Brookfield, Vermont

Minutes DRAFT
Brookfield Planning Commission
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Present:
Gwynn Zakov, Chair, Tim Gershon, Christina Harlow, Jon Jickling, Will White
Absent:
Nancy Jacques, Martha Judy
Public Present:  None
Chair Zakov called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
White/Jickling moved to approve minutes from the 4/13/21 meeting as submitted by Martha Judy.  The minutes were approved unanimously.
The planning commission discussed short-term camping (“Hipcamps”), gun ranges, and considered updates to the Development Bylaws section 4.15.
Any other new/old business; discussed obtaining feedback on bylaw update from conservation commission and/or TRORC.
For the next meeting the commission will review Section 4.17, 4.18, and start on the definition section. Commissioners will find definition examples from two other towns for reference during the definition discussion. As before members will review these sections before the next meeting.
Next meeting will be June 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Chair Zakov adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Will White

 
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

Minutes DRAFT
Brookfield Planning Commission
Date: Tuesday, January 12th, 2021
Present:Gwynn Zakov, Chair, Martha Judy, Will White, Tim Gershon, Nancy Jacques
Public Present:  Gary Lord, Kevin & Marie Dunwoody, Jim Merriam, Katie Bancroft, Matt Dezan, Ze Andreyevs, Zoe Newmarco, Christina Harlow, Sarah & Nathan Shaw, Aaron Adler, Jon Binhammer
Chair Zakov called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Public to be heard after each topic.
White/Gershon moved to approve minutes from the 12/8/2020 meeting.  The minutes were approved unanimously.
The planning commission opened the floor for the two potential nominees for the vacant Planning Commission seat to introduce themselves.  Both Christina Harlow and Katie Bancroft provided summary backgrounds and their interest to serve their community.  No decision on nomination was made at this meeting.
The planning commission and attendees were walked through a presentation by Jim Merriam of Norwich Solar regarding the preferred site application for 150 kw solar array on Ridge Road property owned by Keith and Chelsea Sprague. This was a Public Utilities Commission application for an issuance of a Certificate of Good for preferred site designation of the solar siting location.  Jim Merriam graciously allowed questions throughout the presentation as well as at the conclusion.  The Shaw’s provided feedback on their support for the project.  Several area residents noted they were not in favor of the project.
White made a motion to accept Norwich Solar’s request to grant preferred siting designation to their proposed 150 kW solar array on Ridge Rd. Also, to encourage the select board to grant preferred siting. We grant this approval with the intention of thoroughly reviewing the projects compliance with town bylaws once the act 248 application and supporting documentation has been submitted to the Public Utilities Commission.  With no second the motion failed.
For the next meeting the commission will review Sections 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, and 4.16.  As before members will review these sections before the meeting.
No other new/old business was covered.
Next meeting will be February 9th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Due to the late hour the meeting was called to close by Chair Zakov at 9:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Jacques

Minutes DRAFT
Brookfield Planning Commission Date: Wednesday July 22, 2020 DRAFT
Present: Gwynn Zakov, Chair, Timothy Gershon, Jon Jickling, Martha Judy, William White, Nancy Jacques
Public: Susan Shea – Conservation Commission, Laurel Mcewen
Chair Zakov called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Inquired about public to be heard.  No public attended.
White/Judy moved to approve minutes from 2/11/2020. Unanimously approved.
Commission discussed potential action on a permit to develop a single-family home on Twin Ponds Road and associated concerns brought forward by the Brookfield Conservation Commission to the Brookfield Planning Commission. No motions were made and no actions were taken.
Next meeting schedule for Tuesday September 8th, 2020 at 7:00 via
White/Jickling moved to adjourn.  The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William White