Town of Bennington
                     Planning Commission
                           MINUTES
                               
                         May 9, 2001
                          7:00 p.m.
                     Town Office Building
         205 South Street, Bennington, Vermont 05201
  
                      Members Present:    Barry Horst - Chair, Bob Burgess - Clerk, 
                 Michael McDonough, Sharon Yorke, Michael Lochner
  
                      Also Present:       Dan Monks, Zoning Administrator
                 Cinda Morse         
  
  The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
  
  Minutes of April 11, 2001
  
            Barry Horst moved that the minutes be accepted as written.
            
       Sharon Yorke, seconded the motion.
  
  The motion passed unanimously with Michael Lochner abstaining.
  
  Election of Officers
  
            Bob Burgess nominated Barry Horst for Chair. 
  
            Michael Lochner seconded the motion.
  
  The motion passed unanimously with Barry Horst abstaining.
  
            Michael Lochner nominated Bob Burgess for Clerk.
  
            Sharon York, seconded the motion.
  
  The motion passed unanimously with Bob Burgess abstaining.
            
  Zoning Bylaw Revision Project
  
            The Planning Commission members discussed the Bylaw revision project and agreed
       to meet more often if necessary.  
  
            It was suggested that a large scale zoning map prepared by BCRC would be helpful in
       the revision process.  In addition, if the digital orthophotos are available for
       Bennington, the Planning Commission suggested that copies be obtained.
  
  BBC Downtown Circulation and Land Use analyses - Presentation
  
            Mike McDonough and Cinda Morse presented the Land Use Analysis.
  
            Initially, the BBC Banner Program and proposed Information Sign System were briefly
       discussed by Mike McDonough. 
  
            Bob Burgess recommended uniformity for Information Sign Systems throughout the
       State.
  
            Mike Lochner felt that the Informational Sign System would help to eliminate sign
       clutter. 
  
            Mike McDonough described the Downtown Circulation and Land Use Analysis to the
       Commission.  He stated that the short term goal is to provide input to the Planning
       Commission on specific issues relative to the Bylaw and that the long term goal is to
       provide a blueprint for downtown.
  
  Other Business:
  
            The Planning Commission discussed the Select Board's recent decision to adopt
       revisions to the Zoning Bylaw without the proposed Stark Street rezoning from VR to
       IP, as well as the Select Board's suggestion that the Planning Commission reexamine
       the proposed Stark Street re-zoning.
  
            Bob Burgess made a motion that the Planning Commission write a letter to the Select
       Board outlining the Planning Commission's intention to examine the Stark Street issue
       as well as the larger issue of providing for the growth of institutions in the
       Comprehensive Bylaw Revision Project that the Planning Commission has already
       begun. 
  
            Mike Lochner seconded the motion.
  
  The motion passed unanimously with Sharon Yorke abstaining.
  
            The Planning Commission members discussed United Counseling Service's proposed
       demolition of an historic house on Dewey Street.  The members agreed that this was
       troubling.
  
            Mike Lochner moved that Mike McDonough and the Zoning Administrator write a
       letter to UCS urging UCS to save the Dewey Street house from demolition.
  
       Bob Burgess seconded the motion.
  
  The motion passed unanimously.
  
            By consensus, the Planning Commission directed the Zoning Administrator to draft a
       letter to Don Hicks expressing the commission's gratitude for his years of service. 
  
  The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m.
  
  Respectfully submitted, 
  
  
  
  Daniel W. Monks
  Zoning Administrator