Town of Pittsfield, Vermont
Planning Commission
Minutes of September 2, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Suana Bicek Marsha Hopkins and Jennifer Howard. Guests
included; Chris Sargent from Two Rivers, Katie Stiles and Kevin Lasko from the
Original General Store, Joyce Stevens from the Swiss Farm Market and Doug Gage from
Rutland City.
1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm at the Town Office.
2. Suana announced an agenda modification to include correspondence from the ANR
and tasked Marsha with contacting the state regarding 2016 plans for Route 100.
3. The minutes from the July 15th meeting were read, motion to approve by Suana,
seconded by Marsha.
4. Correspondence:
Announcement of the VLCT Town Fair in Essex Junction on Thursday Oct 9th.
Letter from Casa Bella concerning Original General Store’s employees trespass
on their private parking area. Jen suggested Franco and Susan post “private
parking” and that it was not a town issue. Suana said she had told Franco to post,
and to keep a log of how often employees from another business were using their
parking lot. During discussion of letter, Doug Gage from unidentified purveyor
requested permission to back up and park his 52 foot long trailer from Route 100
onto the north side of Upper Michigan Road to allow for his safety while
delivering orders to the Original General Store. He also requested that the town
put up an additional stop sign on the corner. The planning commission referred
him to the Select board and Road Commissioner since this was not their
jurisdiction.
ANR Waste Water permit for Bear Creek announced.
Public notice hearing for Stockbridge Town Plan on September 23rd. Suana and
Marsha plan to attend meeting.
Original General Store revised Act 250 application received. Tabled for now as
agenda modification included ANR second need for permit. The store owners
indicated there was no timeline and they were waiting on information from Terry
Shearer. Suana said the revised application contained a parking survey which
raised concerns about offsite parking areas; Katie clarified that the survey was
done to remedy off site issues and they had no control when customers parked off
site. Joyce Stevens said she came to the meeting to go on record if parking
concerns were discussed, none were.
5. Chris Sargent presented the resolution for the grant application for the Town Plan and
instructed the Planning Commission that there needed to be a vote to approve application.
Marsha made a motion, seconded by Jen, all in favor to approve grant application and
have Suana sign. Suana said she would bring it to Patty on Wednesday so the Select
board could list it as an agenda item for their meeting next week.
6. Discussion ensued concerning required changes that needed to be made to the Town
Plan. Chris said someone other than himself would be helping and at this point, he did
know who it would be. Items requiring attention included additional sections on flood
resiliency, locally grown food, and energy, greater detail concerning land use and scenic
and historical resources. The planning commission agreed to go back to their monthly
schedule to meet the plan deadlines, second Tuesday of each month. Chris suggested
having an open forum sometime during the winter to get feedback for the development of
the plan. Jen asked if it had to be warned in the paper? Chris said it was an informal
meeting that could be announced within the town.
7. Suana reviewed her meeting with Steve Libby concerning the three buyout properties.
She indicated that Mark Begin was very helpful in expediting the grant application since
we got it in just under the wire. During her walkthrough with Steve Libby it was noted
that an invasive weed was starting to grow on the properties. Jen suggested mowing
might keep it at bay. Improvements will include shoring up the banks. Original Store
owners suggested putting an urban community garden there.
8. Comments : Jen inquired about the comment in the minutes from July 15th regarding
nudging Stockbridge about the Act 250 application; no one from the Planning
Commission had actively contacted the Stockbridge select board to date. Katie wanted to
be notified whenever the commission planned to discuss the store; Suana said the agenda
for the meetings is always posted on line 48 hours prior to the meetings. No further
discussions.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Marsha Hopkins
Secretary
The MINUTES of September 2, 2014 were duly APPROVED on October 14,
2014.
Signed____Suana Bicek___.
Planning Commission
Minutes of September 2, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Suana Bicek Marsha Hopkins and Jennifer Howard. Guests
included; Chris Sargent from Two Rivers, Katie Stiles and Kevin Lasko from the
Original General Store, Joyce Stevens from the Swiss Farm Market and Doug Gage from
Rutland City.
1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm at the Town Office.
2. Suana announced an agenda modification to include correspondence from the ANR
and tasked Marsha with contacting the state regarding 2016 plans for Route 100.
3. The minutes from the July 15th meeting were read, motion to approve by Suana,
seconded by Marsha.
4. Correspondence:
Announcement of the VLCT Town Fair in Essex Junction on Thursday Oct 9th.
Letter from Casa Bella concerning Original General Store’s employees trespass
on their private parking area. Jen suggested Franco and Susan post “private
parking” and that it was not a town issue. Suana said she had told Franco to post,
and to keep a log of how often employees from another business were using their
parking lot. During discussion of letter, Doug Gage from unidentified purveyor
requested permission to back up and park his 52 foot long trailer from Route 100
onto the north side of Upper Michigan Road to allow for his safety while
delivering orders to the Original General Store. He also requested that the town
put up an additional stop sign on the corner. The planning commission referred
him to the Select board and Road Commissioner since this was not their
jurisdiction.
ANR Waste Water permit for Bear Creek announced.
Public notice hearing for Stockbridge Town Plan on September 23rd. Suana and
Marsha plan to attend meeting.
Original General Store revised Act 250 application received. Tabled for now as
agenda modification included ANR second need for permit. The store owners
indicated there was no timeline and they were waiting on information from Terry
Shearer. Suana said the revised application contained a parking survey which
raised concerns about offsite parking areas; Katie clarified that the survey was
done to remedy off site issues and they had no control when customers parked off
site. Joyce Stevens said she came to the meeting to go on record if parking
concerns were discussed, none were.
5. Chris Sargent presented the resolution for the grant application for the Town Plan and
instructed the Planning Commission that there needed to be a vote to approve application.
Marsha made a motion, seconded by Jen, all in favor to approve grant application and
have Suana sign. Suana said she would bring it to Patty on Wednesday so the Select
board could list it as an agenda item for their meeting next week.
6. Discussion ensued concerning required changes that needed to be made to the Town
Plan. Chris said someone other than himself would be helping and at this point, he did
know who it would be. Items requiring attention included additional sections on flood
resiliency, locally grown food, and energy, greater detail concerning land use and scenic
and historical resources. The planning commission agreed to go back to their monthly
schedule to meet the plan deadlines, second Tuesday of each month. Chris suggested
having an open forum sometime during the winter to get feedback for the development of
the plan. Jen asked if it had to be warned in the paper? Chris said it was an informal
meeting that could be announced within the town.
7. Suana reviewed her meeting with Steve Libby concerning the three buyout properties.
She indicated that Mark Begin was very helpful in expediting the grant application since
we got it in just under the wire. During her walkthrough with Steve Libby it was noted
that an invasive weed was starting to grow on the properties. Jen suggested mowing
might keep it at bay. Improvements will include shoring up the banks. Original Store
owners suggested putting an urban community garden there.
8. Comments : Jen inquired about the comment in the minutes from July 15th regarding
nudging Stockbridge about the Act 250 application; no one from the Planning
Commission had actively contacted the Stockbridge select board to date. Katie wanted to
be notified whenever the commission planned to discuss the store; Suana said the agenda
for the meetings is always posted on line 48 hours prior to the meetings. No further
discussions.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Marsha Hopkins
Secretary
The MINUTES of September 2, 2014 were duly APPROVED on October 14,
2014.
Signed____Suana Bicek___.
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