Town of Bennington
                     Planning Commission
                           MINUTES
                       October 10, 2001
                          5:00 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
                 Jim White, County Forester
  The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.
  Minutes of September 26, 2001
            Bob Burgess moved to approve the minutes as printed.
       Mike McDonough seconded the motion.
       The motion passed with all in favor (Michael Lochner and Sharon Yorke abstained).
  Discussion Regarding Forest Zone
            Jim White discussed his thoughts regarding the Town-owned forest lands and their        value from a forest products standpoint. 
            The Planning Commission members agreed that the Planning Commission should        continue to gather information regarding Town-owned forest lands and develop a        recommendation to the Select Board regarding their proposed sale. 
             Jim White explained Accepted Management Practices (AMP's) for logging.
  Zoning Bylaw Revision Project
            The Planning Commission reviewed and approved Burnt Rock Inc.'s proposed work        schedule.
            The Planning Commission scheduled its next work session for 5:00 p.m. on October        24, 2001.
  Northside Drive - Traffic Issues
            The Planning Commission discussed the possibility of forming a sub-committee to        examine Northside Drive traffic issues.  By consensus the Planning Commission        decided not to form a sub-committee.  The members agreed that Northside Drive        issues should be a regular Agenda item and that the Planning Commission should        continue to actively pursue methods for decreasing traffic congestion.
            Bob Burgess made a motion requesting the Zoning Administrator and Planning        Commission Chair to draft a letter to the developer of the Price Chopper Plaza        informing him that the Planning Commission considered traffic problems in and around        the Plaza to be urgent and that the Planning Commission would like to work        cooperatively with the developer to develop solutions.
            Sharon Yorke seconded the motion.
            The motion passed unanimously.
  New Highway Issues
            The Planning Commission discussed the issue of names for existing Route 9, 7A and 7        and names for the New Highway.
            Some members expressed the sentiment that the existing roads (7 and 9) should        maintain their names (Molly Stark Trail and Ethan Allen Highway) instead of being        transferred to sections of the New Highway.
            The Planning Commission agreed to research how roads are named in the State of        Vermont and to continue discussion in future meetings about the issue of names for        the New Highway and existing roads.
  Other Business -
            Mike Lochner moved to approve the submission of an application for a FY 2002        Planning Grant for a study of the Northside Drive Transportation Corridor.
       Sharon Yorke seconded the motion. 
            The motion passed unanimously. 
  The meeting was adjourned 7:00 p.m.
  Respectfully submitted, 
  Daniel W. Monks
  Zoning Administrator
  K:\Building & Zoning\Dan\Planning Commission\MINUTES\2001\PC-10-10-01 Minutes.wpd