DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD March 17, 2009 7:00 PM BENNINGTON FIRE FACILITY 126 RIVER STREET, BENNINGTON, VT MINUTES BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Copp, Chair; Barry Hörst, Vice Chair, Al Ray, Michael von Ouhl, Dan Malmborg, and Milt Surdam. NOT PRESENT: Ron Alderman, Bill Barney, and Ryan Morse. OTHERS PRESENT: Jason Dolmetsch, Bill Wicks, Dan Monks, Zoning Administrator; and Robyn Baker, Recording Secretary. Copp called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 1. Minutes of December 16, 2008. Hörst moved and Ray seconded approval of the minutes of December 2, 2008 as presented. The motion carried. Von Ouhl abstained as he was not present. 2. Interested Persons - Appeal Rights - Reading of witness' oath Monks read the oath. 3. Disclosure of Ex parte Communications and Conflicts of Interest 4. Alternates - Voting Assignments The alternates are both voting this evening. 5. Berkshire Fireplace Pool & Spa, 201 South Street, the applicant is seeking design plan approval for signs. The ARP and HPC preliminarily reviewed this matter. Monks reported that the HPC approves the sign. Hörst reported that the ARP recommends approval. Von Ouhl moved to approve the design as presented. Malmborg seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Tony and Jane Radocchia, 3349 West Road, the applicant is seeking final approval of a four lot Planned Residential Development (PRD) subdivision off of 3349 West Road, a RC District. The ARP preliminarily reviewed this plan. The Board had previously approved a three lot subdivision. Dolmetsch explained that the applicant is looking to install a one bedroom apartment in the existing horse barn. The barn is relatively invisible from the highway. The proposed façade changes will be on the back so there will be no changes to the visible landscape. Wicks was present and the applicant noted that there would be additional screening installed, two staggered rows of trees, 20 feet apart, in two rows resulting in ten foot spacing. They will be 6' high minimum spruce trees to be planted within two months. There will be a 14' wide drive lane up the road from route 9 to the horse barn where there is adequate turn around space. Dolmetsch noted that he has included Note 6 explaining that the apartment will not protrude beyond the existing footprint of the building. The septic system was approved by the last sub-division. That system was installed in 2006 and meets state requirements. Wicks asked and Dolmetsch indicated that there are four existing septic systems on the site now. Wicks asked how many more trees were proposed. Dolmetsch reported that they originally proposed ten, in two staggered rows of five. The ten trees will be laid out and approved by both Wicks and the Radocchia's. Wicks would like the trees staggered from the peak of the barn. Wicks explained that his blacktop driveway goes into the Radocchia's yard, and he has been advised by an attorney to block it off in order to prevent the Radocchia's from creating a right of way on it, and he plans to do that. Hörst moved approval with the stipulation that the additional plantings be changed from ten to what is required to complete the screening adequately from the existing plantings to the existing barn roof. Ray seconded. 10. Other Business As there was no further business, Ray moved to adjourn. Hörst seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 PM. Respectfully submitted, Robyn Baker Minutes Secretary