FAIRFAX TOWN OFFICE
PC MEMBERS PRESENT: G. Heyer, M Hunziker, D. Brown, A. Lemieux, R. Wimble
PUBLIC PRESENT: S. Taylor, ZA; G. Brunswick, NRPC
7:00 PM G.
Heyer called the meeting to order. C. Raymond, Zoning and Planning Assistant,
asked the Planning Commission (PC) permission to take off one week per month,
close to the end of the month, due to a change in her husband’s employment
situation. D. Brown made a motion to approve C. Raymond’s request. M. Hunziker second. G. Heyer, M. Hunziker, D. Brown and R.
Wimble in favor. G. Heyer signed a letter to the Selectboard stating the PC has
no objection. S. Taylor then asked the
PC if they would recommend him to be reappointed for a three year term as Zoning
Administrator. M. Hunziker made a motion to recommend that S. Taylor be reappointed to
a three year term as Zoning Administrator. D. Brown second. G.
Heyer, M. Hunziker, D. Brown and R. Wimble in favor. G. Heyer signed a letter to the Selectboard recommending that S.
Taylor be re-appointed as Zoning Administrator. The Minutes from May 5, 2009 were reviewed. M.
Hunziker made a motion to accept the Minutes from May 5, 2009 as amended.
R. Wimble second. G. Heyer, M.
Hunziker, D. Brown and R. Wimble in favor.
S. Taylor asked both the PC
and G. Brunswick to give input on an issue brought up by a Selectboard
member. He asked the quickest way to
extend the Growth Center Boundary due to a future interest in purchasing land to
extend the Town’s water sources. State
Statute was reviewed. Interim Bylaws
were bought up as a possibility. DRB involvement was also discussed, as they
would need to make an unconventional interpretation of a PUD, as the developer
would like to build a PUD on the front half of the property. Part of the parcel is already in the Growth
Center. The PC agreed that it would be better to wait until an actual
proposal is brought forward, before they made any recommendations.
G. Brunswick discussed the
issue of maximum density. The Growth
Center should allow a higher density of development than other areas. Multi family homes and the elderly housing
complex were discussed. Site design
regulations could help the Town with the “look” of buildings. Survey maps and old Deeds were also
discussed. Lower density, in the rural
areas of town, was discussed in detail.
G. Brunswick recommended considering a 2 acre minimum lot size, along
with limiting the total number of home sites that may be permitted in the
Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Residential District - such as one home site
per every four acres (ex: a 100 acre parcel could only have a maximum of 25
home sites, with each site a minimum of 2 acres, the rest as open land). Record
keeping could be a challenge. The
ownership of the common land was also discussed. G. Brunswick thought that open land in rural areas could be owned
by the applicant as long as it was never developed. Other thoughts included requiring the open land to be a separate
lot owned by the Association. There was
much discussion on various options. G.
Heyer was very concerned about large land owners and how these changes could affect
them. A public forum will be held on
June 23 at 7:00 PM in the Multi Purpose room of BFA. Post cards will be sent to all land owners, with a special
request for large landowners to give their input on future management of
development in Town.
Exhibits:
1. Table 3.1 – Zoning District Dimensional Standards, including
Schedule 3.3D Maximum Density in Rural District.
The next meeting will be on June
3, 2009..
9:10 PM A.
Lemieux made a motion to adjourn. M.
Hunziker second. All in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cathy Raymond, Zoning and
Planning Assistant
Approved_____________________________________
Date______________, 2009
(Chair)
These minutes are unofficial until approved at the
next regularly scheduled meeting.