town of bennington planning commission minutes 1 veterans memorial drive, bennington, vt 05201 august 16, 2000 @ 7:30 p.m. Commissioners Present: Chairman Donald Hicks, Robert Burgess, Vice Chairman Barry H”rst, Secretary Jim Frechette, Mike Lochner, Dick Cutler, Jamie Jerome, and Michael von Ouhl. Excused: Janet Thompson Also present: Sarah von Ouhl, Alan Strobridge, Loel Lentzner, Bob Miller, Jim Secor, Andrew Sparta, Charles Kiriaji, Mary Martialay, and Robyn Baker. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. 1. Minutes of August 2, 2000. Commissioner H”rst moved to postpone approval of the Minutes of August 2, 2000 until September 6, 2000. Commissioner Lochner seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Alan Strobridge, 128 North Street design review of sign. A copy of the sign was distributed for review. Mr. Strobridge noted that this design would be on both sides of the sign. The sign will be lit. This is a replacement for an existing sign. The lights are also existing. Commissioner Cutler moved to approve the sign as presented. Commissioner von Ouhl seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 3. Loel Lentzner, 338 Main Street (Marble Bank), -design review of 2nd floor replacement windows. Mr. Lentzner noted that they would like to repeat the window configuration that is downstairs upstairs. The windows will be the same size. Commissioner Jerome moved to approve the design as presented. Commissioner Cutler seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 4. First United Methodist Church, 440 Main Street, design review of sign. Bob Miller was representing the applicant. A copy of the sign was distributed to the Commission. The applicant has spoken with the Better Bennington Corporation. Mr. Miller explained that since the last meeting he met with Cinda Morse and applied for the design assistance program, and chose Mike McDonough as their architect. They received several proposals, and accepted proposal A. They met with members of the Church, and they have also approved proposal A, as has the Historic Preservation Commission. Chairman Hicks asked if this would interfere with the current shrubbery, and Mr. Miller noted that the shrubbery would be altered. Commissioner Cutler asked if the sign was made of wood, and Mr. Miller noted that the materials were recommended by the sign maker and Mr. McDonough, and the exterior frame is wood. The sign is redwood, and Mr. Monks noted that they match the existing colors. Commissioners von Ouhl and Jerome agreed that the sign was a great improvement over the first application, and thanked Mr. Miller for his efforts. Commissioner Burgess moved to approve the sign as presented. Commissioner Jerome seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 5. Woodford Packers, 219 River Street, review of design plan and landscaping plan. Jim Secor was present to represent the applicant. He apologized for the delay. Mr. Secor explained that he has highlighted the revisions that were requested. They have added plantings around the perimeter to soften the height of the new structure. They can change the area from grassed to bark chipped, with arborvitae added. Commissioner Cutler would rather see the plantings. Commissioner Cutler moved to approve the site plan as presented with the addition of three additional arborvitaes and the replacement of bark chips for grass. Commissioner Frechette seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Secor explained that they inadvertently left the old window detail on one section. They also did not properly mimic those window styles. They have added additional windows. The intent is for the windows to match. There will be one vertical mullion in the seven windows, which will match the upper sash detail. Mr. Secor also noted that they have indicated the additional plantings, which help alleviate the height problems. They are also looking at red clapboard barnboard siding, to better match the brick instead of the vinyl siding that was previously discussed. Mr. Secor also indicated the relocation of the light and the Board requested the change in style of the light as. A copy of the color was distributed for review. Commissioner Cutler asked and Mr. Secor noted that they would be using wood or concrete depending on market price. Commissioners Cutler and von Ouhl prefer wood. Commissioner Lochner moved to approve the plan (revision 2) with the stipulation that the clapboard be cedar. Commissioner Burgess seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Bruce Carman, Mortimer Street, preliminary site plan review of counter top shop and warehouse. Jim Secor was representing Andrew Sparta. They do not plan exterior modifications except to clean up some debris, and modify the door for safety requirements. There are large tree buffers that will remain along the perimeter. There are also motion sensor lights that will be adjusted so as not to affect the abutters. Mr. Sparta noted that this is just for fabrication, not sales. Transportation would be on their flatbed to the warehouse. Commissioner Burgess felt that the handicapped spot was impossible to access. Mr. Secor agreed that they could relocate the spot to the other side. Commissioner Lochner asked if they would be using saws to cut the material, and asked what the impact would be. Mr. Sparta noted that it is an interior saw, and would be no louder than a skill saw. Polishing and grinding would be done with pads that don't make as much noise as an electric toothbrush. Mr. Sparta noted that 90% of the time spent on a piece is the polishing. Commissioner von Ouhl asked about hours of operation, and Mr. Sparta noted that they are looking for Monday through Saturday from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. Mr. Monks noted that the Commission would have to determine if the use would have an impact to the area. Commissioner von Ouhl felt that the hours of operation were excessive. Commissioner Cutler asked about outside storage, and Mr. Sparta noted that there would be no outside storage. Commissioner Cutler felt that 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. were appropriate during the week, but that Saturday was excessive. He agreed that 1 P.M. would be more appropriate. Commissioner H”rst asked, and Mr. Secor noted that the closest residence was not closer than 750 feet. Commissioner Jerome asked about accessibility on the side streets with trucks throughout the winter. Mr. Sparta felt that they would have to maintain the dirt road, but was not concerned about the paved road. Mr. Secor noted that this is a panel truck, and they would accept restrictions about tractor-trailers. Commissioner Jerome would like to be careful about putting an industrial use in a residential district. The building has been used for storage for a number of years. Mr. Sparta noted that a truck might come once or twice per week. Mike McDonough noted that he owns a property on Lafayette, which abuts Mortimer. This property is the boundary that abuts the two zones. His concern involves the use in the OA zone. He does not feel that manufacture and fabrication is a permitted use in the OA zone. He would support the Commission making a comment to the ZBA. Mr. McDonough does not feel that this qualifies as a service establishment. Mr. McDonough was also concerned about Saturday morning operation in a residential neighborhood. Mr. McDonough was also concerned about the access to the site on Mortimer Street, a dirt one-lane road that has been subject to erosion. Mr. McDonough was concerned about additional delivery vehicles. Mr. Secor asked if the Saturday operation issue was his main concern, and Mr. McDonough felt that he would have the same concern Monday through Friday. He does not feel that the use is permitted by the Bylaw. Mr. McDonough asked, and Mr. Secor noted that only the block portion of the building remained. Mr. McDonough remembered dust evacuators, and felt that this was furniture manufacturing. Mr. Sparta felt that it was originally cabinet manufacturing and then automobile repair. Commissioner Frechette noted that he is not opposed to the use of the building. He feels that the use is industrial. He would support this in concept. He feels that the handicapped parking space is unnecessary. Mr. Frechette feels that hours of operation should be 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday through Friday. Commissioner Frechette moved to approve the preliminary site plan with the stipulation that the hours of operation are 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday through Friday with their comments about the use forwarded to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Commissioner von Ouhl seconded. Commissioner Lochner was opposed to running industrial saws in the residential area. Mr. Sparta noted that they currently do some cutting in their shop, which is adjacent to their showroom, and noise has not been an issue. Commissioner Cutler felt that the matter should be reevaluated in two years. Commissioners Frechette and von Ouhl accepted the stipulation. The motion passed unanimously. The motion passed unanimously. 7. Sacred Heart St. Francis deSales Parish, 238 West Main Street, seeking final site plan approval for 24' x 24' cold storage building at the above address, an OA District. Sections of the Bylaw applicable: 3.4, 4.5. Tony Tomassi was representing Sacred Heart St. Francis. Mr. Tomassi noted that Labor and Industry was concerned with storage in the basement. One of the options would be sprinkling the downstairs, and the other was a separate storage building. Commissioner Cutler could not make a decision based on this plan. He would like to see elevations and additional information. Mr. Tomassi explained that they would be building a basic two-car garage with one door, and vinyl siding. Commissioner Lochner agreed with Commissioner Cutler. He was also concerned about sheet drainage and greenery. Commissioner von Ouhl also felt that vinyl siding would not be appropriate. Commissioner Jerome also agreed, and would like to see a decent structure with landscaping to soften it. He felt that this would be located next to one of the nicest buildings in town. Commissioner Cutler would also like to see the color scheme. Commissioner von Ouhl moved to postpone the matter until September 6, 2000. Commissioner Burgess seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 8. Ayoub Maher, 700 Main Street, seeking final site plan approval for two apartments and restaurant at above address, a VC District. Sections of the Bylaw applicable: 3.4, 6.2, 8.5. Charles Kiriaji explained that he is purchasing the building from Mr. Maher. Mr. Monks noted that the reason the applicant is present is because they are dividing the existing dwelling on the second floor into two apartment units. Commissioner von Ouhl asked about parking requirements. Mr. Kiriaji noted that there are eight spaces depicted on the lot. Commissioner Burgess asked if the applicant checked the 36.5 feet for the parking, as he thought that 40 feet was required. Commissioner Burgess asked if the deck was under review, and Mr. Kiriaji noted that the front deck was present, and the other deck was planned for the future. They plan to change the direction of the handicapped ramp with an easy access stairway. The sign and shrubbery are existing. They will add some small shrubbery once they change the stairway. They will also get new inserts for the current sign. They would also like to brick face the front of the building. Mr. Monks noted that this review was for parking, and the applicant would have to return for design review. Commissioner H”rst asked if the parking already exists, and Mr. Kiriaji noted that two spaces have been added, and he indicated the location on the plan. Commissioner Jerome asked if Angelina's was still open, and Mr. Monks indicated that it was not. Mr. Monks explained that if the restaurant were a new use, the parking would be an issue. Commissioners H”rst and Frechette noted that there is also street parking. Commissioner Cutler asked what type of restaurant it would be, and Mr. Kiriaji felt that it would be similar to Angelina's, with the addition of some Greek foods. Commissioner Lochner asked what material would be used to construct the handicapped ramp, and Mr. Kiriaji noted that the material is pressure treated wood. Commissioner Lochner asked about shrubbery, and the applicant explained that he would be willing to add shrubbery. The applicant hopes to open by the end of September. Commissioner H”rst moved to approve the parking plan as presented. Commissioner von Ouhl seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 9. Bennington Health and Rehabilitation Center, 2 Blackberry Lane, request for continuance. Mr. Monks explained that Bennington Health and Rehabilitation needs to address some concerns about grading. The applicant was unable to attend the last Zoning Board hearing. Commissioner H”rst moved to continue the matter until September 6, 2000. Commissioner Jerome seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 10. Other Business As there was no further business, Commissioner H”rst moved to adjourn. Commissioner Cutler seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Robyn C. Baker