BRANDON PLANNING COMMISSION

APRIL 20, 2009

Planning Commissioners present: Ethan Swift, Anne Bransfield, Jenny Nixon

Others present: Janet Mondlak, Jeff Ojala, Tina Wiles

Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm.

Town Plan - The hearing before the Selectboard was held last week.  Ethan said there were a few concerns that were brought up.

Flood Plain - There was a concern from Brandon resident Helyn Anderson about the wording of one of the recommendations. She felt that development in the flood plain should be prohibited, instead of discouraged. Ethan said there are guidelines and restrictions in the Brandon Land Use Ordinance. There is a distinction between the 100 year flood plain and the floodway. Tina said applications in the flood plain have to go to the state flood plain office and the Development Review Board. Ethan said the town needs regulations in order to participate in the National Flood Plain Insurance Program.

Statistics - Ethan said Helyn questioned the High Accident statistics. Helyn said the statistics are obsolete and should be updated where possible. Ethan said it is impossible to have totally updated statistics for everything.

Future Land Use - Jim Leary said he was concerned with the recommendation in this section: "Actively investigate the potential for development of another grocery store in Brandon, possibly as part of a growth center plan." Jim said this recommendation goes against the purpose of the downtown area if we are looking to locate that type of business outside of downtown. He does not think anything should be included which will erode the downtown. Ethan said that recommendation has been in the Plan since the early versions. It had come up when the survey had been administered during Town Meeting 2008. There was a fair amount of support from survey responses for the notion of another grocery store. The survey did not mention a location. Downtown? Forest Dale? In a designated growth center area?  A discussion item was "if there is a major development, how does it move forward by linking up with downtown"?

The Town Plan hearing was recessed until Monday, April 27, 2009. Ethan said he believes it was recessed until all the Selectboard members will be present.

Zoning Administrator - Tina Wiles distributed her report. She said her office has been very busy. She is finding many areas in the Land Use Ordinance which need revision. There are a lot of inconsistencies and there are some problems with interpretation at times. Tina reviewed some of the problems she has found.

• The zoning at the Industrial Park

• Speed limit determining the setback on some roads.

• Perhaps having a separate accessory structure setback would be helpful

• There are many inconsistencies with the sign ordinance.

• The matrix with prohibited and conditional uses should also be reworded to list what uses are permittable in each land use district.

Tina reviewed some of the issues she has been facing: setbacks, junkyards, signs, chickens, among others.

Ethan said when the Town Plan meets with approval, the Planning Commission will start working on land use ordinance revisions.

Economic Development

There was discussion on the town moving forward on trying to recruit someone to do some economic development work. Ethan said the town should not be focusing on looking for a large industry to come to town such as Vermont Tubbs or Nexus. Anne suggested inviting the UVM Community Development and Applied Economics program. They could do a class project; Brandon could be a case study. What should we be focusing on? Anne will contact the program.

Ethan said Brandon has Downtown Designation status and we are in danger of losing the status if we don't maintain the Brandon Downtown Economic Development Corporation. Ethan suggested the Planning Commission hold some sort of forum on economic development; facilitating a discussion. There is a major section in the Town Plan about designated growth centers and future land use. This is enabling language for the Commission to take on this facilitation. Ethan said he hopes the Downtown Corporation can be resurrected in order for it to do what it was intended to do. He said he would invite past members of the Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, Keith Arlund, Mitch Pearl and Jamie Stewart from REDC. Tina will try to get the status of the Downtown Economic Development Corporation.

Next Meeting - With the Selectboard for the Town Plan hearing 4-27-09 at 6:30 pm.

Adjourn - Being no further business, the meeting was closed at 8:25 pm.

Respectfully submitted

Janet Mondlak

Recording Secretary