by Margery Sharp

Land Swap
The Shelburne Development Review Board (DRB) was asked to approve a land swap that would change a common boundary line between two adjacent properties in the Residential Zoning District. The adjustment would allow James Westphalen at 417 Bostwick Road to acquire 1,700 square feet of land east of his driveway boundary line. The property is currently owned by his neighbor, Robert Blair, at 395 Bostwick Road. Acquiring the land would allow snow plow residue to be moved and set aside from Westphalen's driveway. The DRB first moved to designate this change a minor subdivision; the motion passed. A second motion was made to approve the land swap; this motion passed also.

Rivercrest unit reposition
Chris Snyder, a builder, appeared to ask the board to amend the original Final Plan approval of a PRD (Planned Unit Development) at Snyder Rivercrest LLC in the Residential Zoning District. The development is located at the northwest corner of Thompson and Irish Hill Roads. The request was to eliminate one multi-family unit (Unit #20) and relocate Unit #18 to the Unit #28 spot. According to the staff report, "...the purpose of the amendment is to provide for increased privacy to Units 18-21."

The request was approved.

Approval for In Full Bloom
Kristine Engstrom, owner of the retail floral business, In Full Bloom, located at 5657 Shelburne Road, appeared to ask for Design Review, Site Plan Amendment and Conditional Use approval to change the location of a previously approved addition to her store. The property is in the Village Residential Zoning and Village Design Review Overlay Districts. Before work began on the approved addition, it was discovered the planned site of that addition was over a storm water easement owned by the State of Vermont. This necessitated moving the addition to the rear of the store. The request to build the addition on the new site was approved by the board.

Access road vetoed
Applicant Mike Anderson asked approval for an access to a lot he owns at 53 Pond Road in the Rural Zoning District. The access would allow entry into his lot from Route 116. Several questions about the validity of a supposed easement to Anderson's property were cited in staff notes and letters that accompanied the application. Board member David Conard said it would be "meaningless" to approve this request. A motion was made to approve the application as described; the motion did not pass.

40-seat restaurant
Trafton Crandall, representing applicant Bruce A. Righi, owner of a store at 4109 Shelburne Road (at the corner of Longmeadow Drive), made an application for permission to change the store to accommodate a 40-seat restaurant which would be open from 11 a.m. to no later than 10 p.m. The building on the site presently is non-conforming but the proposed change is to be to the inside of the structure only. No changes to the exterior of the structure are planned. Righi did ask that the entry to the property on Longmeadow Drive be reduced to a 24-foot width. Plans include moving the dumpster, the addition of a cremee sales window, the addition of a split rail fence to define the planned narrowed entrance, and the re-graveling of the rear parking area.

Crandall reminded the board that when Shelburne Road was reconfigured changes were made to the front of the property and a curb cut onto Shelburne Road (Route 7) was eliminated. Board member Conard questioned the traffic pattern within the property. The board voted to continue the discussion of the application to the Sept. 1 meeting.