BRANDON PLANNING COMMISSION

JAN. 21, 2008

Planning Commissioners present: Ethan Swift, Jon Andrews, Linda Stewart, Lynn Saunders, Anne Bransfield, Jenny Nixon

Others present: Janet Mondlak, Tara Kelley

Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm.

Minutes - Motion by Stewart / Saunders to approve the minutes of the January 7, 2008 meeting as written. Passed.

Review of Recreational, Cultural, and Historic Resources

Goal:  

"Contribute to the town's quality of life by promoting a balance of preservation and use of recreational, cultural and historic resources. "

• Townspeople have a quality of life, not the town. This will be reworded.

Objectives:

• Lynn said she will work on some rewording.

"In addition, Brandon residents often use the recreational facilities at the Neshobe Elementary and Otter Valley Union High Schools."

• Change to "available for use"

• Discussion on the town's recreation director position. It was reflected that many of the things listed in this section are things that should be happening but are not currently in place. The Plan should not imply that things are happening if they are not.
• For Recommendations: Encourage an effective full time recreation director to provide a program for all ages.
• Insert a more appropriate (Brandon) photo of recreational activity instead of Silver Lake
• Moosalamoo is now called the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area. Brandon is a gateway community to that area.
• Recommend that there be public access to the Otter Creek.

"Outdoors recreational activities include access to hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and hunting to name a few."

• Delete "s" after outdoors and delete "access" Add "birding."

Recommendations:

• The Town Manager has said that the Recreation Master Plan is being worked on.
• The backyard project recently cleared floodway approval. The right of way issue has been settled. They are investigating a new project manager.
• The Frontyard and Backyard should be explained or referenced somewhere, perhaps in the appendix.

"Continue to improve outdoor facilities."

• Delete this recommendation.

"Pursue the acquisition or construction of an indoor recreational facility that would potentially include a gymnasium and a pool. Support the development of a community center."

• There was general discussion of this recommendation and whether it should stay in or be deleted. It was decided that it is a reasonable goal, even if not a priority. There is a need for more basketball space.

• Would this recommendation conflict with the goal of getting the Town Hall functioning?

• It was decided to put the Town Hall as a separate bullet as a community center.

• Give an indoor recreational facility its own bullet.

"Work to secure and maintain public access to the Otter Creek and Neshobe River"

• Should the Commissioners be deciding where it should happen?

"Develop town-owned riverfront properties south of the falls for public use."

• Good to leave in this recommendation for future consideration.

"Pursue opportunities to construct paths and trails for biking, walking, hiking, biking, and skiing."

• There had been an effort to develop the path along the Neshobe. That is part of the backyard project. At one time there was investigation into a path out to the schools. It was very expensive. But this recommendation should remain.  

"Encourage linkages between existing and future recreational facilities and resources to further extend and integrate the system."

• We should require this for new developments. An emphasis on the linkage between the village and Estabrook Park will be added.

• Reiterate the encouragement of a town-wide bicycle path.

GENERAL

There was discussion on the wording of the Plan. Does stronger language mean more during the permitting process? There is always going to be a situation that needs a compromise. If we say "encourage," it sounds like we don't care. If we say "it shall," then it is stronger. The DRB and Act 250 will be the ones to make compromises. It was decided to make language stronger, where desired.

"Recognize the town's cultural resources and historic settlement pattern as a significant, non-renewable resource that creates a sense of place and community well being."

• This doesn't seem like an objective. It seems more like a "character of growth" issue and is important, but maybe not here. How do we want future development to interact with this?

• It was decided to put the words "historic settlement pattern" under Historic Resources and not Cultural.

• What is this talking to? Perhaps it is addressing the concept that in downtown Brandon, "everytime you make a turn, you see an important landmark." It was noted that this sentence does not describe this.

Cultural Resources

• There should be mention of some resources such as the Brandon Artists Guild (for member artists) and the Granary (to rent studio space). Lynn will add language.

"Many cultural resource opportunities are located in neighboring communities."

• This lets people know that there are more resources for cultural events happening in other nearby communities. Lynn to reword this.

"These organizations promote fundraising, ancestral heritage, religion, economic development, youth, social service and education."

• Delete economic development. Delete religion.

"The churches in Brandon are also focal points of the community and continue to contribute many social and community services as well as serve as historic resources."

• These was lengthy discussion on the role of the churches and the wording here.
• Change it to: "The churches in Brandon contribute social and community services and provide some important historic resources."
• Change header to Cultural and Social Resources

"Support the efforts to rehabilitate the old Town Hall building so that it may be used for public events and meetings."

• Change to: "Restore the Brandon Town Hall to its role as a full service year round community center."

Historic Resource Objectives

•       There is no goal or lead-in.

•       "Recognize Brandon's historic settlement pattern" should be under the Historic Resources Objectives.

•       The second objective in Cultural Resources should be an objective here:  "Recognize the town's cultural resources and historic settlement pattern as a significant, non-renewable resource that creates a sense of place and community well being." Take out "the sense of community well being." Discussion on the words "non-renewable." Some people are trying to recreate buildings to look like old ones. It was noted that anything we create today might provide historical value for tomorrow.

•       Encourage people to think about and value the streetscape. Use the Brandon Workbook as a design guide.

•       The "objectives" now under Historic should be "recommendations."

•       A bullet will be added regarding the Stephen A. Birthplace.

"Several organizations in Brandon including the Brandon Historical Society, Friends of Town Hall, Friends of Old Brandon, and the Brandon Historic Preservation Commission are dedicated to the preservation of the town's historic resources as well as public education. These groups are mainly supported through grants and private resources along with some public funding."

•          Friends of Old Brandon has become Hawk View Management Area and the land is owned by Otter Valley Union High School. They have written a trail map.

•          Include the Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace.

•          The photo of Kennedy Park is outdated. It was noted that all photos are outdated. Perhaps there should be photos of both Green Park and Kennedy Park.

"The entire Brandon Village still retains its integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association."

•          Delete this sentence from the paragraph and just say Brandon is on the National Register and State Register.

•          The first paragraph from "Brandon has a rich prehistoric legacy" needs to be wordsmithed. People don’t like the word "legacy." The word "archeology" will be used to cover it all.

Historic Recommendations

•          First bullet has been completed. Language changed to: "Use it as a guide when rehabilitating...”"

"Encourage new commercial construction within the Town to be compatible with local character and fit into the context of the community."

•          Changed to: "Encourage compatibility of new commercial construction within the Town and the character of the community." (I may have missed something here)

•          Where ever you build, there should be compatibility. If we are specific to downtown, there is a certain historic look there. Park Village has its own look. It can be subjective.

•          It was recommended that the Historic Preservation Commission meet with the developer to talk about compatibility. That could be a useful service. The Town Plan can require this type of consultation before preceding with development of new commercial construction within the historic districts as defined by the State. Would the Historic Preservation Commission members be amenable to that? What is the HPC doing these days?

•          Brandon already has Downtown Designation.

•          There should be encouragement to utilize the CLG and Downtown Designation tools.

 "1) Provide an opportunity to document historic structures, and consider alternatives, prior to their removal or demolition. Encourage the Historical Society, or other volunteers, to train in the management of historic information and documentation of historic resources.

2) Develop and maintain a complete inventory of historic resources.

3) Promote grant opportunities, in collaboration with community organizations, to continue to protect and preserve Brandon’s historic resources."

Can there be incentives for these three bullets?

Add these:

• "Encourage use of Workbook as a guideline when developers are renovating historic structures."

• "Encourage an update and rewrite of History of Brandon."

• "Maintain a library of resources for historic restoration."

There was discussion on the Town Hall and whether it should be included as an historic or cultural resource. It was decided to keep it in the Cultural section.

Public Forum

Ethan and Tara met with Steve Schild, who has created some maps. Commissioners need to refine the questions for the forum. Tara had a draft of some questions and there was discussion on them, as well as what the Board is looking to get out of” the public. The forum will not be a debate but just a way to get people's thoughts. An invitation will be developed with the questions to get out to people in advance. There is a list with approximately 60 names of people to invite. Tara reviewed ideas for an agenda:

6:30 PM  Review background materials and respond to questions about the future of Brandon

7:00 PM  Large group convenes to review input and capture general sentiment about the vision for Brandon

7:20 PM  Small group discussions about growth potential and where growth should be directed within Brandon

7:50 PM  Large group convenes to review input from small groups

8:10 PM  Sharing of ideas and current efforts that relate to implementation of feedback

8:30 PM  Identify new strategies and gaps not being addressed

8:50 PM  Wrap-up and next steps

Other questions the Board would like to hear ideas on:

•          Growth centers - where do we want to see growth? This is different than potential areas of growth.

•          What do we want to protect?

•          Where do you want growth to happen?

•          Guidance for attracting business?

•          What type of job growth?

•          Where do we want future services located?

•          What services are desirable that we don't have?

•          How do we want to influence them?

GENERAL

•          A targeted outreach will be attempted after town meeting.

•          The deadline of May 1 is when the grant runs out. The plan is readopted for five years. Tara and RRPC will try to do as much as they can while there is grant money. Tara will work on the technical appendices.

•          Everyone should submit their electronic versions of changes by Feb. 4.

•          Public hearings and adoption may be unlikely to happen prior to May 1.

•          Ethan asked each Board member to review what in their section is unaddressed, where they might need guidance, and what questions might be asked of the public.

Next Meeting

•         February 4

Adjourn - Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted

 
Janet Mondlak, Recording Secretary