Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Municipal Building Community Room
Address: 43 Bombardier Road Milton, VT 05468
Contact: (802) 893-1186 or jhemmerick@town.milton.vt.us
Website: www.miltonvt.org
1. CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME
The Vice-Chair
called the meeting tor order at approximately 6:32 p.m.
2. ATTENDANCE
Members Present:
Lori Donna, Chair (arrived at approximately 6:39 p.m.); Julie Rutz,
Vice-Chair; Tony Micklus, Clerk; Henry Bonges; and John Lindsay.
Members Absent:
Lori Donna, Chair.
Staff Present:
Jacob Hemmerick, Planning Director; Amanda Pitts, Zoning Administrator.
Public Present:
None.
3. AGENDA REVIEW
None.
4. PUBLIC FORUM
None.
5. STAFF UPDATES
Staff
shared news in the Town Manager search, stating that Acting Town Manager Don
Turner has been chosen by the Selectboard as the only candidate to move
forward. There will be a community
meeting on June 12, 2017 for a question and answer session with Turner; all are
encourage to attend. Staff also gave a
short update on the status of other vacant positions.
6. OFFICIAL NOTICES
None.
7. BUSINESS
A. Meeting
Schedule
The group reviewed their work plan and went over details of the upcoming
schedules. Staff noted the change in
time for their next meeting: it will be
on June 13, 2017 beginning at 6:00 p.m. rather than 6:30 p.m.
B. Zoning
Administrator Re-Appointment
Pitts gave a brief introduction covering the re-appointment process,
explaining that the Planning Commission nominates a candidate that the
Selectboard may then appoint, or not.
Questions were asked and answered.
MOTION by Bonges to nominate Pitts as Zoning Administrator; SECOND by Micklus. Unanimously APPROVED.
C.
Preparation for Unified Development Regulations Hearing
The group reviewed preparations for the Unified Development Regulations
Hearing. They discussed the way they
would like to present it. Because it is an
entirely new document, it will not be possible to review all changes
individually. Everyone agreed that the
history of the project and the reasons for the rewrite were important to
convey. The background of the project
was discussed at length. Staff will
draft a brief, one-page summary for distribution. Rutz suggested a visual that would illustrate
other changes coming down the pipeline and how they interplay, for example the
Comprehensive Plan update. The group
discussed other visual displays that could be utilized.
D.
Regional Energy Plan Municipal Data Guide
Staff noted that prime wind and solar location within town are identified,
including locations by Long Pond and Eagle Mountain, as well as on Cold Spring
Road, Lake Road and Eagle Mt. Harbor Road.
Prioritization levels were reviewed and the data was discussed. If the Planning Commission (PC) wants to
provide any comments, they are due by June 16, 2017. The value of providing comment was debated;
Staff explained how the Public Service Board (PSB) can take comments in to
account. Donna felt it was very
important to share this info with the Conservation Commission; Staff will follow
up on this request.
A 5-minute Recess was held beginning at approximately 7:34 p.m.
E.
Comprehensive Plan Project Design
Staff shared a presentation on the process that is planned for developing
the 2018 Comprehensive Plan. The
presentation included lots of general info about the Comprehensive Plan process
as well as information more specific to Milton’s Town Plan, including:
·
Why do we plan?
·
When do we plan?
·
How is the Plan developed?
·
Without an approved Comprehensive Plan, the Town cannot
adopt or amend Zoning Regulations or Subdivision Regulations, cannot collect
Impact Fees, and cannot qualify for some State and Federal funding (among other
consequences).
·
Required elements of the Plan.
·
Goal prioritization.
·
Public outreach and input.
·
Consensus-building.
·
Implementation.
·
Who uses the Plan?
·
How the Plan is put to work: a Vision becomes a Goal that
leads to Action.
Rutz hopes the Comprehensive Plan can be more carefully crafted to meet
the vision laid out by the Unified Bylaw.
Staff hopes for a clear, concise plan with buy-in from as many groups as
possible, to prevent policy whiplash.
The group agreed that more visuals would be helpful, and that the
formatting should be updated. Staff
shared some outreach proposals that the Planning Department’s summer intern,
Gina Clithero, has developed, including postcards, surveys, and art and photo
contests. Some of these will be rolled
out very soon. Donna felt a joint
meeting with the Selectboard was crucial to ensure that everyone is on the same
page. The group discussed various
possibilities for the Town, sharing things they had been told at the Board
& Commission Volunteer Appreciation Event (held the previous
Wednesday). Rutz noted the amazing
amount of volunteers in town and their enthusiasm for Milton.
8. MINUTES
MOTION by Rutz
to APPROVE the meeting Minutes of May 16, 2017 as presented. SECOND by Lindsay. Micklus abstained. Motion PASSED.
9. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Bonges
to ADJOURN at approximately 8:26 p.m., SECOND by Rutz. Unanimously APPROVED.
