Minutes
TOWN OF VERMONT Plan Commission SPECIAL MEETING
August 7, 2006 – 7:30 p.m. – 4017 County Hwy JJ
CALL TO ORDER AND POSTING CERTIFICATION
The meeting was called to order by Mark Sherven at 7:30 p.m. Johanna Solms certified the meeting notice had been posted at the Black Earth State Bank, Amcore Bank in Mt. Horeb, on the front door of the Town Hall and on the town website,
www.townofvermont.com; also published in the News Sickle Arrow and the Mount Horeb Mail.Members present: Mark Sherven, Barbara Grenlie, Donald McKay, Eric Haugen, Jim Elleson, and Johanna Solms. Members absent: Bruce Ellarson.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mark Sherven stated the purpose of the meeting to be to continue work on development of the proposed comprehensive plan.
DISCUSSION WITH BOB DRIES
Bob Dries, town building inspector, provided information and answered questions. Building inspector deals with how buildings are built but can also work with towns on siting. To enact a height limitation, we would need a legal opinion as to whether we could be more restrictive than the county and then adopt an ordinance through the town board. Measuring height is complex, depending on lower levels, fill, where you measure from. There was discussion of the extremely comprehensive Greenfield siting ordinance and how such a process works and who pays for associated costs. That ordinance says no roofline shall be higher than any tree line or ridgeline on the property, any slope over 20% cannot be disturbed. There was discussion of whether AG buildings on a farm need a building permit.
DISCUSSION WITH NEIL DIXON
New versions of maps have been ordered from the Dane County Land Office. Neil has made some further contacts. Barbara Weber, senior planner with Dane County is a source for regional trend information. Cheryl Zellner in Dane County Real Estate Listings office will help determine historical numbers for building permits/approved home site applications. John Vesperman at DOT is hiring a new staff member to deal specifically with the legal process for accepting or abandoning town roads, access issues, and impact fees. Impact fee legislation in the state changed recently to put more of a burden on the community. "Rational nexus" concept: cost has to be directly caused by the action; "proportional allocation"; only capital expenses, no operating expenses, may be recovered.
OTHER TOPICS
Barbara Grenlie presented a draft of a new home site application process flow chart. There may need to be one for landowners and one for the plan commission and board. It was agreed that the town clerk should receive fees plus 11 copies of forms 10 days before applicant’s scheduled meeting with plan commission. Barbara went through the flowchart, highlighting the need for care at the town action report step. Mark Sherven is going to ask someone from the county to attend our next special meeting to explain the county part of the process.
Approval of Minutes
Motion was made by Barbara Grenlie, seconded by Donald McKay and carried to approve the minutes of the July 7, 2006 special meeting.
NEXT MEETING
The next special meeting will be on September 18, 2006 at 7:30 pm.
Adjournment
Moved by Jim Elleson seconded by Donald McKay and carried to adjourn the meeting at 10:25 p.m.
Johanna Solms, Plan Commission Secretary