.appletree development

Development Review Board hearing
April 8, 5PM, Contois Auditorium

Martin has been putting together a very professional Power Point presentation to exhibit the mass, scale and incompatibility of the Appletree project. Car pool if you can But all the more reason to stick with it -- sit with a friend!

EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/south40/

This site has documents, data, and maps related to the Starr Farm development known by various names, applicant Frank Von Turkovitch. This multiplex development was turned down a few years ago. Site preparation damage to neighboring properties is still unmitigated and is being litigated. Recently the applicant re-appeared before the Development Review Board for sketch plan review of a single family home development in the same area. The DRB pointed out that regardless of whether the proposal is for 148 units or 58, land limitations and site requirements remain unchanged -- 2 points of access (one onto a country lane that exits near a school, and the other crossing a wetlands area exiting in a neighborhood with one egress via Appletree Point Rd), stormwater retention (area drains directly into Lake Champlain via neighboring stormwater system), and protection of fragile natural areas and wildlife habitat.

FILL IN THE BLANKS: Copy/Paste and email to N7 Summit.

We, the undersigned residents of Burlington Vermont oppose the Appletree project, and ask the Development Review Board to deny the application submitted by Infill Woodbury Partners .

Name: ____________________________________

Date: _____________________________________

Signature, if hard copy: __________________________

Address: ___________________________________

Email: _____________________________________

If you want to receive info about project changes, hearing dates, and meetings about efforts to defeat this project, just ask!

If you have a scanner, send a scan of your signed petition. Or you can copy/paste petition and name into an email and send to: n7summit@gmail.com

N7 SUMMIT is comprised of representatives from neighborhood areas that surround Appletree Point, a target of intense, inappropriate development pressure at this time.

Contact for information:
Chuck Seleen, 658-1908
Tom Papp, 862-9795
Gigi Wiesman, 863-4991

WRITE A LETTER!

Building B on wetland!

Bikepath, Western Ave. on right. "Soils in the area are related to an ancestral Winooski River delta deposit, formed when the lake was at a higher level (actually then part of an incursion of the Atlantic Ocean, called the Champlain Sea). This delta was formed by the blanketing of sediment over the pre-existing landscape. Some parts of that landscape were upland bedrock knobs, higher than the Sea, and thus stood as islands, as for example the upland of Ethan Allen Park. And we know from bedrock outcroppings in the area near the site that additional bedrock knobs exist, but were partially or entirely covered by the overlying Champlain Sea deposits . One can properly think of a “topography” of the undulating bedrock surface beneath the area .."

Open Space, wetlands. Appletree Point. RED area is protected shoreline district .

"the applicant has not conducted a baseline study of the on-site soil/geology or the ground water system to characterize them and determine their presence and their dynamics before the project related subsurface water, sewer and stormwater systems are permitted and imposed upon them. Without an accurate physical definition of the soil/geology and ground water systems beneath the property, the wetlands and ponds, on and off the property, could be negatively impacted by reducing the recharge that naturally flows to them. "

QUESTIONS ??? QUESTIONS ??? QUESTIONS???

What locational criteria for senior housing does this site meet?
How big is each building? Could you give us a local building that is comparable in size, mass or scale?
Are the wetlands on the federal wetland map? How will a project of this size impact on the functions of the wetland? Plants, soils, wildlife, groundwater levels?
If I qualify for the affordable housing, but can't drive, how will I get anywhere?
Are these buildings like the Terraces in Shelburne, all on one floor with easy access?
It looks like there is only one access road -- if there is a crisis emergency, how can multiple vehicles get around in there? Shouldn't there be more than one way in and out?
Is there another facility that this is modeled on that we can compare it to?
How many beds are in the memory center? Is it a locked, secure building?
What security will be on the premises?
Will any rooms have lake views?
This project looks like an institution, not a convalescent home. How can it be permitted in a residential area?
If this is permitted, the traffic on Staniford and adjacent roads will be construction trucks for years, then delivery trucks, emergency vehicles 24 hrs a day, three staff shifts, visitors -- this is a huge institutional enterprise in a low density zone? Why was this site chosen?
The NNE has designated areas for density and growth, and has designated open space to be protected. Appletree area is an open space area, in a low density zone -- the opposite of where this project should be. Why are you locating it here?
Who will be managing the institutional services? the affordable housing?
Who will be responsible for stormwater systems and road maintenance?
What will happen if neighbors' property is harmed, for example by groundwater changes?
Have there been studies of the cumulative impacts on infrastructure?
Why are you being so inconsiderate of the people who live in this neighborhood? Just because you can, doesn't mean it's right.
Who owns this property? Who is involved in this project? Who are the investors? Are they local people?
Who are the investors?
The Conservation Board and the Design Advisory Board requested additional information and studies that developer has been unwilling to provide, like 3D mass models, and hydrology studies, and a wetland study -- Why?
There are two wetland delineations of this property, one independent and one commissioned by developer. Developer has refused to let an independent survey be done (question from Conservation Board.). If they are sure of their delineation, why won’t they let the two independently confirmed?
Look at the big trees in the sketches -- people have referred to them as Sequoia's on Steroids. Are the trees and buildings, people and cars, in the drawings to scale?
There is no foliage cover here 8 months of the year. Show us what these huge buildings will look like when leaves are off the trees.
When clearing these small roads and driveways after a storm, where is snow going to be put?
There's a neighbor who is going to have to drive through your project to get to their home which has been here for 70 years. You claim you can make a new community, but what about the existing neighborhood that has been there for over 100 years in WRL amidst protected wetlands?
There's a historic home that is currently surrounded by homes built on old farm building structures. How can you completely change a historic area?
Is the size of this project related to need or greed?
What does the NPA say about this project?
What is your definition of a convalescent home?
How does medicare define these facilities?
The AARP Livable Community report says that housing should connect directly to public transportation and pedestrian options for easily getting around without access to a car. Housing development that does not follow this design protocol should not be approved -- for good reasons. Why are you ignoring this?
We have a new zoning ordinance which brings regulations more in line with the Municipal Plan. Are you abiding by the new zoning ordinance? If not, why not?
Will you be including high performance design, and LEEDS, as advocated by the Vermont Green Building Network?
Will all construction jobs be union jobs and follow the guidelines of livable wage in Burlington? Will the project be developed and built according to established Responsible Contractor Policies?
Are you getting the permits then turning the project over to other parties? Who are these other parties? Who are the investors? Who owns the property?
Concierge? What's that? How much will it cost and who will pay for this? For everyone?
24/7 care -- doctors? nurses? how many staff, how many shifts?
ratio of patient to caregiver in assisted living? in memory center?
is there transportation for everyone? who will pay for it?
will there be walking trails? where? wheel chair accessible?
is there beach or lake access?
how much space for cars?
can my grandchildren stay with me?
how many Medicaid/medicare beds will there be?
how will I get to my doctor? hairdresser?
my mother has ALZ -- can she get continuous care here until she dies?
What services are available within walking distance, say 1/4 - 1/2 mile?
When family and friends come to visit, where will they park -- how many spaces for visitors?
When will this project be built?
What if demand isn't there, or people around here can't afford it? Retail spaces in that big Winooski building are empty. What if these neighborhoods get sacrificed, the project fails and it's a big unfinished mess? What guarantees do we have that this won't happen?
Will amenities be provided to all residents, or billed individually and what if someone can't afford it?
Will the affordable units be segregated or inclusionary?
If they can't rent the units to people 55+, will they rent to anybody?
What if 55+ owner sublets to others, or has grandchildren staying there?

3/23/08

PETITION UPDATE

Neighborhood Activity Centers [NAC] in NNE

WAREHOUSE IN A SWAMP! No public transit, no ped access to services.

EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION

FILL IN THE BLANKS: Copy/Paste and email to N7 Summit.

WRITE A LETTER!

REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE AND VARIANCE

Graph -- mass&scale contrast

Links to relevant docs and websites

Protect our Natural Areas

Building B on wetland!

Open Space, wetlands. Appletree Point. RED area is protected shoreline district .

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QUESTIONS ??? QUESTIONS ??? QUESTIONS???