Danville Vermont             

                                Minutes of Monthly Meeting

                    Danville Planning Commission

                                27 May 2004

Attendees:            Mike Smith                            Absent:           Scott Palmer

                        Jeff Frampton                                                          Jim Ashley

                        Jeremy McMullen                                            

                        Kellie Merrell                        

                        Derek Fenby

                        Ed Demott

Guests:                                               

Start:               Meeting opened at 7:10 pm

Previous Minutes:

Read by the Clerk and accepted by the DPC as written.

Public Hearings:       

Review of the “Economic Development and Jobs” section of the draft Town Plan was held.

Issues tabled by various business owners and the public;

Offer new businesses with less than 5 employees tax relief for the first 3 years they go into operation. Largest tax relief should be in the first year and reduced through year 3. The tax relief would only be offered to business types that do not already exist in Danville in order to reduce redundancy of business types and ensure one business does not get an advantage over an existing competitor.

Increase tax base by encouraging new businesses rather than shifting tax burden from residential to existing businesses.

Limit industrial buildings to class 1 and class 2 roads.

Create a limit to the impervious surface footprint size of any new or expanded commercial business. If the impervious surface footprint is going to be greater than X amount of square feet, it needs to be located in the “commercial area” to be defined.

Encourage the Chamber of Commerce to be more active and create a map of historic, commercial and tourist attractions to be available for local resident and visitor information. Establish a location in Danville to provide tourist information (Town Hall, Bill Board?)

See how the US Route #2 project is going to address the parking issues in Town and develop secondary parking areas if required.

Create clear landscaping and signage controls. Have businesses retain landscaping between their businesses and the roads. Do not allow plastic internally lit signs, rather encourage painted signs with lights shining on them. Establish an annual award for best landscaped / maintained business.

Encourage unique independent and locally owned businesses over franchises.

New Business:

Nothing tabled.

Plan Preparation Update:

DPC will meet bi-weekly on second Wednesday of each month to prepare for public meeting.

Budget Review :

Town Budget - 2004:

Funds received:                                                                         $2000.00

Total budget:                                                                             $2000.00

Expenses:

Postage for Coverts Workshop                                                         $   37.00

Total expenses committed year to date                                      $   37.00

Balance remaining                                                                      $1963.00

Planning Grant 2003 - 2004:

Funds received:                                     February 2003              $ 5300.00

                                                            October 2003                 $ 3900.00

                                                            Due in 2004                 $ 4100.00

Total budget:                                                                             $13300.00

Expenses:

Total expenses committed 2003 - 2004 to date                            $13300.00

Balance remaining                                                                      $0.00

Close:                                     Meeting was closed at 8:20 pm.  

Next Meetings:             Monthly Scheduled: Thursday 24 June 2004, 7:00 pm

                                    Town Plan Working: Wednesday 9 June 2004, 7:00 pm

Updated 7/9/2004

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