7:00
Rules: Open by Bruce Cox

Another great turn out! Gather input from Townspeople about the Town Plan. Zoning concerns and subdivisions 1st hour. 2nd hour zoning. Not a debate. Constructive ideas.

Ground rules: raise hand, state name; limit comments to 2-3 minutes. Comments to issue at hand. Turn off cell phones and pagers. Planning Commission does not set taxes.

Julia L. Wright: several people "griping about development and businesses." Have a book with 10 pages - Weathersfield Town Services. Book name!

Town plan consists of 9 elements about what we want to do before going to P/C.

Change definition of minor structure.

List of state regulations required by our zoning.

Goals = a road map of all other documents and Boards.

GCH - ? time line for the re-write of the town plan.

PD = current focus Transportation and Energy are first because of budget constraints. SWCRPC has some money to help with these.

B. Cox: Housing, etc. requires census data that will not be available until 2012.

Ed - Board (PC) instructed to work on zoning at the same time.

Peter Korbet - transportation other than P/R what are you doing 1st. These meetings are about the town plan not the specific meetings about the element (transportation). Ed identified what P.C. has done so far (discussions held by the P.C. "See meeting minutes for details."

Peter Korbet - looking at e-west travel through the state. Is state looking at 131 as a corridor?

Discussion of a bike trail, 131 as a scenic highway.

GCH - page 39 - TP talks about views of Mt. Ascutney maintained. M. Todd - read statement/request.

J. Arrison in regards to 131. TP should address whether or not 131 is an e/w corridor. (Take on)

Weight limits - put trucks where they need to be/should be.
No to E-W corridor.

Grace Knight - CVPS doubling power lines going through the town?

GCH - process and schedule, more meetings as we get to each section over the course of 4-5 years.

McCormick - wonders about small bank, ATM - any interest?

Peter Korbet - don't think you grasp - getting some HP. Recognize Ascutney is rare. Extend the scenic byway.

Willis: 131 is a state scenic highway. Very few views of Ascutney. "In your face".

Dave Gulbrandsen: you can't have beauty and small business together.

Grace Knight - yes you can. Good looking business can be created and work and look good.

Tax burden needs to be addressed.

Julie Levy - Business, bikes and highway. Business viable because of bikers and campers. Highway factor important. Tap into this for business focus!!

Willis: decrease setbacks, large open space; we allow horse-back riding, snowmobiling and hiking; plea for some open space; Ascutney issue - may help with grants and Act 250. Connecticut River is too high in salt.

Willis: zoning notes.

GCH: small enterprise is pretty good. Setbacks? match existing character.

Dave Gulbrandsen: Home Industry - conflict between light industry/home industry.

GCH - procedural definitions.

Korbet - Identify where are in-ground oil storage tanks.

Peter Daniels - There is a state program to help land owners remove old tanks. Grant money up to $1,000. Check state budget for availability.

Korbet - index in bylaws; industrial - provide industrial areas; strike the "flat" statement in the town plan. Act 250 addresses prime ag soils uses; more common sense in areas of wetlands; setbacks need addressing

State law for growth centers is 3 pages long - very comprehensive

Edith Hunter - page 32 - current Town Plan is excellent - don't throw out baby with bath water

GCH - read it, edit it, be on a 2-year schedule. Then to bylaws - strongly urge one at a time.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike Todd