08-02-2018 Planning Commission Meeting
Town of Fairlee Town Hall
Grange Room
75 Town Common Road
Fairlee, VT 05045
Thursday, August 2, 2018
PRESENT
Commission Members: Miranda Clemson, Chair; Smith Reed, Vice Chair; Denis Lambert; Susanne Pacilio; Sarah Berger
- Zoning Administrator: Chris Brimmer
- Minutes Clerk: Joanna Bligh
- Visitor: Jens Hilke, conservation planning biologist, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
CALL TO ORDER: 6:06 PM
Miranda Clemson, Chair, called the meeting to order.
A quorum was met.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
MOTION: Susanne Pacilio moved and Sarah Berger seconded the motion to accept the Minutes from July 12, 2018, as amended. The vote passed unanimously.
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
Miranda Clemson stated that after Jens Hilke’s presentation, only the Capital Budget Program and the Housing Roundtable will be included in tonight’s Agenda
MOTION: Susanne Pacilio moved and Denis Lambert seconded the motion to accept the Agenda with modifications. The motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
PRESENTATION by Jens Hilke, conservation planning biologist, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
Hilke was invited to address the Planning Commission to aid in the revisions to the Town Plan relating to zoning regulations and forest conservation and to address Act 171 (State of Vermont Forest Integrity Study Committee). Hilke’s discussion focused on forest blocks and wildlife connectors in Fairlee. Sarah Berger asked if the forest blocks included public and private lands. Hilke replied “Yes,” and the benefits of connected forest blocks is wildlife biodiversity. Discussion followed, and Clemson stated that BIOFINDER online could be a useful tool and suggested further training. The Planning Commission suggested offering a community forum with Hilke as facilitator.
[Smith Reed entered the meeting at 6:54 PM]
[Mark Bishop entered the meeting at 7:00 PM]
Hilke announced the State Government Municipal Day (http://anr.vermont.gov/about_us/special-topics/municipal-day/montpelier) at the State Capital on Monday, October 26, with a full day of ANR workshops.
OLD BUSINESS
MPG Capital Budget Program
In a discussion with Kevin Geiger of Two Rivers−Ottaquechee Regional Commission, Mark Bishop stated that Geiger suggested developing a capital budget for the Town, which means performing a Town inventory and projecting costs forward over 10 to 20 years, and that such a capital budget stabilizes the Town’s tax rate. Discussion followed, and Smith Reed suggested that the Town move toward a capital budget program.
Housing Roundtable
Clemson noted that the article in the Valley News, July 26, 2018, “Fairlee Officials Mull Workforce Housing Plan,” (https://www.vnews.com/Fairlee-Discusses-Housing-Development-in-Heart-of-Village-19061047) was an incomplete representation of the discussion at the housing meeting. Chris Brimmer noted that the article did not convey the multipurpose aspect of the housing plans under discussion in Town, i.e., combination development in one development package.
[Susanne Pacilio left the meeting at 8:05 PM.
MOTION: Sarah Berger moved and Mark Bishop seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURN: 8:06 PM
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Minutes Clerk