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102870-127000PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Wednesday October 7, 2020 Approved MinutesZoom & In-PersonPresent:Jenn Gehly (Chair), Judith Stern, Jesse Webster, Larry Kraft (Zoom)Char Osterlund (Zoom), George McNaughton (ex-officio; Zoom), Mike Martin (ex-officio; Zoom)Absent:Steve Kraft, Chuck GregoryAlso present: Renee Vondle, Town Planner, Martha Straskus, Troy McBride, Hannah Boudreau , Max Lefko-Everett (Zoom)Call to Order: Chair Jenn Gehly called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. She stated that permission has been granted to public bodies to meet electronically from Governor Scott’s executive order Executive Order 01-20 and Act 92. The town manager has given permission to have in-person meetings with a maximum capacity of 15 people in addition to the Zoom meeting. This meeting has been appropriately warned in accordance with the temporary amendments to the Open Meeting Law. It was decided to do a vote to reconvene the meeting at a future date if the meeting runs into technological difficulties. Judith Stern moved to reconvene the meeting to a future date should the meeting run into technical difficulties. Jesse Webster seconded. Motion passed 4-0. Requests by commissioners for additions to agenda: Chair Gehly stated that New Business would be moved up the agenda so that Norwich Solar could present their solar site plans.Announcements – there were no announcements.Approve Minutes of September 2, 2020Jesse Webster moved to approve the minutes as presented. Judith Stern seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Public CommentsThere were no public comments.Town Planner’s ReportTown Planner Vondle reported that the Zoning Office has been very busy with title searches and permits. She stated that she has been working on mapping out and documenting the effect on individual properties should the Town of Springfield decide to adopt River Corridor bylaws. 7.Old Business:Home Occupation / Home Business - Chair Gehly explained the changes. Discussion followed. Jesse Webster moved to accept the amended Home Occupation ordinance. Char Osterlund seconded. Motion passed 4-0.Jesse Webster moved to accept the amended Home Business ordinance. Judith Stern seconded. Motion passed 4-0.Fences The PC reviewed the revised draft. Town Planner Vondle will ask Attorney Ankuda for advice on some of the wording and present a revised edition at the November meeting. New Business Chair Gehly led the applicants and interested parties in the oath: “I hereby swear that the evidence I give in the cause under consideration shall be the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”Norwich Solar:Town Planner Vondle entered the following into testimony from the site visit to both properties:The projects are completely individual/separate projects.The 3-Phase line will be upgraded to the projects from Paddock Road.Norwich Solar is requesting a waiver from setback between the neighboring property lines. The map indicates a 10’ setback, whereas the PUC calls for a 50’ boundary line setback.The Wes Vorhees property at 664 Spencer Hollow Road has a rocky and rolling terrain which is tucked at the back of his property and cannot be seen from the road. The limit of disturbance for this property will be four acres of trees needing to be cut. Erosion was discussed. Ms. Staskus stated that there will be an engineered stormwater construction permit.Chair Gehly asked if a complete stumping will need to be done? Troy McBride (Norwich Solar) stated that a complete stumping will need to be done where the posts will be installed, but the shading area will only need grinding and brush hogging.The Max Lefko-Everett property at 694 Spencer Hollow Road has a pond that will have a 50’ setback and the solar panels will be on a slope facing south towards the Southern State Correctional Facility.Chestnut trees were observed.Noise was discussed. Troy McBride stated that there would be noise during the installation of the posts and that could last 2-3 days, but it was hard to predict how long it would take.Martha Staskus introduced herself, Troy McBride and Hannah Boudreau. She introduced the two solar projects located at Wes Vorhees property at 664 Spencer Hollow Road and the Max Lefko-Everett property at 694 Spencer Hollow Road and addressed the siting criteria from the Springfield Town Plan (projects must meet all criteria):The site shall be within one mile of a 3-Phase power line or other appropriate grid connection unless it is to be a dedicated source. Both sites will be upgraded to a 3-Phase power line from the bottom of Paddock Road.The site shall not have an undue adverse environmental impact on significant wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, wildlife travel corridors, stormwater, water quality, flood resiliency, important recreational facilities or uses, scenic resources identified in this plan, or inventoried historic or cultural resources. Ms. Staskus stated that the Lefko-Everett property (694 Spencer Hollow Road) does have a vernal pool (Class II Wetland) and a 50’ buffer zone has been included in the design for the project. The sites are not within the River Corridor. There are rare plants, but these are not regulated. There are no threatened or endangered species. There are no rare, irreplaceable natural areas in either of the project areas. The site must not result in substantial deforestation or cause forest fragmentation. They will not.Sites that are on areas with possible constraints shall be subject to mitigation. These areas include:Agricultural soils (Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – mapped prime agricultural soils, soils of statewide importance or soils of local importance - Neither property has agricultural soils.Act 250 agricultural soil mitigation areas – no.FEMA Special flood hazard acres (floodplain) – no.Protected lands (state fee lands and private conservation land) – There are no conserved lands within either project location.Deer wintering areas – yes, but both projects have been mapped to avoid deer wintering areas.Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) conservation design highest priority forest blocks – no.Hydric Soils – no hydric soils on either location.Ridgelines – There are no mapped ridgelines. The project at 694 Spencer Hollow will be placed on a slope, but not a ridgeline.The site must meet or exceed the setback standards in 30 V.S.A. §248(s). The setbacks have been reduced to 10’ on either side of the property line which will help to reduce excessive tree clearing. Both property owners have agreed to this. Discussion followed. Ms. Staskus explained that the PUC setback requirements are 50’ from each property line. That would be 100 feet of wasted land. Less clearing would have to be done if the projects were pushed closer to the property line. She explained that the PUC would grant a reduced setback if the landowners and municipal body agree. She stated that the PUC may either require a larger setback or approve a smaller setback agreement from the applicant, municipal legislative body and each property owner adjoining the smaller setback. She stated that both Wes Vorhees and Max Lefko-Everett each have the adjoining property of the setback. George McNaughton asked about the Springfield zoning setbacks. Jason Rasmussen, SWCRPC stated that PUC solar projects are exempt from zoning. For projects that are within 100 feet of a residence the applicant must demonstrate that reasonable steps were take to site the project appropriately and to mitigate the visual impact of the project. This is not applicable to either project.Any new biomass facility and all ground-mounted solar projects of 150 kW or greater that are within view of public roadways (i.e. state highways, US routes, and Class 1, 2 and 3 town highways) must provide landscaping that blends the project with its surroundings. This landscaping should consist of a mix of native plants. Neither project can be seen from the public viewshed. Ms. Staskus noted that the State of Vermont Correctional Facility abuts both properties and there is a line of trees between the State property and the projects.The applicant must maintain any required landscaping for the entire life of the project, including replacement of any dead or diseased vegetation serving as part of the landscape mitigation measures throughout the life of the project or until the project ceases commercial operation. Not applicable.Sites that are adjacent to any major transportation corridor shall reserve a 25-foot wide strip of land from the state highway right-of-way. Not applicable. Neither project is in a viewshed.Char Osterlund moved to write a recommendation letter of preferred sighting designation for both properties. Jesse Webster seconded. Discussion followed. Judith Stern asked about the loss of carbon dioxide from cutting down the trees. Troy McBride stated that 664 Spencer Hollow Road has evergreen, hemlock, and pine. They would chip most, send to Ryegate Generation Facility and will use grinding for the stormwater plan. He stated that there is an on-line EPA calculator which can calculate the carbon dioxide balance for a project like this. The number of years that the solar project will begin to overcome the carbon dioxide from creating the solar panels, clearing the site, and the actual construction is approximately 2-3 years. The solar project is a 25-year project and a reduction of the environmental impact will be seen within a few years. Judith Stern asked about the energy that it takes to heat the steel. Troy McBride stated that there are electric furnaces which can be powered by renewable technology.Judith Stern asked about recycling of old solar panels. Troy McBride stated that the PUC has a requirement for the decommissioning of all the materials. He stated that the steel posts are recyclable. The solar panels are aluminum, glass and silicon which are all recyclable. He stated that there are not a lot of recycled solar panels presently because they have a 30-40 year lifespan and the only used ones available are either broken or defective.Chair Gehly called the vote.Motion passed 4-1 (yay: Jenn Gehly, Char Osterlund, Jesse Webster, Larry Kraft. Nay: Judith Stern).Memo: Jason Rasmussen re: Forest Product ProcessingJason reviewed the follow up memo from the September PC meeting. The PC reviewed the Waivers of Dimensional Standards. Jason will revise and present it at the November meeting.Jason will facilitate a workshop on parking to determine what is working, what is not working and options. The PC decided to schedule the workshop for December and to invite the DRB, Springfield on the Move, Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Housing Authority and other interested groups. Char Osterlund suggested that we consider the Complete Streets concept as it is a standard in our Town Plan. Town Planner Vondle will make the arrangements.Identify agenda items for future meeting. Subdivision (Jason Rasmussen)Waivers of Dimensional Standards (Review & Approve)FencesRoad Frontage (Jenn & Larry)AdjournmentJudith Stern moved to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Jesse Webster seconded. Motion passed 4-0.Respectfully submitted,Renee L. VondleRecording Secretary/Town Planner ................
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