approval of minutes June 3rd, 2021:

Mr. Burgess moved to approve the minutes with some clerical changes. Mr. McKane seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hunter and Mr. Cohen abstained.

Adjournment:

Mr. Hunter moved to adjourn. Mr. McKane seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet

 

 

______________________________________

Barbara Pulling

Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair

Rutland Town News

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