Town of Manchester
Special Selectboard Meeting
Minutes for 10/24/2023 – (draft)
Call to Order by Ivan Beattie @ 6:02 pm
Pledge of Allegiance – led by Greg Cutler
Selectboard Attendees: Ivan Beattie, Heidi Chamberlain, Lauri Kunz, Jan Nolan,
Greg Cutler
Town Employees: Town Manager, Scott Murphy, Zoning Administrator Peter Brabazon, Police Officer Jesse Bravata
Public Attendees: Sue Allen, Manchester Journal; Andrew McCever,
Proposed Revisions to the Town’s Land Use and Development Ordinance
Beattie introduced the discussion and commented that during past zoning ordinance discussions the Boards have been trying to help develop housing projects but have been also dealing with large tract developments.
Beattie went over each of the 29 proposed changes and definitions. Item #4 involved changing “accessory apartment” to Accessory Dwelling Unit”. Phil Peterson explained the Planning Commission’s reasoning. Rice asked about the recent Housing Report on Short term Rentals (STR) and disagreed with the facts of the report. He suggested removing the ADU section until we have better and more accurate information. Cutler asked if this was a wide spread problem. Brabazon explained how the current regulations work. Item #5 had already been removed by the Planning Commission. Item #6 - The height of downtown buildings was discussed and Peterson explained the proposed change and how they used three criteria to make this recommendation. Item #8 involved Residential treatment facilities Item #13 Chamberlain asked if this proposal includes impervious surfaces such as tennis courts. Peterson was not sure and will check on that.
Item #14 involved discussion about RV campers, their allowable length of stay, how many were allowable, and the definition of an RV. Peterson explained item #17 regarding parking area planting areas. He also clarified the revision to item #18 regarding multiple freestanding signs on large lots.
Item # 19 “New structures” was inserted into Section 12.2(3) and 12.2(4) as required language as our previous language was out of compliance. Many definitions were discussed including family vs households. Chamberlain questioned the new clarification and Peterson explained the differences.
The proposed map changes were discussed and Peterson explained the changes would bring some of the properties into the Historic District.
Chamberlain thanked Peterson for his time and effort to clarify the Selectboard’s questions. Beattie discussed recessing this review until the second hearing. The Board agreed and decided to hold the second public hearing at their November 7th regular Selectboard Meeting starting at 7:00 pm.
Cutler made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss Contracts per 1 V.S.A 312(a)(g), seconded by Nolan, All in favor 5-0. The Board entered into Executive Session at 7:38.
The Selectboard exited Executive Session at 7:54 with no action taken. The Board adjourned at 7:55 pm.
Select Board Approval