Middlesex Planning Commission
Meeting Minutes
August 31, 2005
7:40 pm
Middlesex Town Hall

Attendance:
Planning Commission Members: Sandra Levine, Gregg Faber, Lowell Smith, Steve Martin, Paula Crossett.

1. Discussed if Mixed Use area should be Industrial. State law requires zoning to implement Town Plan. For Village & Exit 9 area, Town Plan at pg. 44-45 include the following land use goals & recommendations this area:
 • Foster a development pattern characterized by compact, mixed-use development surrounded by open countryside.
 • Maintain historic Middlesex Village as a commercial, cultural, civic & residential center of the community.
 • Encourage manufacturing and related business activities to concentrate within a well defined Industrial District south of I-89.
 • Consider a mix of small scale mix uses in a compact manner north of I-89, while preserving natural and agricultural resources, fragile features and the scenic and rural character of this important gateway to Middlesex.
 • Avoid strip development around the interchange;
 • Encourage development in the areas north of I-89 that would enhance the historic village as a community, commercial and business center of town;
 • Protect aesthetic and scenic character of the Center Road and I-89 corridor. 
2. Reviewed correspondence with Jim Colby (Aug 12 letter; Aug 25 email reply from Sandy; Aug 27 email from J. Colby; Aug 30 email from J. Colby). Discussed possible language changes to clarify that more than one industrial building is allowed in the Mixed Use District.
3. Discussed whether some conditional uses should be changed to permitted uses. Either business uses made permitted or other lower impact uses made permitted. Review should be allowed for some uses to avoid conflicts in uses in this area.
4. Change that would list prohibited uses instead of permitted & conditional is better taken up as part of overall zoning re-write.
5. Discussed whether mixed use & boundary change proposal should go forward at all.
6. Motion by Steve; Second by Lowell: The zoning proposal should not be advanced to the Selectboard. Yes – Steve & Lowell; No – Paula, Gregg & Sandy. No votes suggest some changes made to proposal before it is advanced.
7. Motion by Gregg; Second by Lowell: Change Mixed Use District as follows: (1) add “per lot” after “aggregate” in definition of light industrial; (2) move conditional uses 1, 2, & 3 to permitted uses. Discussion and friendly amendment to add 4 & 7 to uses that would be permitted. Yes – Gregg, Lowell, Paula. No – Steve
8. Discussed Telecom Tower provisions. 
9. Motion by Gregg; Second by Paula: Advance the telecommunication proposed bylaw as written to the Selectboard. Yes – Gregg, Paula, Steve, Lowell. 
10. Adjourn: 8:20 p.m.