PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Fairfax Town Office

 

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

Also Present: Skip Taylor-ZA, Brandy Saxton – PlaceSense (Port Henry, NY)

 

7:00 PM – G. Heyer called the meeting to order.  M. Hunziker moved to accept the minutes from March 1, 2011; D. Brown 2nd.  All approved.

 

            Skip asked the Board to sign cards for Ann Lemieux and Greta Brunswick.

 

            Skip introduced Brandy Saxton of PlaceSense in Port Henry, NY.  Ms. Saxton has been hired by the Selectboard to create a new Capital Budget and devise a new Impact Fee to fund these projects.  She gave the Board literature that explained the process of creating a Capital Improvement Program and devising Impact Fees.  She explained that she had met with the school and each department that day to collect information and identify potential Capital projects. After compiling a “wish list” from each department, she will devise a master list and ask the Planning Commission to look it over and advise.

            Brandi presented census figures for the Town of Fairfax representing the growth in population, total households and housing units in the past 10 years (2000 – 2010). These numbers are used to calculate anticipated growth and development and the Town’s capacity to accommodate that.  Discussion included:

                        - Capacity of the sewer and water systems and projected need; that growth in Fairfax has been                                mostly rural rather than in the Growth Center.

                        - Question of whether there will be a need for an impact fee for schools after the bond is paid off                                    in 2019.

                        - Possible paving of dirt roads rather than impact fees going toward new equipment.

                        - Sidewalks

                        - Fire Department

                        - Recreation

                        - Cemetery Commission

                        - Town Clerk

                        - Town Library

                        - New Municipal building

            Ms. Saxton explained that the process should take about 6 months start to finish. – 3 weeks to compile information received today then schedule another meeting with the Planning Commission to highlight priorities.  Next meeting date not yet scheduled.

 

            The Selectboard has scheduled a hearing for the new Road Ordinance and Fee Schedule for Monday, April 18, 2011.

 

8:25 PM – M. Hunziker moved to adjourn; D. Brown 2nd.  All approved

 

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.