DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD February 16, 2010 7:00 PM BENNINGTON FIRE FACILITY 126 RIVER STREET, BENNINGTON, VT MINUTES BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Copp, Chair; Barry Hörst, Vice Chair, Ron Alderman, Ryan Morse, Milt Surdam, Bill Barney and Dan Malmborg. NOT PRESENT: Michael von Ouhl and Al Ray. OTHERS PRESENT: Kirk Moore, Donald Wood, Sam Restino, Peter Odierna, Daniel Monks, Zoning Administrator; and Robyn Baker, Recording Secretary. Copp called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 1. Minutes of January 19, 2010. Morse moved and Hörst seconded approval of the minutes of January 5, 2010 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. 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 Both alternates voted. 5. Green Mountain Christian Center, 440 Main Street, the applicant is seeking design approval for a new sign. Hörst reported that the ARP met with the applicant to review this matter and everything appears to be in order. The sign will be lit. The ARP recommends approval. Hörst moved to approve the sign as presented. Barney seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Alex Investments, Inc./Bennington Pools, 126 Hicks Avenue, the applicant is seeking design plan approval for changes to the exterior of the building located at 126 Hicks Avenue (the former Agway building). Hörst noted that the ARP reviewed this matter and has some suggestions. Donald Wood, the applicant noted that this is the old Agway building behind the Northside Diner. They are changing the exterior of the building, but not the footprint. They will be adding a green area and a privacy fence. The dumpster will be relocated behind the fence. A post and beam entrance will be added to the front of the building. They will put a stone and cement composite finish on the building. They have also changed the pitch of the roof. The trim material will be white, made of artificial composite material to reduce maintenance. Siding will also be of the artificial composite material. Barney asked about the sign, and Wood noted that they haven't designed a sign yet, but it will be located on the old Agway sign stand. The building will be an off-grey color, taupe. Alderman asked and the applicant noted that there is no proposed change to the footprint of the building. Hörst noted that they asked for some additional information to be included on the map. Malmborg asked and the applicant was not sure of the number of parking spaces. The parking area is paved. Sam Restino addressed the Board. He asked if this business would be on the Hicks Avenue side or Northside Drive. They will be on Hicks Avenue. Restino also asked if any pool chemicals would be stored on the outside of the building, and the applicant noted that they would not. Alderman moved approval as presented. Barney seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 7. Bennington County Industrial Corporation (BCIC), Shields Drive, the applicant is seeking final approval for a ten (10) lot Planned Unit Development off of Shields Drive in the Dan Maneely Corporate Park. Kurt Moore, BMA Architects presented the project. He explained that they are seeking a subdivision to break the existing industrial park into smaller parts, in an effort to induce smaller businesses into the area. He reviewed the site plan and indicated that there is a mining right of way that has been left in place. They will be leaving the existing tree line. They propose to break this into ten lots, all of which conform to subdivision requirements. There will be a new loop road, with three large lots in the center and seven smaller lots around the outside. The sites will be accessed by town water and sewer. As they don't yet know how the lots will be developed, they cannot predict usage. Each lot will need to be permitted individually. They feel that there is more than adequate water supply. Surdam asked if they were targeting any specific business. Moore explained that they expect light industrial, corporate, healthcare, research and development. If a larger tenant needs more acreage, they could simply buy more lots. Copp asked and the applicant noted that the water and sewer lines will not be added prior to marketing. Once the commitment is made to put the road in, underground power and other utilities will certainly be added. Some of these lots can be occupied without constructing the entire road. Peter Odierna, BCIC, indicated that they added infrastructure along the Shields Drive loop. In addition, when they facilitated the memory clinic transaction they added sewer line. They have also discussed criteria towards energy efficient design. Moore presented a conceptual drawing indicating what the park could potentially look like. Copp asked about one of the plans, and noted that the arrow has been misplaced on SD102. Barney asked and the applicant noted that there will not be any immediate construction. Hörst moved to grant preliminary approval. Surdam seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 8. Other Business As there was no further business, Hörst moved to adjourn. Alderman seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 PM. Respectfully submitted, Robyn Baker Minutes Secretary