Conservation Commission

Meeting  Minutes  of  the  Montpelier  Conservation  Commission   March  14,  2013   Attendees:    Geoff  Beyer,  Jeanie  Williams,  Alex  Hoffmeier,    Shawn  White,  Meghan  Hoyne-­‐Wingate,  Chris   Hilke,  Mary  Harbaugh,  Roy  Schiff     • Minutes  approved   • Shoreland  Protection  Requirements  for  Lakes  bring  updated  (H.223)   o http://fovlap.blogspot.com/2013/03/update-­‐h-­‐223-­‐shoreland-­‐protection.html   • Sabin’s  Pasture   o Reviewed  proposed  zoning  map  as  Rural   o Concerns  have  come  up  as  adjacent  land  on  Vermont  College  is  proposed  to  be  zoned  as   Residential  Village   o Concerns  that  we  need  to  re-­‐visit  plan  beyond  2008  effort   o Next  meeting  March  25th  College  Hall  Chapel,  7pm   • Zoning   o Town  Street  neighborhoods  want  to  protect  woods   o Crestview  meetings  coming  next   o Do  we  engage  City  about  open  space  –  development  range?   o Invite  developers  to  join  discussion?   o Emphasis  should  be  that  zoning  must  reflect  the  Master  Plan   o Invite  Gwen  to  MCC  meeting  to  get  caught  up  and  offer  assistance   o Jeannie  has  friend  who  would  be  good  for  Planning  Commission  vacancy   • Berlin  Pond   o Key  issue  is  to  protect  pond  to  keep  water  rates  down  so  no  additional  maintenance  is   required   o Contact  DPW  to  get  facts  and  possible  partner  on  letter  to  City  Council  with  information   o Land  should  be  conserved,  not  sold  where  risks  to  our  water  could  be  increased   o Water  quality  protection  is  key  for  City’s  future   o We  need  more  science  and  facts  to  bring  relevant  and  concise  information  to  City   o Contact  City  workers  in  charge  of  water  supply  and  state  regulators   o Contact  state  about  wetland  issues  and  learn  more  about  DFW  plans  for  access   • Wetland  Mapping   o Reviewed  wetland  mapping  proposals   o Discussed  process  to  adopt  wetlands  into  state  map.    This  needs  verification  and  we  will  call   state.   o Agreement  that  we  should  go  before  the  Planning  Commission  to  share  idea  and  seek   partnership  that  this  would  be  useful.    The  goal  is  to  know  where  wetlands  are  to  allow  for   wise  development  rather  than  address  each  site  individually  as  wetlands  pop  up.   • Survey   o Take  pulse  of  Town  on  conservation  and  development  issues  to  help  educate  City   o What  is  true  nature  of  citizens  in  conservation-­‐development  spectrum   o Topics   § Are  neighborhoods  close  enough  to  recreation    § Is  there  a  connection  to  the  Master  Plan   § Do  you  prefer  regulation,  incentives,  grants  to  support  conservation  efforts.   § Open  space   § Ridgelines   § Concern  about  water  supply  protection  at  Berlin  Pond   § In  favor  of  conservation  based  incentive  zoning   § Want  more  housing   § Would  you  like  to  see  more  housing  in  your  neighborhood   § Would  you  like  to  see  more  housing  in  the  City   § Concerned  about  climate  change   § Community  gardens   § Sprawl  ok   • SUMMARY  OF  TASKS   o Karen:  minutes  post  on  web   o Meghan:  stats  survey  call  and  planning   o Roy:  send  group  appendices  from  Sabin’s  report,  attend  Sabin’s  meeting,  send  out  distance  to   parks  map,  reach  out  to  Gwen,  send  Berlin  Pond  letter  and  article  out,  call  Alan  Quackenbush   about  adopting  wetlands  into  state  mapping,  survey  call  and  planning   o Chris:  attend  Sabin’s  meeting,  prepare  survey  questions   o Jeannie:    reach  out  to  friend  for  Planning  Commission  vacancy,  prepare  survey  questions   o Shawn:  contact  Erik  about  current  efforts  to  get  information  for  Berlin  Pond  debate,  contact   Todd  Law  about  water  supply  protection   o Mary:    Contact  state  water  supply  specialist  (Carl Fuller, Regional Engineer, Office: Barre 802 476 0193, carl.fuller@state.vt.us),   o Geoff:  Send  out  past  open  space  survey  and  results  to  group