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DRB presses Habitat subdivision on right-of-way; landowner warns added costs will hurt affordability
Summary
At a continued hearing on SD2601, staff said dedication of a right-of-way for Lot 1 is required by the official map; the landowner and Habitat representatives said early dedication increases costs and could affect home affordability. The board outlined options including conditions or denial and continued the item to April 21 for further analysis.
City planning staff told the Development Review Board that the subdivision SD2601 must show a right-of-way dedication on Lot 1 consistent with the official map and the Land Development Regulations.
"The DRB shall require street to be offered for dedication..." staff read from the report, noting the regulation requires dedication when a proposed street can provide a future extension to adjacent properties. Planning staff emphasized that review of the subdivision considers the entire 36.2-acre parent parcel, not only the two-acre lot proposed for immediate development.
Tom Bellovance, the property owner, urged the board to consider affordability impacts if the right-of-way is required immediately. "Everything you ask of us increases costs and make these homes more and more unaffordable for the future residents, current residents of South Burlington," Bellovance said, asking the board to use discretion to preserve affordability for the 12 Habitat units he plans to sell at a discount.
Planning staff responded that the DRB's role is to apply regulations, not weigh project merits. "Our role is not to, review the merits of a project, like, if it's a good project or a bad project," a staff member said, and reiterated the regulatory basis for requiring dedication. Board members asked staff to research specific denial and condition templates for official-map conflicts and requested the applicant return with alternatives and clarified mapping.
The board voted to continue SD2601 to the April 21 meeting so staff can prepare options and the applicant can submit revised materials in advance.
