[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6162803,"mediaKeyId","5437547-52e6d99e61590bdd01ec811cf8132e59","parentId",5437547,"title","Sketch plan review held for proposed three‑lot subdivision at 79 River Street; board flags access and stream constraints","audioSeconds",1143,"startMs",3963000,"endMs",5106000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5437547-52e6d99e61590bdd01ec811cf8132e59&start=3963&end=5106","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5437547-52e6d99e61590bdd01ec811cf8132e59/thumbnail_3963000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6162803/Montpelier-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Sketch-plan-review-held-for-proposed-threelot-subdivision-at-79-River-Street-board-flags-access-and-stream-constraints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6162803-588250dc6ce163f325c5e4aed2161f25/orig.mp4?Expires=1776569271&Signature=m3wsIGpUzTNGYfV42rsY-mBsEvC7tbMxYHKN8G5Uq3aApzzU1r1RsXaXxmJIbgmuIbUz1pPw2qfY73IRp9aIln8vX0g2KbpTHc3HZI81jqdretcKwXSUQDahFQkQB2cUl8~O0kuKMMZZZJNv2qfXz6mBwgi-MJ3jGbBFwOoHigGdPnFgrVyJeqLrLKaUUk5rREBI2ccr0CpfuiqCX9lvfyxJb23DqekpLsR3kUxqzxvSeYLRW6TVGmIFM2Tid4SO0uyFSvVTmskJ9p17Wm1XDDPk2UnsH5TUmZHfUR6~o9p~bB~DJ3R4TDD0sh5pTn3~TTW3NaWb74XvZ3-2Rr8uSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montpelier City, VT","date","2025-07-21T15:03:41Z","article","The Development Review Board held a sketch plan review for a proposed three‑lot subdivision at 79 River Street and identified multiple technical issues that applicants must address before filing a formal subdivision application.

Meredith Crandall explained that the parcel overlaps two zoning districts and that staff had asked the city planning director to consider a future map correction to avoid parcels spanning two zoning districts if the subdivision proceeds. Crandall said water and sewer lines exist near the lower portion of the property but the upper lots have steep slopes and are divided by a perennial stream that becomes substantial during spring runoff. She noted the parcel contains an existing culvert under a parking area that would be implicated by some access options.

Surveyor Andrew McQueen and owners Steve and Dina Smead described the three proposed lots and the logistics of serving the higher lots from either Wheelock Street or Roberts Street. The board and staff flagged several items for follow‑up: a formal evaluation of wetlands and stream setbacks with the state as appropriate; further consultation with Department of Public Works and the fire chief on vehicle access, to determine whether a hammerhead/cul‑de‑sac or an easement across Lot 1 would be required; coordination with the conservation commission (which has not yet scheduled comment); and utility routing for water and sewer services to higher‑elevation lots.

Board members advised that a boundary line adjustment with an adjacent owner is an administrative alternative if the neighbors wish to absorb one of the proposed lots, since a boundary line adjustment does not create a new parcel in the same way a subdivision would. Staff said such an option may reduce the need for street‑level infrastructure extensions.

No vote or formal action was taken; sketch plan review is advisory and intended to identify technical issues and agency concerns before applicants spend further money on final engineering. Crandall offered to facilitate a meeting among the applicants, DPW and the fire chief to discuss the Roberts Street access option and the feasibility of accommodating modern fire‑and‑service vehicles without creating a public right‑of‑way extension.

Why it matters: The sketch plan review surfaces environmental, access and utility issues early in the process; the applicants will need to resolve those questions with city agencies and possibly the state before returning for final subdivision approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Montpelier Development Review Board Meetings - Jul 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Development Review Board held an advisory sketch plan review for a proposed three‑lot subdivision at 79 River Street and identified steep slopes, a perennial stream dividing the upper lots, potential wetlands and access and utility constraints that will require agency review before a formal application proceeds.","taxTitle","Montpelier City, Washington County, Vermont","taxId",68799,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6162808,"Board approves modified driveway and garage at 508 Elm Street with DPW redesign condition",549,3362000,3911000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5437547-52e6d99e61590bdd01ec811cf8132e59&start=3362&end=3911","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5437547-52e6d99e61590bdd01ec811cf8132e59/thumbnail_3362000.jpg","/articles/6162808/Montpelier-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Board-approves-modified-driveway-and-garage-at-508-Elm-Street-with-DPW-redesign-condition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6162808-736bdf8d89991b4a8fe421ca4d5edb0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776569271&Signature=h4OU17RW96mGlKjJcWdtyxSz4FgSE6MC3aGsMwwlMz7W~STIkYith6ZbNGLSB~aLZHBuTeqWSDwvqhFOVaC19qjLf0hudmLIssDz7HIEoSgqgL6gBz6VSCA69crOVTDlhlQqZD04zCSkQHKGX6k~s4msEtyB7TkUEslk12ORx-fRnRhLT9BgGkbViZQRhQRaJxda68qHhWRMm~WenNw8cQ4pdk8XVMTvizfz1n5lhNrxE3TYJ51WkEUHzR4v3an4e~1jtFY9sG7IY-dhDxDxFAr0QrI78tu3gZoQi1qzhvhfwPeBDxdSX4QfXXdI2sqZRq~PXiV-a-gh~yew9QRrMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Development Review Board approved a revised proposal for 508 Elm Street that eliminates a second curb cut and permits a relocated driveway and new garage, contingent on a redesigned curb cut that meets Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) standards and Montpelier Department of Public Works (DPW) requirements.

Meredith Crandall, zoning administrator, told the board the application was originally filed seeking two driveways. DPW staff subsequently advised that two curb cuts on Elm Street would not be supported for this parcel; instead DPW indicated they could support a redesign that placed the driveway directly across from the driveway on the opposite side of the street. Crandall said the relocation still required board approval because the new driveway spacing would be less than the minimum the zoning administrator can approve administratively.

The applicant (508 Elm Street) explained the change in approach: after DPW comments the applicant decided to abandon the plan for two driveways and to amend the application so the new driveway would be directly across from the opposite driveway. DPW confirmed to staff that the proposed location is acceptable in principle but that final DPW permit issuance will require detailed curb‑cut design demonstrating compliance with VTrans standards.

The board moved to approve the application Z‑2025‑0062 as amended, with two express conditions: 1) the applicant must abandon the original southern curb cut on the frontage, and 2) the applicant must redesign the new driveway to comply with VTrans standards and submit the redesign to the zoning administrator before DPW issues a construction/access permit; zoning staff may administratively amend the zoning permit if the redesign is not a material change from the board approval.

Board member Joe Kiernan made the motion; Catherine Burgess seconded. The motion passed unanimously with Kiernan, Burgess, Brian Jones and Chair Kevin O'Connell voting yes.

Why it matters: DPW’s input changed the application’s configuration from two curb cuts to a single relocated driveway; the board’s conditions require the applicant to secure a DPW‑acceptable curb‑cut design and to abandon the prior curb cut before final municipal approvals proceed.","The Development Review Board approved a revised plan for a new garage and single driveway at 508 Elm Street, requiring the applicant to abandon the original curb cut and to submit a VTrans‑compliant driveway redesign for DPW review before permit issuance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6162813,"Development Review Board approves Marvin Street single‑family home with setback waiver and stormwater conditions",1982,1292000,3274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5437547-52e6d99e61590bdd01ec811cf8132e59&start=1292&end=3274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5437547-52e6d99e61590bdd01ec811cf8132e59/thumbnail_1292000.jpg","/articles/6162813/Montpelier-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Development-Review-Board-approves-Marvin-Street-singlefamily-home-with-setback-waiver-and-stormwater-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6162813-a44a8a7a63f13d78928a7daffa66a105/orig.mp4?Expires=1776569271&Signature=KIzKdYtmmvEaQv0Zr7VexJDDs8Pa4F35LME17wyy5~G-JD-Ys5T~1NtCMHAHIz6hSltzY3qNnA4FKFaGa9MKfPT8gRxsURpCqD3p-cUjO8y8CAqiT-BkA3RUiW2Kn1TyIJBb2Z5WeNMcKt-JZCLU4gJe-lk1qQK50ozzGP1YIt9n2zt8x1Se3XZmQPBLhb~TQNV55ADTsNlQH9gscyjoMzDZCwqlOszaP0EJwHuqrhO6p1qnoXo3jLuZpecQqXY4eQWTYtuoZVUc509QybVGTN9Cv6f9O8qh-5mog4TWQesZyCEBCsInCRhvlHnvMoO9OdzrFrUq36JKoybCd7s6qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Development Review Board voted unanimously to approve construction of a three‑bedroom single‑family home and garage at 0 Marvin Street (referred to in application materials as 20 Marvin Street), subject to final stormwater and erosion‑prevention measures and a recorded access easement note. The board also approved a limited setback accommodation for roof overhangs to no less than 8.5 feet.

The board’s zoning administrator, Meredith Crandall, explained why the project required board review: the parcel contains steep slopes that trigger slopes review, the proposed driveway is closer than the minimum spacing to adjacent driveways, and a subdivision permit from 2019 contained landscaping and stormwater conditions that flow to future development. Crandall said the landscaping requirement referenced section 3506 of the city’s standards and that “generally speaking, this project for a single family home would not be subject to any landscaping requirements.” The board subsequently agreed that the 2019 subdivision condition should not be imposed as a condition on this single‑family permit but would remain in the technical record.

Jeff Woleski, the civil engineer on the project with Cadabau Consulting Engineers, described grading and stormwater measures planned for the roughly 0.1‑acre lot. He said the structure footprint is about 1,750 square feet and the house will be two stories with a walkout lower level. To manage runoff the design includes two grass swales, a stone conveyance swale, a stone‑lined pre‑treatment forebay and an elongated infiltration basin with an underdrain tied into an existing catch basin north of the property. Woleski said his HydroCAD modeling showed that “post stormwater of 25 year rain event conditions are significantly less — actually about half of what the preexisting 25‑year discharge from the site” and that the underdrain and sewer would connect to existing utilities under an access easement the applicant has procured.

Applicant Tim Heaney and the board discussed driveway siting and the small (approximately 60‑foot) frontage that constrained where a conforming driveway could be placed. Woleski and staff said the Department of Public Works had no objection to the proposed driveway location given the low speeds and volumes on Marvin Street and site sightlines.

On the zoning issues, the board clarified that the action was limited to the plans as submitted: the approval authorizes the project shown in application Z‑2025‑0060 with a waiver allowing roof overhangs to encroach the side yard setback at no less than 8.5 feet; it does not permit relocating the building footprint generally closer to the property line. The board also decided not to add a landscaping condition beyond the existing technical record from the 2019 subdivision approval, saying that landscaping for a single‑family house would normally be left to the owner.

Board member Joe Kiernan made the motion to approve the application as presented, Catherine Burgess seconded, and the four board members present (Kiernan, Burgess, Brian Jones and Chair Kevin O'Connell) voted yes.

The motion carried with the following conditions of approval: the final erosion prevention and sediment control (EPSC) plan must be filed with the zoning administrator and must reference the access easement cited by Department of Public Works staff prior to issuance of the zoning permit; and notes showing the recorded easement reference must be added to the EPSC plan. The board’s decision will be finalized in a written decision to be signed and issued.

Why it matters: The board’s approval resolves several technical issues that prevented administrative approval — steep slopes review, nonconforming driveway spacing, and carry‑over subdivision permit language — and sets the conditions the applicant must meet before a permit is issued.","The Montpelier Development Review Board approved construction of a 3‑bedroom single‑family home at 0 (referred to as 20) Marvin Street, granting a limited setback waiver for roof overhangs and requiring a final erosion‑prevention and stormwater control plan and recorded access easement reference before permit issuance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sketch plan review held for proposed three‑lot subdivision at 79 River Street; board flags access and stream constraints

Board approves modified driveway and garage at 508 Elm Street with DPW redesign condition

Development Review Board approves Marvin Street single‑family home with setback waiver and stormwater conditions