Greenfield Zoning Board of Adjustment
Meeting Minutes
April 11, 2006
Board convenes at 7:00 pm to conduct business session. Sitting on the board is John Gryval, Kevin O’Connell, Dan Dineen, Dale Sanford, Craig Pettigrew and Loren White. The Board elects offers for the coming year. John Gryval is elected Chair, Dan Dineen is elected vice-chair, and Kevin O’Connell is elected secretary. New copies of the Greenfield Zoning ordinance, and Planning and Land use law regulations books passed out. Kevin states the board has an application for appeal from Linda Freeman, and the board agrees to hear the case on April 25 at 8:00 pm.
At 8:00 pm John opens Case 06-1,an application by Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center for a Special Exception from Section III.I.E.3, 25-foot wetlands buffer, of the Zoning Ordinance of the town of Greenfield. Representatives from SVE associated with Don Shumway
from Crotched Mountain (CMRC) are present and SVE presents their case for the special exception.
SVE states that CMRC is planning to build a maintenance facility in place of the current facility located close by, and that the new facility will also be home to a cogeneration facility to provide heat to the campus.
SVE explains where the wetlands are and their composition, how they were created by a culvert drain. SVE also explained that used the location as planned would preserve the natural area, and the driveway location is sited as to allow for safe traffic flow and that the buffer incursion would be minimal. SVE also states that they will be collecting runoff from the facility and storing it in a cistern for later use.
The Board proceeds to discuss the plans.
Craig asks how much wetland would be disturbed.
SVE; “1400 square feet.”
SVE also explains that the wetland flow off the hill.
Dan Dineen asks where are the wetlands calculations
SVE replies on the form.
Loren asks about the cistern, and it’s function
SVE replies the cistern is to store and manage flow off the roof and discharge in anticipation of heavy rains.
Craig; It seems like you put a lot of thought into this.
Dan and SVE discuss the wetlands runoff and the wetlands.
John reminds the Board that what we’re here for is the wetland crossing.
SVE; “ What we’re concerned with is the remaining wetlands and keeping them viable. “
Kevin: “ Does anyone want to go on a site walk?”
Board replies they don’t feel the need to.
Kevin discusses a recent case in Bennington that involved setbacks, pertaining to a group home being setup by CMRC on Onset Road in Bennington, and how in that case Bennington’s town council stated that because Crotched was acting in place of the state government in providing services, that they, like municipalities, were except from zoning ordinances except those pertaining to health and safety, and that the same may apply here.
John closes the public session at 8:30 pm.
The board begins deliberations and Craig makes a motion to approve the special exception, the motion seconded, and the Board voted unanimously to grant the special exception.
John closes the hearing at 8:40 pm.
Board does mail, and John closes meeting at 8:50
| 
