Town of Bennington
                      Planning Commission
                            MINUTES
                               
                       January 10, 2001
                           7:00 p.m.
                     Town Office Building
                       205 South Street
                   Bennington, Vermont 05201
                               
 
                     Members Present:    Don Hicks - Chair, Bob Burgess - Clerk,  Barry Horst,
                Michael McDonough, Sharon Yorke
 
                     Also Present:       Janet Thompson
                Dan Monks, Zoning Administrator
                
 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
 
 Minutes of December 13, 2000
 
           Mike moved that the minutes be accepted as written.
 
      Barry seconded the motion.
 
 The motion passed unanimously.
 
 Letter to Secretary of Transportation
           The Planning Commission discussed sending a letter to the Secretary of Transportation
      requesting information regarding the Bypass and other pending and ongoing
      transportation projects in Bennington.
 
           Barry Horst moved that the Planning Commission send a letter to the Secretary of
      Transportation requesting information about transportation projects in
      Bennington.
 
           Sharon seconded the motion. 
 
 The motion passed unanimously.
 
           The Commission requested the Zoning Administrator to send the letter.  The letter that
      was sent is attached to these minutes.
 
 Rules of Procedure
           The Planning Commission reviewed its proposed Rules of Procedure. 
 
      Bob moved to approve the Rules of Procedure.
           
      Barry seconded the motion. 
 
 The motion passed unanimously.
 
 Planning Grant - Request for Proposals
           The Zoning Administrator discussed the need to prepare an RFP to solicit consultants
      from the Planning Commission.  Bylaw revision project. 
 
           Bob and Mike offered to work with the Zoning Administrator to prepare the RFP. 
 
           After the RFP is drafted all of the members will have an opportunity to comment on it
      before it is sent out to consultants.   
 
 Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to Zoning Bylaw
           The Chair opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. and read the legal notice for the
      hearing.  No members of the public were present.  
 
           The Public Hearing was closed by the Chair at approximately 7:25 p.m.
 
           The Planning Commission approved the proposed changes to the Zoning Bylaw
      and signed a Resolution to submit the proposed amendments to the Select Board. 
      The signed Resolution is attached to these minutes.
 
 Discussion of Planning Commission Priorities
 
           The Planning Commission discussed what the Planning Commission's priorities should
      be. There was consensus that the Planning Commission highest priority is completion of
      the Zoning Bylaw revision project.  The members discussed several other issues that the
      Planning Commission should consider acting on in the future.  The issues included:
      impact fees, technical changes to the Sign Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations,
      substantive changes to the Sign Ordinance, refining agricultural definitions, etc. in
      Zoning Bylaw, review of LESA, revision of the demolition process, local path
      infrastructure and others.
 
 The Vermont Smart Growth Scorecard
           Janet Thompson led the Commission in the exercise of filling out the Orton Foundation
      Smart Growth Scorecard.  The scoring indicated that Bennington is doing a good job of
      addressing some growth issues while other issues still need attention.  
 
 
 The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 p.m.
 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 
 
 Daniel W. Monks
 Zoning Administrator
 
 
 
 
 DWM/
 
 N:\Building & Zoning\Dan\Planning Commission\MINUTES\01-10-01Minutes.wpd