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Goal: Gaps for housing in the tenure ladder which currently exist are
filled and the overall supply of housing in the community is increased.
Five-Year Focus:
- Address the following housing production barriers:
- Allowable density
does not reflect actual capacity to build;
- Lack of resources for updating
zoning code;
- Zoning and subdivision ordinances are outdated;
- Lack of
predictable permit process
- De novo permit hearings.
- Annually convene a
focus group of homebuilders, rental property owners and developers to gather
feedback on local barriers to housing development.
- Implement the following
recommendations of the Regulatory Review Task Force report of 1990:
- Zoning
code should be re-written to make it consistent with current planning
objectives;
- Zero lot line zoning, performance-based zoning and Floor Area
Ratio zoning should be evaluated for feasibility in Burlington;
- The State
should allow Burlington to use "Mini-Act 250" in lieu of another
review by the District #4 Environmental Commission;
- Design Advisory Board
should be trained not to attempt re-designing projects;
- Development Review
Board (DRB) should adopt more clear and narrow guidelines for when members must recuse
themselves for conflicts of interest;
- DRB should support alternatives to the
Fire Marshal's requirements for extra turn-around space or paved lanes around
buildings;
- The Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Fire Marshal's Office (FMO) sign-off on initial plans
should indicate that substantive issues have been resolved. Final say over
differing interpretations should reside with the City Engineer or DPW Director.
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If a developer installs sprinklers when not required by code to do so, then
the Fire impact fee should be reduced.
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Examine City-imposed fees for such
purposes as excavation and sewer connection to determine whether waivers for
affordable housing will help encourage more new development of affordable
owner-occupied units.
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Provide annual training to the Development Review,
Design Advisory and Conservation Boards to ensure that members fully understand
their roles, proper meeting protocols, the rights of all parties and to ensure
impartial project review on the part of board members.
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Conduct
"on-the-record" development review hearings for projects that meet the
requirements for Major Impact Review.
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Explore "anti-snob" zoning.
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Insist that the University of Vermont create 400 beds by Fall 2003.
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Create
a database of housing development sites.
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Identify property owned by the City
where housing would make sense and promote such development with nonprofit and
for-profit housing developers.
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Develop the Brown's Court parking lot, Elmwood
Avenue parking lot, and the Depot Street Triangle site. (100 units)
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Evaluate the
Inclusionary Zoning ordinance.
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Develop a clear formula for determining
payment in lieu of building affordable units under the Inclusionary Zoning
ordinance.
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Ask the State to create an inventory of the State-owned land in
Burlington that is appropriate for housing development and to solicit requests
for proposals from affordable housing developers for appropriate sites.
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Urge
the State to address the following housing production barriers:
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Cost and time
of appeal;
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Lack of predictable permit process;
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Permit appeal criteria
overly broad and inclusive;
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Redundancy in the local permit process and Act
250
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Urge the State to revise Chapter 117 to make the development review process
more efficient, predictable and fair to developers.
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Advocate for legislative
changes governing the rules for appealing zoning and Act 250 permits that:
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Revise the definition of "interested person" as recommended by the
Chapter 117 Committee;
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Codify the steps that must be taken prior to filing an
appeal;
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Require appellants to participate materially in the development
review process, as recommended by the Chapter 117 Committee.
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Advocate for legislative changes to ensure that Act 250 jurisdiction does not
apply to single family houses or duplexes built on existing, non-contiguous lots
that have received any needed zoning and subdivision approvals. Housing projects
that consist of 10 or more units located on a single tract of land would remain
subject to Act 250 jurisdiction.
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Support new housing development on the following properties:
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Banknorth property (Main, St. Paul, King St.) (100 units)
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Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington's North Ave. property (300 - 400 units)
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Sunset Cliff Road/Scarlet Circle (Von Turkovich) (148 units)
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Depot Street Triangle (BCLT) (40 units)
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Venus Avenue - Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity / Burlington Housing
Authority (8 units)
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Benway Common - 235 Park St. (7 units)
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Redstone Apartments (UVM) (200 beds)
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University Heights (800 beds)
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151 South Champlain St. (KSNRC) (14 units)
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1044 North Avenue (9 units)
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354 Manhattan Drive - Rouille (15 units)
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Hood Plant (125 units)
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Burgess Electric (27 units)
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Cherry/Battery (32 units)
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Main Street Landing - Lake St. (70 units)
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Elmwood Avenue (25 units)
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Browns Court (40 units)
Page last updated May 13, 2003
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