Agenda - 01-24-2017 - 6-a - Minutes

Browse Search

12 1 Commissioner Jacobs said he is supportive of this proposal. He said he did not hear the 2 attorney say the Board could not do it, but just that the Board must be specific in the ordinance. 3 He said being connected to contiguous open space could be required, unless it is not possible. 4 Commissioner Jacobs referred to page 122-2-b3, and said the fire department used to 5 be on the list, but is not anymore. He asked if there is a reason why the fire department is no 6 longer included. 7 Patrick Mallett said there are other elements and newer standards that may change 8 these lists. 9 Commissioner Jacobs said being part of the process is where they came up with access 10 to a water resource and increasing the density in an area being served. 11 Patrick Mallett said part of that is covered with pedestrian oriented open space area, 12 which says an area cannot be blocked off without providing access. 13 Commissioner Price said when she was on the Planning Board they requested a Fire 14 Marshal or an Emergency Services member to be part of their development advisory committee. 15 Patrick Mallett said these departments are on the development advisory committee. 16 Commissioner Jacobs asked if all of these entities are on the committee. 17 Patrick Mallett said for the most part these entities participate, and it is in another part of 18 the ordinance. 19 Commissioner Jacobs said minor subdivisions do not require a public process, but a 20 major subdivision does. He asked Patrick Mallett if this is correct. 21 Patrick Mallett said yes. He said the main difference is that minor subdivisions are 22 usually on family owned lands. 23 Commissioner Jacobs said his concern would echo what just happened with Ashwick, 24 and that a minor subdivision will only come to the Board's notice when staff has already 25 approved it, since it is a staff process. He said he is favor of the concept, but asked if there is a 26 way to allow public involvement. 27 Patrick Mallett said with a minor subdivision of five units there are not neighborhood 28 meetings. 29 Commissioner Jacobs clarified that a 12 lot minor subdivision would be different. 30 Patrick Mallett said that is a valid point. He said staff routinely sees family land being cut 31 up into minor subdivisions, and he said this needs to be a bit more controlled. He said the other 32 scenario is two minor subdivisions, with five homes each, which have no public involvement. 33 Commissioner Jacobs said there should be a way to consider the feelings of the 34 neighbors when these minor subdivisions are created. 35 Michael Harvey said the motion could be amended to require a neighborhood meeting 36 for any subdivision proposing more than five lots. 37 Commissioner Jacobs said he is not trying to make things more difficult, but Michael 38 Harvey's proposal would satisfy his concerns without adversely affecting a developer's 39 streamlined process. 40 Patrick Mallett said theoretically there could be a neighborhood informational meeting in 41 the middle of the process, when a schematic plan can be shared. 42 Commissioner Pelissier said this proposal is a great step for the County, and helps 43 preserve rural character. 44 Commissioner Pelissier said she is reluctant to say that open spaces must connect with 45 existing streets. She said houses may be clustered in certain areas, and existing or planned 46 streets may be way on the other side of the open space. She would not want to see a road 47 going though the open space just to connect it to an existing road. 48 Patrick Mallett said a flexible development gives the connotation that it is a case-by-case 49 basis, and there can be a reasonable solution that does not force a situation that requires 50 connecting to a road that may or may not be appropriate or used.