Planning Commission Minutes 6-3-2021

Planning Commission 6-3-2021

TOWN OF RUTLAND PLANNING COMMISSION

MEETING MINUTES

 

DATE: June 4^th, 2021

Town Hall and a publicly accessible conference line

OPEN MEETING 6:30 P.M.

 

Commission Members Present: Chair Barbara Pulling, Dana Peterson, Howard Burgess, Andy McKane, Mary Beth Poli, Jerry Stearns, and Jim Hall

Members of the Public Present: Doug Best, Shana Louiselle, Sandy Fogg, Nick Johnson, Andy McMillan, Kerrick Johnson

Approval of the Agenda:

Representatives from VECLO were present to discuss a project and would like to be added. Mr. Burgess moved to approve the agenda. Mr. McKane seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Question from the floor / public comment

Doug Best from VELCO, as well as other VELCO employees were present to discuss their planned project off of Post Road near US Route 7 North.

• Doug Best introduced Nick Johnson who will be the project manager for this project.
• Mr. Johnson reviewed the improvements they are planning to make to their North Rutland substation. They are planning to expand the existing facility, increase the area fenced in, installing new equipment and a new structure.
• There were no questions from Commission members.

Old Business: Select Responsibilities for Potential Town Conservation Commission

1. The Select Board plans to discuss this at the next meeting.
2. A list of possible responsibilities was reviewed and narrowed to a few preliminary options. The responsibilities considered are;
   1. Maintaining inventory of lands, including recreation lands
   2. Making recommendations to municipalities to receipt of land gifts
   3. Managing money received for operating expenses, and for statutory uses
   4. Receiving gifts of land
   5. Assisting municipalities with a variety of tasks relating to conversation land
3. Mary Beth Poli will investigate how other towns similar to ours use these commissions and will report back at a future meeting.
4. After some discussion, Ms. Pulling will inform the Select Board the Planning Commission is not ready to make any recommendations yet. This will be brought up again in the next couple of meetings.

Old Business: Review Draft of Airstrip / Helipad Ordinance

1. Pulling reviewed the progress with John Ziccone, from the State of Vermont. He did not have much input about the fuel storage.
   2. Discussed how many acres should be designated as the minimum. It currently is 2.5.
   3. After further discussion, there would need to be a designation between an area designed to land a plane and an area designed to land a helicopter.
   4. Discussed noise restrictions, this can only be addressed at the federal level. Any studies which would need to be done should be at the responsibility of the applicant.
   5. Some input from outside sources is needed for a variety of topics and people with experience will be reached out to.

Old Business: Center Rutland Pocket Park

1. A new map was sent out to Commission members and to participants from the recreation stakeholders meeting for input. This will also be used at the meeting with the historical stakeholders.
2. A public meeting will be planned for the fall.
3. The land survey project will be given to a firm soon to complete.

Announcements

The commission discussed the recent Select Board topic of the Declaration of Inclusion. No action was recommended.

Approval of minutes May 13^th, 2021:

Mr. Peterson moved to approve the minutes. Mr. McKane seconded the motion. There were no changes, and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Stearns abstained from the vote.

Adjournment:

Mr. Burgess moved to adjourn. Mr. McKane seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 7:36 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet

 

______________________________________

Barbara Pulling

Rutland Town Planning Commission Chair