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Commissioners weigh new bedrock-removal rules and noise controls
Summary
South Burlington City commissioners reviewed proposed land-development changes that would require applicants to map bedrock removal, emphasize 'thoughtful design' to limit removal, and clarify hours and mitigation for noisy methods like jackhammering and blasting.
South Burlington City commissioners spent the bulk of their meeting reviewing an updated draft of bedrock-removal and related noise regulations and a staff memo summarizing edits since the December 2 session. Chair (speaker 1) opened the item by pointing commissioners to the memo and saying the draft reflects decisions made at the prior meeting. "We do have a memo in the packet, which includes some specific changes," the chair said.
Discussion focused on three linked objectives: clarifying submittal requirements so applicants must show where bedrock removal is proposed, directing designers to employ "thoughtful design" to limit the need for removal, and giving the Development Review Board flexibility to weigh impacts case-by-case. Donna (speaker 5) pressed staff on whether plans must identify the location, volume and depth of proposed excavation, noting past applications that did not accurately show outcroppings or trees. Commissioners agreed to edit the language to make the mapping requirement clearer and to favor wording that requires applicants to describe the alternatives they considered rather than prescribing a single technical method (e.g., borings).
