TOWN OF MANCHESTER, VERMONT
DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC) MINUTES
Committee Attendees: John Watanabe, Alan Benoit. Absent: Joelle Greenland, Ramsay Gourd
Staff Attendees: Janet Hurley (Planning & Zoning Director).
Public Attendees: Frank Parent, Bill Drunsic.
Watanabe called the meeting to order at 5:00.
Minutes of the January 29, 2020, meeting were approved by unanimous consent.
Long Trail Engineering, 4697 Main Street, Sign. The Design advisory Committee recommended approval as proposed. Hurley will issue a permit accordingly.
Northshire Spiral Group, LLC, 21 Bonnet Street, Demolition plan. Watanabe read an email in which Ramsay Gourd expressed concern about removing the building. Planting a tree was recommended. Benoit motioned to approve as presented with the addition of a tree. Watanabe seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0-0.
Bill Drunsic, 5615 Main Street, Preliminary discussion of housing development plans.
Drunsic shared preliminary plans for workforce housing on the site consisting of single family homes and duplexes. He is targeting homes to be priced in the mid $300s, not federally subsidized affordable. He would limit ownership to be used for primary residences only, not for Short Term Rentals (STRs) or second homes. Home design plans show gable roofed structures. New zoning allows 21 units (site consists of 4 acres about 3 of which are usable). He also plans to construct a common building for larger gatherings and central heating. It would be a wood pellet or wood chip distributed heating system for the 21 units. Only one curb cut is contemplated. Landscaping and fencing would be planned, with a shared central greenspace for recreation and in-ground septic (unless town sewer becomes available). The existing home would be demolished. Hurley pointed out that it might be a contributing historic structure. Watanabe asked whether construction would be phased. Drunsic said he would build one of each structure type, then let the market determine what gets built next. He would probably build in clusters of three for economic reasons. Benoit suggested Drunsic contact Deconstruction Works out of Brattleboro, which reuses materials and offers tax incentives for making material available for reuse. Watanabe asked whether the common building would be built initially and whether utilities would be underground. Drunsic responded in the affirmative to both questions. It was agreed that this site is well situated for walking downtown. Hurley indicated that details on finish materials will be important because the site is in the North Main Street Historic (NMSH) district. Drunsic hopes to use wood clapboard with maybe some plastic trim elements.
Smuggler's Notch Distillery, 74 Depot Street, Signage. The Design advisory Committee recommended approval as proposed as long as the sign complies with dimensional standards. Hurley will issue a permit accordingly.
Spruce Street Manchester, LLC, 38 Spruce Street & 106 Center Hill, New covered entryways for barn and house.
Hurley shared plans for covered entryways on the barn and house. Committee members expressed disapproval of the proposed roof on the new barn entry. They suggested the roof should have steeper pitch to match the barn roof. The other existing covered entryway roof may be a rubber roof because the pitch so shallow. Make the pitch on the new roof 8 instead of 2 - to match the barn and traditional agricultural look. Furthermore, committee members noted that a timber frame is not typically paired with such a flat roof. The plans do not indicate what the roofing material will be. The committee suggested standing seam would make sense. Other materials should match existing materials on the house and barn. Door details should also be provided for review. Benoit remarked that the proposed door looks like an arts & crafts style door rather than a traditional agricultural style. Appropriately, the door on house looks like it will match the existing six panel wood doors on the house. Hurley pointed out the proposed bike rack and indicated that the planned use of the barn is for co-working space. The Design Advisory Committee requested additional details be provided before permitting. Hurley will share this feedback with the applicant.
Pastime Pinball, 4802 Main Street, New blade sign.
Hurley shared plans for a new blade sign to be hung for Pastime Pinball. This would offer more Main Street visibility for the business. The Design advisory Committee recommended approval as proposed as long as the sign complies with dimensional standards. Hurley will issue a permit accordingly.
The next scheduled meeting of the committee will be Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
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For the Design Advisory Committee Date