TOWN OF MANCHESTER, VERMONT
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
March 14, 2022
Commission Attendees: Greg Boshart, Ana Rahona, Phil Peterson, Chris Glabach, Leon Ward.
Staff Attendees: Janet Hurley (Planning & Zoning Director).
Public Attendees: Greg Sukiennik.
Hurley initiated recording. Boshart called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
1. Minutes for the 02-28-2022 meeting were approved by unanimous consent.
Peterson asked whether the clinic discussion should have reflected the suggestion that psychiatry and psychotherapy be a subcategory. Hurley said no decision about that was made and minutes need not be transcription of the proceeding.
2. Regulating Cannabis Production & Sales.
Boshart thanked Hurley for putting together the draft revisions. He questioned whether the information should be repeated in the definitions section. Hurley argued that it should be and that the definitions should not conflict with the use table. Boshart urged that the commission aim to have a final draft by the end of this meeting. The revisions can then be warned for a hearing on April 4th, the Selectboard can then consider a hearing schedule on April 5th perhaps for May 3rd and May 10th for effective date of May 31st.
Peterson suggested that warehousing was unnecessary as it is subsumed in the wholesale definition. After referring to definition of terms from the Cannabis Control Board website, commissioners decided to strike the warehousing reference from the wholesale use and definitions. Commissioners also decided to add “processing” to the list of activities that occur for a cannabis wholesaler.
Boshart read through the proposed revisions each in turn. Commissioners decided to add “of age” after 21 years for the retail definition and use language. Ward asked about riparian buffers for grow operations. Hurley explained that the municipality could not single out cannabis establishments, but that they would be subject to the same surface water setbacks that other uses were subject to under the ordinance. Commissioners considered whether to offer language for cannabis lounges, but decided to hold off until the CCB defined them.
Rahona motioned to put forward the cannabis revisions as drafted with the following three changes: (1) remove the warehousing reference, (2) add “of age” to the retail definition and use, and (3) add processing to the list of activities for wholesale cannabis. Peterson seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0-0.
3. Planning for a New Town Plan.
Hurley suggested the commission form a subcommittee to begin outlining ideas for development of a town plan. She argued for a new town plan rather than a revision of the existing plan, suggesting that a public planning effort for a new plan was long overdue. Ward and Peterson offered to serve as the subcommittee. Boshart asked that they keep Hurley in the loop.
4. Other Business.
Ward reported that Bennington restricted STRs. Others questioned whether Bennington did, and pointed out that Burlington recently restricted STRs. Peterson surmised that Burlington will not get additional housing stock from the new policy.
The next meeting of the Planning Commission will be April 4, 2022, at 7:57 p.m.
Rahona motioned to adjourn the meeting. Glabach seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0-0 at 8:00 p.m.
_____________________________________ __________________________
For the Planning Commission Date