DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD April 20, 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, Al Ray, Milt Surdam, Bill Barney, Mike von Ouhl, and Dan Malmborg. OTHERS PRESENT: Daniel Monks, Zoning Administrator; Robyn Baker, Recording Secretary, Joann Erenhouse, Peter Hack, Bill Gallup, and about 12 other citizens. Copp called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 1. Minutes of April 6, 2010. Surdam moved and Ray seconded approval of the minutes of April 6, 2010 as submitted. The motion carried. Von Ouhl abstained. 2. Interested Persons - Appeal Rights - Reading of witness' oath Monks read the oath. 3. Disclosure of Ex parte Communications and Conflicts of Interest Surdam will be stepping down on the Chamber of Commerce application. Ray noted that he is a member of Mount Anthony Preservation Society, but there were no objections to his ruling on the matter. 4. Alternates - Voting Assignments 5. Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, Colgate Heights, Duo Corporation, Mount Anthony Preservation Society Inc., Peter R. Geannelis, 60 West Road: the applicant is seeking approval for the Garlic Festival to be located at Camelot Village on West Road. Joanne Erenhouse and other members of the Chamber of Commerce were present. She explained that this has been named one of the top ten fall events in the state of Vermont. Malmborg asked if there were any neighbor complaints at all last year, and Erenhouse noted that last year they received a huge number of compliments from the neighbors. Copp noted that this looks like the same event as last year. It is to be held on September 4 and 5, of Labor Day weekend. Von Ouhl moved to grant preliminary approval as requested. Ray seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 6. State of Vermont, 200 Veterans Memorial Drive, (State Office Building): the applicant is seeking development plan approval for the reconstruction and renovation of the existing State Office Building on Veteran's Memorial Drive. Surdam is voting on this matter. Peter Hack, Project Manager for the State of Vermont and Bill Gallup a representative of the architect presented the project to the Board. Gallup indicated that the 1978 structure will be taken down completely. The new, three story building will take place on the footprint of the one store 1978 wing. They will be reconfiguring the parking and reconstructing the building, resulting in additional green space on the north side of the building. The building coverage is 9.2%. They meet the building height requirement of less than 60 feet, at 51 feet. They have a 126 foot set back and have added substantially more green space in front of the building. They won't lose any parking spaces. Gallup noted that they brought a colored landscaping plan with a substantial amount of vegetation highlighted. Copp requested that a graphic scale be included on the drawings. Gallup noted that new parking is shaded to indicate new paving versus existing. He reviewed the screening around the trash and recycle dumpsters as well as the dumpster location along the east wall, far away from Route 7 and the public side of the building. The building elevation on the existing wing that was constructed in 1993 is 39 feet, 5 inches. The new elevation will be 51 feet. Barney asked if there would be any air conditioner units, and Gallup indicated that there will be two air handling units on the rooftop. They are energy recovery units, bringing fresh air into the building. They building should screen the units. Barney asked about the noise levels, and Gallup agreed to send the data, but reported that it is very low velocity. Ray asked about any attempts to make the building green and Gallup indicated that there are high environmental goals. The heating and cooling are geothermal systems. They are removing all of the brick off the old building. They will reuse the steel structure. The state has engineering guidelines, and they expect this building to exceed the energy code by more than 30%. This is a modular brick, similar to what is there now. They have had a recent request to consider a solar hot water heater and storage system for the building that depends on how the bids come in. Alderman asked about the roofing material and Gallup indicated that their first choice is zinc panel that has a natural looking finish, a high coated galvanized finish with a 50 year life. The backup plan is a painted pre-finished metal sandwich product, a little bit less expensive. Malmborg asked about the overhead doors and Gallup indicated that there are overhead doors for the sheriffs to bring prisoners into a totally covered parking bed. The other is a service door for deliveries that will be changed to two swing doors. Surdam asked about insulation and Gallup indicated that the new building will be a steel frame building. The exterior wall will be 6 inch steel studs. All the insulation will be outside of the frame. The courts will be consolidated into one wing. Ray asked and Gallup indicated that the windows are operable in many appropriate locations. Barney asked about the demolition. Gallup noted that the state wants to be clear that certain components are not returned to a secondary market. The brick will be crushed and used for non-structural fill. Concrete slabs and footings will be used as structural fill. The glass and metal will be recycled. They are still looking into the safe way to dispose of light fixtures, equipment, etc. Nothing will be reused in the same form. Malmborg asked if they would be doing any additional environmental testing during demolition and Hack indicated that they don't have any planned. There are some things that they will do at the end of construction. They have discussed doing air quality testing on the new building. Ray asked how they will dispose of the blacktop from the existing parking, and Hack indicated that there are only certain places that asphalt can be disposed of in the State of Vermont. Asphalt is regulated, and either crushed or reused in an asphalt plant. Hörst asked about the storm water drainage and general site work. Galllup indicated that the Civil Engineering Firm has prepared all of the storm drainage plans. They have verified with the State of Vermont that they do not have to apply for a new storm-water drainage permit as they are not increasing the amount of impervious area on the site by more than 5,000 square feet. The first floor level of the old wing is being elevated 7 inches, allowing for more positive drainage away from the building. Hörst felt that it would be helpful for the drainage concept to be reviewed. Ray asked and Gallup indicated that the stream that separates the northern parking lot from the rest of the project will be protected by construction erosion control measures. That information will be included with the building permit application. Ray asked if the fuel storage tank was above or below ground, and Hack indicated that the oil storage tank will be removed. A propane tank for hot water will be underground on the north side of the building. Hörst moved to grant preliminary approval pending review of the general site work and storm water drainage. Von Ouhl seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 9. Other Business As there was no further business to come before the Board, Ray moved to adjourn. Alderman seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 PM. Respectfully submitted, Robyn Baker Minutes Secretary