PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Fairfax Town Office

PC Members Present: G. Heyer, D. Brown, M. Hunziker, R. Wimble

Also Present: Skip Taylor-ZA

7:00 PM – Meeting called to order by G. Heyer.

There was discussion of a gift for Ann Lemieux to thank her for her many years on the Planning Commission.

D. Brown moved to accept the minutes from the February 1, 2011 Planning Commission meeting. M. Hunziker second. All approved.

The Planning Commission members were all given copies of the new Fairfax Development Regulations.

Town of Fairfax Statement of Procedures and Standards Regarding Town Highways

Skip Taylor presented a draft of a document that was consolidated from 3 previous documents – 1. The Town of Fairfax Highway Ordinance (2004); 2. Town of Fairfax Statement of Procedures and Standards Regarding Town Highways (2005); 3. Town Road and Bridge Standards Town of Fairfax, Vermont (2003). The new document deletes redundancies, clarifies confusing information from the previous documents and reorganizes the information into a clearer format. There was discussion regarding some unclear definitions and explanations brought forward from the previous documents and it was agreed that the Road Foreman would be consulted for clarification. M. Hunziker asked about referencing the Fairfax Development Regulations in the section on Highway Construction: adding language “must meet requirements of the Fairfax Development Regulations.” There was additional discussion regarding the size of culverts and signing. The Planning Commission agreed to have Skip present a final draft to the Selectboard.

Capital Plan and Budget: Current Capital Plan was written in 2003 and is supposed to be updated every five years. The Selectboard has stated they want the Planning Commission to take the lead in developing the new Plan. There has been a grant awarded to the Town to put toward this and the Selectboard plans to hire a consultant to assist. Skip will get more clarification from the Selectboard on the process and who the consultant is to present at the next PC meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for March 15, 2011 at 7 PM at the Town Office.

There was discussion on filling the opening on the Planning Commission and on additional ways to notify the public about important meetings and hearings that have not been publicized effectively. Sandwich boards on main thoroughfares throughout town?

8:15 PM – M. Hunziker moved to adjourn; D. Brown second. All approve.

Respectfully submitted,

Martha Varney, Planning and Zoning Assistant

Approved___________________________, Date________________________, 2011

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These minutes are unofficial until approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting.