Brookfield Planning Commission (draft minutes)
Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Present: Gwynn Zakov, Chair, Christina Harlow, Martha Judy, Will White, Tim Gershon, Nancy Jacques, Jon Jickling
Public Present: Gary Lord, Kevin Dunwoody, Andreyevs, Aaron Adler, Jon Binhammer
Chair Zakov called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Judy/White moved to approve minutes from February 9, 2021. The minutes were approved unanimously.
Chair Zakov invited members of the public to be heard. None was heard.
Chair Zakov welcomed Christina Harlow to the Commission.
Jon Binhammer expressed his wish for the Planning Commission to update the Brookfield Town Plan to include greater clarity around local energy development.
Kevin Dunwoody, while not recommending any specific policy language, referred to Randolph as an example of a municipality that has taken on this issue.
Gary Lord saw value in having the PC identify specific places in town that could be designated “scenic” or part of “viewsheds”.
Chair Zakov pointed out that, according to state statute, The Brookfield Town Plan will have to include provisions around energy if the town is to maintain its eligibility for grant funding. She cautioned, however, that the Planning Commission has other priorities as well.
Jon Jickling asked whether there was precedent for amending a Town Plan prior to their standard revision schedule.
Chair Zakov said she is aware of such a precedent in other places.
Martha Judy expressed her opinion that the Planning Commission has already done much work in the area of development that bears on the issue of local energy development.
Jon Binhammer and Rachel Andreyev, in turn, expressed their support for the work of the PC.
Andreyev offered help in an unofficial capacity assisting the PC in its work developing a plan around energy.
The PC then resumed its work reviewing bylaws, nearly completing section 4.13.
Next meeting will be held on March 9th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. At this meeting — following a brief update from Gershon/Jickling on their takeaways from the TROC meeting they attended in February — the PC will complete its review of bylaws sections 4.13, and begin their review of 4.14, 4.15. Time permitting, the Commission would begin to consider the issue of gun ranges. As before members will review relevant sections in advance.
The meeting was called to close by Chair Zakov at 8:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tim Gershon