TOWN OF RUTLAND
PLANNING BOARD
Public Hearing Minutes 9/12/17
Lussier Special Permit Application in Town Center District for 4 residential buildings and 1 retail building at 211 Main Street
Location: Town Hall Annex 246 Main Street
Present: Norman Anderson, chairman; Dick Williams; Marilyn Sidoti; Shawn Moore, Jeff Bagg, Town Planner
Excused: Tim Nahrwold
Guests: Jason Dubuis, David Lussier, George Lussier, Eileen Shanahan, William Senecal, Jennifer Aiston, Terrence Cuny, Melissa Puciafico, Corrine Puliafico
Public Hearing – Lussier Special Permit Application in the Town Center District for 4 residential building with 7 units and 1 retail building at 211 Main Street
Opened: 7:37 pm
Norm read the public hearing notice. Norm explained the order of the meeting. Jason Dubuis, from DC Engineering Survey, presented for the applicant. The lot is a cleared residential lot. The residential buildings will consist of 3 condo buildings containing 2 units each and 1 building with only 1 condo unit for a total of 7 residential spaces. The last building will be a 2000 square foot retail building. The entrance will be a 24 foot wide single driveway. There are 29 parking spaces of which 2 are handicap designated spaces. There will be lights in the parking lot and the area will be landscaped. There are town water and sewer hookups. Dubuis discussed the catch basins and storm water management which will flow into the drainage on 122.
Norm asked if there are any prospects for the retail space. The applicant stated that there have been some preliminary discussions, but nothing concrete or specific at this time. The applicant does not wish to build the retail space until they have a specific customer so that they can build to suit the needs of the business.
Dick asked about what the builder will do for the abutters in the back to keep headlights from becoming a nuisance. The applicant stated that they plan to plant arborvitae or something similar to create a screen for abutters. George Lussier also stated that he is flexible on the lighting in the parking lot. If they abutters do not want high pole lights they can discuss other options.
Jeff asked about the appearance of the buildings and the landscaping on all sides. The applicant said he wanted to try to match the trim on the building that was there previously. Dr. Chapman, an abutter, wants to put in a retaining wall to help out her parking situation. The wall will be built on the property line to give Dr. Chapman another 5-6 feet for her parking lot. It is unclear at this time whether the 2 maple trees on Main Street will be cut. They may be able to save one of them. The west side opposite from Chapman already has a tree line which will remain mostly intact. No further landscaping will occur on that side.
Eileen Shanahan, an abutter in the back, had concerns about drainage. Dubuis showed where the catch basins are and explained that the grading will be such that the grading will be away from her property. Norm said that the plans will be reviewed by Quinn Engineering to ensure proper storm water management is in place. Eileen asked why a retail space is being put in. It was explained this is required due to the zoning of the town center district. She asked if there would be grass planted. Lussier said yes. She asked if there would be a trash receptacle in the back parking lot near her property. The answer was no, it will be near the retail building. Eileen asked about what kind of business could go into the retail space and if there would be a public hearing. Jeff reviewed the types of
businesses that could go in freely and which types would require a special permit (such as a tavern). Eileen asked about the lighting in the parking lot. George said that the planning board may approve residential lighting on the buildings instead of the post lights if the abutters would prefer that. There was some discussion about possibly have lower lights in the parking lot for safety.
Jennifer Aistan asked about the parking for the retail building. There are 17 spaces provided and only 10 are required. She asked if there is a designated area on the plan for the dumpster. The applicant said there is not, but he could add that in. She asked who is responsible for drainage of the property in the future. The response was that the homeowner’s association would be responsible.
Shanahan asked if the rear parking lot would be used to pile snow. The answer is yes.
Bill Senecal stated that he helped write the regulations TC1. He wants to protect the heritage of Rutland. He quoted that the intent of TC1 sub-district is to preserve and enhance the historical qualities and scale of traditional town center. He brought up that nowhere in town center do we have building facing sideways. They all face Main Street. Bill feels that Lussier’s development does not have the character that he believes the town is looking for. Bill stated that having a retail unit is a right, not a requirement for TC1. Bill addresses a concern that the public hearing notice advertised this as 4 unit residential project. This was incorrect. It should have said 4 buildings with 7 residential units. He feels it should be re-advertised. Norm addressed this concern. He
agreed that this could be a potential reason for an appeal and he asked Lussier to make the decision whether or not to re-advertise the public hearing. Lussier felt it would be good to re-advertise. He wants to draw up some revisions to the plan and have Quinn Engineering review the plans. The intent is to have this finished by the new hearing date.
Corinne commented that when Dunkin Donuts was put in it had to have a design that looked that the building that was there previously. Then when Blair built the building next door he was allowed to put in a building that looked nothing like the previous building (referencing the Tavern complex). Corinne feels anything that goes on this lot is better than what was on it. It had been filled with old cars and gas tanks with overgrown grass.
Terrence Cuny asked if the retail space was only one story. The answer was yes. Terrence asked about the acceptable uses for the retail space. Jeff read through the types of businesses that could be allowed.
Jeff passed out photos of the building on Main Street. At the top of the page he wrote about the 3 main criteria that the planning board needs to address. There was conversation about changing the direction of the front condo unit to face Main Street. Lussier was not opposed to this.
There was discussion about the design of the retail space. The applicant does not have building plans for this because the intent is to build to suit. Jeff stated that the board needs the plans because it is part of the approval process. There was some discussion as to whether this could be put off until a later time and written as a condition of approval where the applicant would have to come before the board and receive approval of the plans at a later time when he has a buyer. Jeff cautioned that the approval should happen at this time and should not be put off.
The applicant stated he wanted to close the public hearing and to re-advertise it.
Shawn motioned to close the public hearing. Marilyn 2nd. Norm, Shawn and Marilyn voted favorably, Dick opposed.
Closed: 8:44pm
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Becker, Secretary
Minutes accepted on 9/26/17
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