Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beta Technologies seeks modest expansion of airport master plan to speed manufacturing and training
Summary
Beta Technologies presented a sketch-plan amendment to expand its South Burlington airport campus from about 40.4 to 44.6 acres, prioritizing a larger production building and a training hangar; the board asked for follow-up on traffic, utilities and natural-resource protections at a future hearing.
Beta Technologies told the South Burlington Development Review Board it wants to enlarge an approved commercial master plan at 3070 Williston Road to accelerate aircraft production and training.
"Beta's got a lot of big plans for South Burlington and, and this this area of the airport," said Alex Gagnon of Beta Technologies during the presentation. Company consultants described a phased approach that leaves already-built apron and parking in place while increasing the footprint of a production facility and a training hangar so the firm can build more aircraft and subassemblies locally.
The applicant said the change increases the approved master-plan area from 40.43 acres to 44.62 acres and would add commercial square footage in production and flight-instruction phases. Staff and board members pressed the applicant for additional studies before a future hearing: a revised traffic impact study, coordination with South Burlington Water Department, and more detailed grading plans to show the development will avoid a nearby habitat block and river corridor.
"At this point in time, there's no proposed grading, no proposed development, really nothing that would impact those areas," said Chris Gendron of Stantec Consulting Services, noting the team will clarify natural-resource boundaries in the next submittal.
The board treated the item as a sketch plan and did not close the project for final review; no vote was taken on approval. Members asked the applicant to return with the requested materials when they pursue site-plan or master-plan amendments.
What happens next: the applicant will prepare the traffic and utility coordination materials that staff flagged and return to the board for further review under the city's Land Development Regulations.
