Town of Bennington
                       Planning Commission
                   Wednesday, August 11, 2004
                            5:00 p.m.
                    Bennington Fire Facility
             River Street, Bennington, Vermont 05201
                             MINUTES
Present:  Barry Horst - Chair, Michael McDonough, Sharon Yorke, Bob Burgess - Clerk
               Also Present:  Dan Monks - Zoning Administrator
          
Meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.
Sign Ordinance
     The Planning Commission reviewed the final draft of the sign ordinance.
     Mike McDonough moved to present the sign ordinance to the Select Board. Bob Burgess seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The Planning Commission requested that the Planning Director put together a presentation for the Select Board, and asked the Planning Director to discuss with the Town Manager when the Planning Commission could present the sign ordinance to the Select Board.
UMU District - Proposed Amendments
     The Planning Commission articulated the following goals for the U.M.U. District amendments:
               •    Maintain traditional street character through specifically tailored Design           Standards- traditional fenestration, build to front, two stories, etc.
               •    Restrict retail to historic structures.
               •    Require minimum of two stories for portion of buildings closest to road.
               •    Buildings/lots visible from Route 7 must be attractive.
               •    No advertising shall be visible from Route 7.
               •    No development requiring addition of lanes on Benmont Ave.
               •    Both sides of Benmont should have sidewalks.
               •    Maintain traditional front and side yard setbacks.
     The Planning Commission requested that the Planning Director put together proposed amendments to the UMU District based on the goals set forth above.
Next Meetings
     The Planning Commission scheduled its next meetings for 8/18/04, 9/1/04 and 9/14/04.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted
Daniel W. Monks
Planning Director
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