DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD October 16, 2007 7:00 PM BENNINGTON FIRE FACILITY 126 RIVER STREET MINUTES BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Copp, Chair; Barry Hörst, Vice Chair; Al Ray, Bill Barney; Ron Alderman, and Michael von Ouhl. ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBER PRESENT: Gene Rowley. OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Secor, MSK Engineering; Michael Scheps, Dan Monks, Zoning Administrator; and Robyn Baker, Recording Secretary. Copp called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 1. Minutes of September 4, 2007. Rowley moved and Hörst seconded approval of the minutes of September 4, 2007 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Interested Persons - Appeal Rights - Reading of witness' oath Monks read the appeal rights and witness oath. 3. Disclosure of Ex parte Communications and Conflicts of Interest None. 4. Alternates - Voting Assignments The Board members present were all voting. 5. Southern Vermont College, 982 Mansion Drive, the applicant is seeking development plan approval for 130' x 150' indoor tennis facility and two outdoor tennis courts at the SVC campus. The applicant has requested a continuance. Hörst moved to grant the continuance as requested. Von Ouhl seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Mountain Mozzarella LLC, 453 East Road, the applicant is seeking development plan and design plan approval and variance of the side yard setback requirement for a 2,621 square ft. addition to an existing cheese processing facility on East Road. Jim Secor, MSK Engineering, presented the project to the Board. Monks noted that this is the preliminary review. This was previously a barn, and has housed Williams Smoke House, Monument Electric, and is now processing Vermont made cheese. They are seeking an addition. The curd is made in Hardwick Vermont, and brought to Bennington for stretching and molding. This is a local product, dealing with local farmers, all natural, ideal Vermont products. Mike Scheps explained that they began five years ago, and last year sold 375,000 balls of mozzarella. Distribution is mostly to the south. The expansion should create an opportunity to hire more people from the Bennington area. It takes about three to six months training to become a cheese maker. Secor distributed elevation drawings. The building has a jog in the rear not visible from Shields Drive or East Road, where the addition will be located. They have added screen trees along Shields Drive. They will be increasing the turning radius off Shields Drive. Two curb cuts will be modified by the state. They will be narrowed, adding curbing and paving as required by the bylaws. Secor indicated that they are also seeking a variance. He distributed drawings. He explained that the manufacturing process should grow in the future. With the new layout trucks can come in and back in. Panel trucks have easy access; they are hoping to make room for tractor trailers. They are encroaching as close as three feet to the property line with Abacus Automation. There are no residential issues. The siding will be beige metal, and will match the existing siding. The roof will match the existing ridge. Doors and trim will be green and brown. Barney asked how many milk tanker trips per day there will be. Scheps explained there will be one to two tanks per week. Hörst asked, and Secor explained that the tree on the corner is in question. Copp asked about the milk holding tanks. They are above ground stainless steel tanks located at the rear of the building. Alderman asked, and Secor indicated that the propane tank will be underground. Hörst asked how tall the holding tanks will be. Scheps indicated that they are 12' above ground. The existing propane tank will be removed. Secor distributed comments regarding the five criteria for the variance. They've tried to accomplish this with a different site configuration, but can't given the cooler location and the fact that the building is pre-existing. He reviewed the narrowness and depth of the lot, and explained that it cannot fit and still have a covered unloading area for milk truck. There should not be any detrimental effect to the surrounding community. The only way to avoid the need for the variance would be to tear the building down and move it, or build a new building at a greater detriment to the neighborhood. The small setback in one corner is buffered by a berm. This is the least possible variance request to make the project work. There was nobody present from Abacus, which is 75' from this building. Secor reported that he left site plans with Abacus and has not had any negative response. Von Ouhl moved to grant preliminary approval as requested. Rowley seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 7. Other Business As there was no other business, Ray moved to adjourn at 7:22. Barney seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Robyn Baker Minutes Secretary