Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:55:58 -0400WeeblyThu, 13 Nov 2014 13:51:44 GMThttp://www.pittsfieldvt.com/2014-planning-commission-meeting-minutes/draft-minutes-pittsfield-planning-commission-meeting-november-11-2014Town of Pittsfield, Vermont 
Planning Commission 
Minutes of November 11, 2014

MEMBERS PRESENT: Marsha Hopkins and Jennifer Howard.
1. The meeting was called to order and cancelled at 6:45pm at the Town Office. A 
quorum was not present to conduct business. Next meeting scheduled for the second 
Tuesday in December (9th), 2014.

Respectfully Submitted, 
Marsha Hopkins 
Secretary 

]]>Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:29:54 GMThttp://www.pittsfieldvt.com/2014-planning-commission-meeting-minutes/draft-minutes-pittsfield-planning-commission-meeting-october-14-2014Town of Pittsfield, Vermont 
Planning Commission 
Minutes of October 14, 2014

MEMBERS PRESENT: Suana Bicek Marsha Hopkins and Jennifer Howard. 
1. The meeting was called to order at 6:40pm at the Town Office. 
2. Agenda Modifications - None 
3. The minutes from the September 2nd meeting were read, motion to approve with one 
spelling correction by Jennifer, seconded by Suana, all in favor. 
4. Correspondence: 
 Two Rivers Public Facilities Grant – Suana told us that we had been approved for 
the Grant to fix up the buyout properties that were now town land. Chris Sargent 
would be sending a letter to the Select Board for their signature and then would 
forward a fully executed copy to the Planning Commission. 
5. Town Plan 2015 
 Suana said Chris Sargent had given her some guidelines we could start with while 
waiting for approval of the grant. Chris told Suana the grant was very 
competitive this year and that we should start making notes on specific areas we 
wanted updated not related to the enhanced consultation. 
The planning commission noted the following areas for update so far: 
 Town History to include Irene and changes that occurred, history of town office 
and renovation. 
 “Should” in many cases will be changed to “Shall”. 
 Template from Two Rivers would work for Affordable Housing update. 
 Addition of table with local beds by nursing and residential care to update section 
on Aging. 
 Education section updates to include new tuitions and student population. 
 Jobs section to include new industries in town. 
 Library renovation and history. 
6. Comments: 
 Suana made mention of Don’s passing and that he would be missed. The Planning 
Commission discussed options for a potential 5th member of the commission. 
7. Adjournment: 
 Suana announced she would not be able to attend the next meeting. Jennifer agreed to 
get the next agenda to the town office the Thursday prior to the next meeting. Meeting 
adjourned at 7:50pm. 
 
Respectfully Submitted, 
Marsha Hopkins 
Secretary 
]]>Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:29:30 GMThttp://www.pittsfieldvt.com/2014-planning-commission-meeting-minutes/draft-minutes-pittsfield-planning-commission-meeting-september-2-2014Town 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___.]]>Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:16:24 GMThttp://www.pittsfieldvt.com/2014-planning-commission-meeting-minutes/draft-july-15-2014-planning-commission-minutes
Town of Pittsfield, Vermont
Planning Commission
Minutes of July 15, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Suana Bicek, Marsha Hopkins, Don Flynn and Sarah Gray.
GUESTS PRESENT: Bob Charlesbois, Katie Stiles, Kevin Lasko representing the
Original General Store and Steve Libby from the River Conservacy in Montpelier.
Meeting was called to order at 6:30pm at the Town Office.
The minutes from the April 8th meeting were read, motion to approve by Sarah, seconded
by Suana.
Suana read the new regulations from Two Rivers regarding minutes and agenda’s for
town boards and commissions; agenda’s need to be posted 48 hours in advance of any
meeting which would mean agenda’s would need to be available to the Town Office by
noon the Thursday prior to our Tuesday meetings, and minutes needed to be received by
the Town office within five days of meetings. This would mean minutes have to be given
to the Town Office on the Thursday following the meeting because of their office hours.
Mail needed to be outlined on the agenda, new items not on the agenda would need to be
announced at the meetings as an agenda modification.
Suana announced a Modification to the posted Agenda to include new correspondence
from the District 3 Environmental Commission.
Suana reviewed current mail with commission:
 Act 250 permit application for Vermont Farms Catering/Vermont Ventures LLC
which includes expansion to existing business.
 Waste water permit for Bartlett Corners, Stockbridge for changes to existing
building for five apartments, office space and 7 large events/year. Included was a
letter from the Stockbridge Zoning board stating the improvements did not meet
the definition of substantial and an amendment to land use permit was granted.
There was also a letter from the ANR regarding the portion of the property that
was in the flood plain. Sarah suggested we nudge Stockbridge because all those
improvements on the current building appear to be substantial even though costs
submitted with their application were under the threshold.
 Suana read the revision to the draft Act 250 permit for Vermont Ventures
LLC/Vermont Farms Catering stating the permit would not be issued until the
Comments from the Division Historic Preservation and Agency of Agriculture
were received and an amended waste water and potable water supply permit were
issued.
Suana notified the commission that she attended the Select board meeting on the 8th and
told them it would be a good idea if the Planning Commission attended the Act 250
hearing under party status for Vermont Ventures/Vermont Farms Catering. Concerns
were about parking, more congestion on the intersection and an overall dangerous
situation for pedestrians and drivers. Sarah said we had party status regardless and did not
have to inform the select board. At this point in time a discussion ensued with Katie
Stiles and Kevin Lasko from the store.
Sarah made a motion that the commission attend the Act 250 hearing for Vermont
Ventures/Vermont Farms Catering, seconded by Suana; all in favor. Marsha recused
herself because she would be attending the hearing as an abutter and could not attend as
part of the commission.
Suana told the commission she informed the select board at the same meeting that she
had submitted an application for funds to improve the lands from the buyout properties.
It was due prior to their monthly meeting. Steve Libby from the River Conservacy joined
this part of the meeting and explained that Suana had submitted a letter of intent and the
grant application from Two Rivers came out today, July 15th. He explained that the
conservancy was managing a coordinated approach to a paddlers trail along the White
and possibly the Tweed. They also had a small amount of grant funds available so
communities could use their services during the application process. Steve said
applications were complex and involved a development phase and construction phase
which were detailed in nature. He did note all the work Pittsfield has already done to the
sites. Marsha and Don volunteered to help Suana with this process and possibly engage
the conservancy for this process. Steve explained funds could be applied for over two
years; 2014 for design and 2015 for construction so the money would be committed.
The Commission discussed the pending updates required on the Town Plan. Chris
Sargent would not be available to meet with them on the regularly scheduled meeting and
he asked if we could change our regular meeting to the 1st or 2nd of September. The
commission could not for see a problem at this time and would be in touch with Chris to
schedule the meeting.
No further business.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Marsha Hopkins
Secretary
The MINUTES of ____July 15, 2014___________were duly APPROVED on __Sept. 2___, 2014.
Signed________Suana Bicek_____________________________.

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