Planning Commission Minutes

TOWN OF SHELBURNE PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
SEPTEMBER 25, 2003

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rick Peterson, Chairperson; Fred Schmidt, Hilda White, Claude LaPierre, Reg Gignoux, Kay Kraushaar, Chris Neme. STAFF PRESENT: Dean Pierce, Town Planner.

OTHERS PRESENT: Madeline Piasecki, Gail Henderson-King, Laurie Thompson, Dorothes Penar, Tucker Holland, Ken Edwards, Seth Herman, Rob Donahue, Carol Cheshonlab.

AGENDA: 1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes (9/11/03) 2. Design Review Application (continued), Philip & Madeline Piasecki, 935 Falls Road (DR03-19) 3. Discussion of Town Plan Update including Discussion with Neighborhood Paths Committee 4. Other Business, Correspondence 5. Adjournment

1. CALL TO ORDER Rick Peterson, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Minutes SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 MOTION by Reg Gignoux, SECOND by Fred Schmidt, to approve the 9/11/03 minutes with the following corrections: Globally correct the spelling of “Claude LaPierre” and “Vermont Land Trust”; Page 5, 1st paragraph, sentence regarding “right to farm” – change “Lot #8” to “Lots #1-#8”; Page 6, MOTION, condition #4 – change “fortification” to “protective bollards”, and condition #11 – change “in the agreed upon” to “to the agreed upon”; Page 6, Item #5, Applicants Comments, 1st paragraph, 2nd sentence – change “from the southerly” to “along the southerly”; Page 7, Staff Report, 1st paragraph, 2nd sentence - rewrite to read: “Reg Gignoux asked if there is a guarantee the lease from Lake Champlain Transportation will assure that the land parcel (leased to LCT) will be available for as long as the lease of the land on which the project is located.”; Page 7, Staff Report, 2nd paragraph, last sentence – change “will be” to “is being” and add “from the Planning Commission” to the end of the sentence; Page 8, 3rd paragraph (Kay Kraushaar spoke of the “spirit”…), 3rd sentence – change “dwellings” to “dwelling” and “units” to “uses”; Page 9, top paragraph, 4th sentence – change to read: “Chairman Peterson stated that the enabling statute allows the adoption of PUD and PRD regulations providing for flexibility and innovation in design.”; Page 10, MOTION, condition #1 – delete the requirement related to the lease of lands (for frontage requirement) from Lake Champlain Transportation to Shelburne Bay Senior Housing. VOTING: unanimous (7-0); motion carried.

2. DESIGN REVIEW APPLICATION (continued), PHILIP & MADELINE PIASECKI, 935 FALLS ROAD (DR03-19) Madeline Piasecki appeared on behalf of the application. APPLICANT COMMENTS Madeline Piasecki explained the existing interior lighted sign on the right hand side of the building will be removed. A new overhanging sign saying “Jocardo’s Market and Soda Fountain” will be installed on the left hand side of the building. The 24” x 19.2” two-sided sign made out of high density urethane looks like carved wood and will be bracketed to the building with an iron bracket at the top and base to prevent swinging of the sign. The applicant submitted Exhibit A showing the style of the brackets (Style A). There will be a T-bar light affixed to the top of the sign to illuminate the sign from above. Ms. Piasecki stated the existing steel support beams on the front porch will remain, but a matching safety railing will be added. With the railing in place, access will be from the side of the porch and front steps only. Fred Schmidt asked about changes to the business to include a soda fountain and possibly additional seating. Ms. Piasecki stated initially the business will remain as is. In the future, there may be a soda fountain service. The benches on the porch are for patrons who might like to sit down to enjoy their coffee and donut and relax. The back parking lot will be available for customer parking. The back loading dock will be used for deliveries.

STAFF REPORT The Planning Commission received a written staff report on the application, dated 9/11/03. Dean Pierce noted the Design Review Committee reserved the right to review the safety railing in the context of future changes to the buildings. Also, if there is a change of use, review by the Zoning Board and Planning Commission is required.

PUBLIC INPUT There were no comments from the public on the application. DELIBERATION/DECISION Design Review for a Sign at 935 Falls Road, Piasecki (DR03-19) MOTION by Kay Kraushaar, SECOND by Claude LaPierre, to grant design plan approval to Philip and Madeline Piasecki for a proposal to remove an existing sign and install a new sign and railing at property at 935 Falls Road in accordance with the submitted materials including a revised bracket drawing labeled “Style A” on a drawing received 9/25/03 modified to include the steel cross bar on which two downcast lights will be attached, but excluding the addition of any new window. VOTING: unanimous (7-0); motion carried.

3. DISCUSSION OF TOWN PLAN UPDATE INCLUDING DISCUSSION WITH NEIGHBORHOOD PATHS COMMITTEE The Planning Commission was briefed by the Neighborhood Paths Committee (NPC) on recent/current activities. This included an extended discussion of the NPC’s work updating the 1993 Town Alternative Transportation Master Plan. Committee members presented and described a map illustrating existing and recommended facilities (paths, on road lanes, and sidewalks). They also presented and discussed a list of suggested changes to the Town’s comprehensive Plan. Following the discussion with the NPC, Planning Commissioners reviewed the latest version of the draft Town Plan survey. Commissioners discussed and agreed to changes to the wording of individual questions. They also discussed the reordering of questions on the survey. Staff at the Center for Rural Studies will revise the draft based on Commissioner input. Members of the survey subcommittee will be authorized to finalize the draft prior to issuance (via the Shelburne News) on October 9th.

4. OTHER BUSINESS/CORRESPONDENCE Dean Pierce briefly discussed the Commission’s role in the review of the VELCO proposal.

5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted by M.Riordan, Recording Secretary.