Town of Bennington
                     Planning Commission
                           MINUTES
                               
                        April 11, 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:       Dan Monks, Zoning Administrator
                 
  The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
  
  Minutes of March 14, 2001
  
            Bob Burgess moved that the minutes be accepted as written.
            
       Barry Horst seconded the motion.
  
  The motion passed unanimously.
  
  Zoning Bylaw Revision Project
  
            The Commission discussed the scheduling of the "kickoff" meeting with the consultant
       and the Town Tour. The "Kick-off" meeting and Town Tour was scheduled for April
       30, 2001.
  
            
  Act 250 Application - Chester Knoll/Jennings Brook
  
            The Planning Commission members discussed the possibility of attending the Act 250
       hearing regarding the revival of the Chester Knoll/Jennings Brook project.  School and
       sewer system impacts were discussed.  The Commission reached a consensus not to
       attend the Act 250 hearing.
  
  Planning Department Activity - Update
  
            Recent local planning topics and issues were discussed including: the Environmental
       Courts decision regarding the Price Chopper Plaza; the pending Environmental Court
       case regarding Chris Denio's camp off of Chapel Road; the pending finalization of the
       Kocher Drive, Benmont Avenue, Park Street intersection study; and the Zoning
       Administrator's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the
       Environmental Court.
  
  Other Business:
  
            The Planning Commission noted a concern regarding the lack of press coverage of
       Planning Commission meetings.
  
            The Planning Commission discussed the proposed Zoning Change for the Stark  Street
       area from Village Residential to Institutional/Professional.  Don Hicks expressed his
       continued support for the proposed change.
  
            Mick McDonnough expressed concern regarding the lack of citizen input.  The
       Planning Commission discussed possible reasons for the lack of citizen input, including
       failure to read legal notices, the lack of press coverage of Planning Commission
       meetings, etc.
  
            The Planning Commission discussed its desire to improve the quality of housing in
       Bennington.
  
  
  The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m.
  
  
  Respectfully submitted, 
  
  
  
  Daniel W. Monks
  Zoning Administrator
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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