Town of Bennington
                     Planning Commission
                           MINUTES
                      December 18, 2001
                          4:30 p.m.
                     Town Office Building
         205 South Street, Bennington, Vermont 05201
                      Members Present:    Barry Horst - Chair, Sharon Yorke, 
                 Michael McDonough, Michael Lochner
                      Also Present:       Dan Monks, Zoning Administrator
                                
  The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m.
  Environmental Court Issues
            The Planning Commission discussed its concern with the length of time it takes for         Environmental Courts decision to be handed down.
            Mike McDonough made a motion for the Chair and the Zoning Administrator to draft        a letter to the Environmental Court judge that expresses the following sentiments:
                 1)   The Planning Commission is concerned with the length of time it takes for             Environmental Court decisions to be handed down.
                 2)   If the Court believes additional funding or staff is necessary to increase the             speed/efficiency of the court, the Planning Commission would be supportive of             efforts to obtain such additional funding and/or staff
            Mike Lochner seconded the motion.
            The motion passed unanimously.
            The Planning Commission then agreed by consensus that if a response from the        Environmental court was not received within 3 months the Planning Commission may        wish to contact local legislators regarding the problem. 
  Zoning Bylaw Revision Project 
            The Planning Commission discussed Article III, Village Commercial District, of the        proposed Zoning Bylaw revisions.
            
            The Planning Commission scheduled its next meetings for January 8. 2002 at 4:00        p.m. and January 9, 2002 at 5:00 p.m.
  The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
  Respectfully submitted, 
  Daniel W. Monks
  Zoning Administrator
  K:\Building & Zoning\Dan\Planning Commission\MINUTES\2001\PC-12-18-01 Minutes.wpd