TOWN OF ARLINGTON
SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of Meeting – Thursday May 11, 2023
Members Present: Garret Siegel, Tom Williams, Sebastian Massey, and Michael Murno
Other Attendees: Joan Nash (Land Use Administrator), Nick Zaiac (Town Administrator)
Attendance Formats: Town Hall, Zoom Video Conferencing or Phone
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chairman Garret Siegel.
Approval of the meeting minutes of our last meeting (April 27) was postponed to the next meeting.
Public Comments Unrelated to the Agenda
There were no public comments.
New Business
There was no New Business
Old Business
We continued with revisions to the Bylaw, using the January 19 Edition of revisions. Garret recommended we concentrate on Article 4.2.9, Dimensional Standards & Table, unless there were some other questions or comments on Table 4.1. However, Garret also noted that there were sections of the previous Bylaw that cannot be readily found in this new addition and we need to locate them before finalizing the new Bylaw. As there were no other comments on Table 4.1, we moved forward. We all agreed that the final sections numbers needed to be added throughout this section once they are identified. There were no other comments to Section 4.2.9.1 nor Section 4.2.9.2. After considerable discussion regarding setback requirements as stated in Sections 4.2.9.3. (b), and (c), it was decided to combine the two sections and revise the text to read as follows: “In the VR and CR Districts accessory structures with a footprint of not more than 200 square feet and a height of not more than 12 feet must be setback at least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines. In all other districts standard setbacks apply, see Table 4.2”. The text in (3d.) remains unchanged and the text in (3e.) is revised as follows: “Accessory structures must not exceed a maximum height of 25 feet, except as specifically authorized in this Bylaw. Previously designated sections (3c. and 3e.) shall be re-designated as (3d. and 3e.) respectively.
Section 4.2.9.4 remains unchanged.
Section 4.2.9.5.a is revised as follows: A period shall be placed after the phrase “or right-of-way not less than 20 feet wide.” The remaining text shall be revised as follows: “If the lot has more than 20 feet of frontage, an easement or right-of-way is not necessary.” The remainder of this section remains unchanged.
Section 4.2.9.6 remains unchanged
Section 4.2.9.7.a. The last sentence, the section identified as Section 5.1.5(7) (d) shall be revised, once all sections are coordinated. Part (7c.) of this section shall be revised as follows: “Accessory structures must not exceed 25 feet.” The remainder of this section (7d, 8, 9, and 10.) remains unchanged.
We then reviewed Table 4.2 the suggested Dimensional Standards Table and made the following revisions:
LOTS:
Minimum Lot Size: Minimum Lot Size in the VR was established as 0.25 acres as suggested by the BCRC. For the CR, lot size was maintained at 0.5 acre as per our current bylaws although the Standards table proposed by the BCRC had suggested a minimum lot size of 0.25 acres. Minimum lot size in the CRR was established at 0.50 acres as opposed to 1 acre in our current Bylaw. (The BCRC had suggested a minimum size of 0.25, which PC members found to be too small.) For FR, 25 acres was accepted. All other minimums for the remaining districts remain unchanged.
Minimum Lot Frontage: For the R District, minimum lot frontage was maintained at 100 feet as in the current Bylaw although the BCRC’s suggested standards table had suggested an increase to 200ft. For FR, 250 feet was accepted.
Maximum Lot Coverage: For the FR District, the suggested max lot coverage of 15% was judged by the APC members as implausible considering the considerable restrictions placed on development in the FR and was reduced to 5%. All other maximums for the remaining districts remain unchanged.
PUD Density Bonus: For all districts, except FR District, 15%. FR District remains NA.
RESIDENTIAL DENSITY:
Maximum Density (DU = Dwelling Unit): For VR, CR, and CRR Districts, 10 DU per acre is accepted. For CI District, the density was revised from NA to 10 DU per acre. All other densities were accepted as suggested (1 DU per acre in the R district and NA in the PI & FR districts).
SETBACKS:
Maximum Front Setbacks: For CR, CI, and FR Districts, setbacks of 15 feet (from the current 25feet), 50 feet (from the current 75feet) and 50 feet respectively were accepted. All other setbacks remain unchanged from our current Bylaw.
Minimum VT Route 313 Setback: The entire line was deemed irrelevant and eliminated.
Minimum R District Setback: The entire line was accepted (NA for the VR, CR, CRR, R & FR districts; 50 feet for the CR; and 75 feet for the PI.)
Minimum Side Setback: : For VR, and CRR Districts, setbacks were revised from the suggested 15 feet to 10 feet and from the suggested 10 feet to 15 feet as in our current bylaw, respectively. The suggested side setback of 10 feet for the CR was accepted (down from 15 feet as in our current bylaw). For FR District, 50 feet was accepted. All other setbacks remain unchanged (15 feet in the CI & PI; 35 feet in the R).
Minimum Rear Setback: For VR and CR Districts, setbacks were revised from 15 feet to 10 feet. For FR 50 feet was accepted. All other setbacks remain unchanged (15 feet in the CRR, CI & PI; 35 feet in the R).
Minimum Surface Water Setback: For FR District, 50 feet was accepted. All other setbacks remain unchanged at 50 feet.
BUILDINGS:
Maximum Building Footprint: The entire line was deemed irrelevant and eliminated.
Maximum Building Height (MBH): The maximum heights were revised from the current MBH of 30 feet to 35 feet in the VR, the suggested 40 feet to 35 feet in the CRR, the current MBH of 30 feet to 35 feet in the R and from the suggested 30 feet to 25 feet in the FR, respectively. All other districts remain unchanged from our current bylaw (35 feet in the CR & CI and 40 feet in the PI).
For the next meeting we are to review the Special Flood Hazard Overlay Section (currently listed as section 4.3) as well as the SFHA Review section (3.5) and compare with Cat Bryars separate draft edition dated 6/27/22 for any material changes, since we approved this section on 7/28/22. Garret will distribute his copy of Cat’s draft section as well as the minutes from 6/30/22 & 7/28/22. The APC members should be prepared to discuss at our next meeting. We will also try to get through the definitions at the next meeting and may choose to discuss this section first. Nick will prepare a new copy of all our changes for review at a future meeting.
As there was no other new business Garret Siegel made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Tom Williams. Motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 8:52 pm.
The next APC Meeting will be held on May 18, 2023 at 7:00 pm.
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Respectfully Submitted By Michael Murno