Agenda and Notes, Special Meeting Aug. 2, 2007

Special Meeting on Zoning Rewrite Issues

Co-sponsored by NNE W4/7 NPA and Heineberg Community Center
Thursday, Aug. 2, 7:PM

7:00 Welcome to Heineberg Community Center - Gail Moreau, Director

7:05 Introduction of Councilors - Joanna Cole, Chair NPA Ward 4/7

7:10 Review Amendments 34 and 38 - Lea Terhune, NPA W4/7

34. Large Lot Overlay - to reflect existing neighborhood scale

38. Buildable Area Calculation -- "to protect sensitive natural features, to prevent over-development of properties that contain sensitive unbuildable areas, and to ensure that new development fits within the existing scale and intensity of the surrounding neighborhood." [Examples: wet lands, slopes, drainage to lakes/rivers.]

7:15 Overview of Proposed CDO and Amendments 34 and 38

Ammendment 34: Councilor Russ Ellis, Ward 4, sponsor of Amendment 34
Amendment 38: Emily Stebbins, Vice-Chair, Planning Commission's recommendation.

7:20 Ward 4/7 Residents to be Heard– Alan Sousie, Moderator

Barbara Leitenberg – questions about the the Buildable Area Calculation and why there are no understandable map or definitions in the Zoning Ordinance June 20 draft.

Bob Schwartz – uurged for votes in favor of Amendmends 34 & 38.

Tom Papp, President of the Strathmore Association – spoke of the difficulty in tracking the existing document with the changes and recommended a tracking document, zoning enforcement and the need for performance metrics of the Zoning Department.

Chris Dutcher – is in favor of Amendments 34 & 38; thinks information needs to be disseminated.

Chuck Seleen – supports amendments 34 & 38.

Eric Bradford – cited density issues controlled by Amendment 38.

Scott Beckwith - if there is an increase in homes, who pays for the infrastructure?


8:00 Response from Councilors

Kurt Wright – will be supporting Amendments 34& 38. He addressed some “characterizations”, balance of neighborhood with development; noted other Amendments are also important (e.g. setback issues). Process – Monday - voting on pared down list of issues. Some Amendments will be deferred; 34 & 38 will be voted on. Bonus Amendments to be “talked about” in another meeting.

Paul Decelles – will be supporting Amendments 34 & 38.

Craig Gutchell – will be supporting Amendments 34 & 38; tracking document should have come earlier in the process; development needs to be “smart” and “controlled”; the enforcement “process is broken” and needs to be “user friendly”.

Russ Ellis – supports Amendments 34 & 38. He spoke to Amendment #33 and its importance. The thought behind it – is Burlington going to grow or not going to grow? The population has remained flat for the past 40 years.