DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD November 20, 2007 7:00 PM Bennington Town Office Conference Room 205 South Street MINUTES BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Copp, Chair; Barry Hörst, Vice Chair; Al Ray, Ron Alderman, and Michael von Ouhl. ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBER PRESENT: Eugene Rowley. NOT PRESENT: Bill Barney. OTHERS PRESENT: Dan Monks, Zoning Administrator; James Deery; Jeffrey Goldstone, BMA Architects; and Robyn Baker, Recording Secretary. Copp called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 1. Minutes of November 6, 2007. Hörst moved and Rowley seconded approval of the minutes of November 6, 2007 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Interested Persons - Appeal Rights - Reading of witness' oath Monks read the 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. Written Decision Mountain Mozzarella LLC, 453 East Road The Board agreed to authorize Copp to sign the decision. 6. James and Barbara Deery, 136-138 Dewey Street, the applicant is seeking subdivision plan approval for a two lot subdivision of their Dewey Street property. James Deery was present. Hörst reported that this matter was preliminarily reviewed by the ARP and they recommend approval. The ARP did ask the applicant to screen any garbage cans and he agreed. Alderman moved to approve the matter as requested. Von Ouhl seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 7. Applejack Real Estate, 190 North Street, the applicant is seeking development plan approval for parking lot improvements at the above location. Jeff Goldstone, BMA Architects presented the project. The ARP reviewed this matter and asked the applicant to make a presentation to the Board. Goldstone explained that they are proposing a 35 car parking lot, not 33 as shown. This will be located off of North Street, next to the Bennington Brush factory building. The orange section will soon be occupied by the VA outpatient clinic. They are proposing a paved parking lot to include screening as required by the board, as well as additional tree planting and green space. The screening along North Street will be existing Linden trees, about a 48" high hedge. The hedge has recently been trimmed and they are hoping it recovers. Photometrics for the lighted parking lot are included. They've added spaces 18 and 19 to bring the total to 35 in order to make storm water drainage work more easily. They've relocated a catch basin, and were able to eliminate an inlet resulting in the discrepancy in the number of spaces. The Board asked for one more handicapped parking place, which Goldstone has not had a chance to discuss with tenants. They are currently meeting stringent VA specification and cannot make changes without making sure that all those requirements are met. A large number of spaces close to the new entrance should satisfy the needs of the facility. They are also proposing a few site improvements, including a temporary wooden curb to prevent people from driving off the edge, and a fence to delineate a gravel drive to the new overhead door at the loading dock currently used at CB. All the CB building has for truck traffic currently are UPS trucks. The ARP had discussed that there were cars driving across the site, and they wanted to define an area for grass to grow. They are proposing a 4- foot fence to define the edge. Ray asked if shrubs would obstruct vision when exiting from the parking area and Goldstone felt that they were located behind the sidewalk. They can cut them back further if necessary. They have limbed the linden trees high enough to see easily. Copp asked about the handicapped spaces, there are currently 5 at the VA, and 4 were in use. He feels they should include 5 spaces. Goldstone agreed to speak to the people in White River about whether they prefer them to do. They are meeting the standards with three. The lighting complies with the town's more limited specifications. They may put more parking in the green area; rather see them there than stuck in the corner. Alderman moved approval as presented with the recommendation that they include an additional handicapped parking space. Hörst seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 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. Rowley moved to grant the continuance as requested. Hörst seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 7. Other Business As there was no other business, Rowley moved to adjourn at 7:12. Barney seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Robyn Baker Minutes Secretary