Habitat Receives Preliminary Approval from Planning Commission
by Edd Merritt
1/28/2010, page 1

Eric Morrow and David Mullin from Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity and Peter Schneider from Efficiency Vermont met with members of the local task force overseeing plans for building three affordable houses on the Burns Property along Greenbush Road in Charlotte’s West Village.
Morrow showed a video rendering of the three houses set in the Burns’ property as one travels north on Greenbush Road. He said that, while some of the existing planting will remain, Habitat hopes to be considered eligible for the town’s Rutter Fund, to add to the landscaping on the lots. In response to a question as to whether landscaping will affect the development’s affordability, Mullin said that Habitat will do the original plantings, maintaining affordability. He also noted that, as the task force recommended at a previous meeting, the houses had been reoriented to fit with the character of the neighborhood. They are also designed to get passive solar heat gain. The group agreed that Habitat, not the town, would maintain and manage the septic system. That responsibility will be written into the association agreement, according to Mullin.
All in all, Town Planner Dean Bloch felt that Habitat had come a long way in addressing the requests of the task force.
In a written response to Habitat’s preliminary plan application for a four-lot major residential development, the Planning Commission gave its approval with several conditions, including waste water and water permits for three lots on which the houses will be built plus a plan for erosion control, a statement of conformance to the Town Plan, approval for road cuts and access for fire and rescue operations, an open-space agreement, drainage easement from Lot 1 on to Lot 4, and a draft of proposed owners’ association bylaws.
The Planning Commission members still need to sign and agree to the document and gain the Selectboard’s approval of access routes into the development.

Simpkins propose a “tea room” at the Charlotte Berry Farm Stand.
The Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment reviewed a request by Polly and Brad Simpkins to attach a 1,000-square-foot “tea room” to the south end of the farm stand located on the Charlotte Berry Farm. Describing it as a home occupation, Polly emphasized her desire to incorporate locally grown fruits and herbs into her teas as well as selling baked goods and other related food items. Describing it as a café, she sees the project as an extension of what currently exists. The proposal is to add seating for 24 people and, in so doing, extend the season that the stand is open. The intent, she says, is to maintain the visual character of the farm stand by blending the design for the addition with the existing structure – similar wood exterior and an interior accessible through the current space. The proposal would require an expanded kitchen area.
The Simpkins’ application is under review by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.