St. Albans public meetings in 2022
21 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Downtown Board
The Board approved paying half the cost of the 2022 holiday radio ads and approved the minutes from September 27, 2022. Members discussed feedback on the Festival of Trees and planned a call for new t-shirt designs. No other formal votes were taken.
- Approved payment for half of the 2022 holiday radio ads (All vote aye)
- Approved September 27, 2022 minutes (All vote aye)
- Agreed to put out a call for new t-shirt designs
Planning Commission
The Commission approved an amendment to allow veterinary hospitals in the B1 central business district and referred it to the City Council. A public hearing for the Fonda Project rezoning was scheduled for January. The board also agreed on updated definitions for bed and breakfasts, residential buildings, and cemeteries.
- Approved amendment to include Veterinary Hospitals in B1 District and referred to City Council (All in Favor)
- Approved motion to warn for an official public hearing on the Fonda Project for the January meeting (All in Favor)
- Approved adjusted definition for Bed and Breakfast (All in Favor)
- Approved definition of Residential Building as 'A building used as a home for one or more individuals' (All in Favor)
- Approved proposed changes to the definition of Cemetery (All in Favor)
- Tabled approval of minutes until the next meeting
Click here for City Council
The City Council approved a $2 million Tax Anticipation Note and a loan agreement for the Aldis Hill Water Tank. The council also authorized a $16,075 environmental study for Ledoux St. and re-appointed Tanner McCuin to the DRB.
- Approved $16,075 cost for Ledoux St. environmental study (unanimous)
- Re-appointed Tanner McCuin to the DRB (unanimous)
- Approved loan agreement for Aldis Hill Water Tank (unanimous)
- Approved $2M Tax Anticipation Note (unanimous)
- Approved revised charge for Parks and Recreation Commission (unanimous)
- Approved 11/24/22 meeting minutes with one correction (unanimous)
- Approved 11/30/22 warrant (unanimous)
Historic Preservation Commission
The regular meeting of the St. Albans City Historic Preservation Commission scheduled for December 6, 2022, has been canceled by order of the Chair. No business was conducted.
Development Review Board
The Development Review Board held a ZA decision appeal open for a property on High Street due to a boundary dispute. Public hearings were also conducted for conditional use reviews at 71 North Main Street and 20-22 Stebbins Street.
- Approved motion to hold Case #2022-022 (20 High Street) open until next hearing (unanimous)
- Approved October 3, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Closed hearing for Case #2022-021 (71 North Main Street) conditional use review (unanimous)
- Closed hearing for Case #2022-023 (20-22 Stebbins Street) conditional use review (unanimous)
Development Review Board
The St. Albans City Development Review Board will not hold its regularly scheduled meeting on November 7, 2022, as ordered by the board chair. No items are scheduled for discussion or decision at this meeting.
- Meeting cancellation for November 7, 2022
Downtown Board
The St. Albans City Downtown Board and Board of Directors of St. Albans for the Future held a special meeting that was unable to conduct business due to a lack of quorum. Instead, the meeting became a social hour with updates on downtown programs, events, and fundraising. No decisions or votes were taken.
- No official business was conducted due to lack of quorum
- Downtown Board and St. Albans for the Future joint meeting
- Social hour included program updates and Downtown Dollars fundraising
Development Review Board
The Development Review Board approved Case #2022-020, a conditional use review for Jack Nichol's packaging and shipping business at 10 Catherine Street. The approval allows short-term use (about 60 days) for packaging and shipping, with the space later used as office. The board also tabled approval of January and September 2022 meeting minutes.
- Approved conditional use for packaging/shipping at 10 Catherine St. (unanimous)
- Tabled approval of January 2022 meeting minutes
- Tabled approval of September 2022 meeting minutes
Design Advisory Board
The Design Advisory Board approved a favorable recommendation for a façade color change at 46 North Main Street (Outerknown), noting the paint had already been applied due to an administrative oversight. The board voted not to require changes but warned that any future alterations must come before the board first. The board also re-elected KarenMarie Peltier as Chair and Evan Champagne as Vice Chair, and approved minutes from three prior meetings.
- Approved favorable recommendation for Outerknown façade color change at 46 North Main Street as already completed, with all in favor (6:45pm)
- Elected KarenMarie Peltier as Chair and Evan Champagne as Vice Chair for the coming term, motion approved with all in favor (6:33pm)
- Approved January 24, 2022 meeting minutes (E. Reed and E. Johnson abstained) (7:01pm)
- Approved May 23, 2022 meeting minutes with adjustments (E. Reed and K. Peltier abstained) (7:03pm)
- Approved June 27, 2022 meeting minutes as revised, with all in favor (7:05pm)
Click here for City Council
The St. Albans City Council approved several zoning amendments to comply with Act 182, including changes to district descriptions, dwelling unit definitions, and residential district names. The council also adopted an emergency ordinance for a 4-way stop at Federal and Lower Newton Street, approved a VCDP grant application for a home repair loan program, and appointed the city manager as the city's representative to the IDEAL Vermont initiative. All votes were unanimous.
- Adopted emergency ordinance for 4-way stop at Federal and Lower Newton Street (unanimous)
- Adopted amendment to Public Health and Safety Ordinance on repeat violations (unanimous)
- Adopted zoning amendments for Act 182 compliance (unanimous)
- Adopted zoning amendments to reformat district descriptions and standards (unanimous)
- Adopted zoning amendments to clarify dwelling unit uses and rename residential districts (unanimous)
- Approved VCDP grant application for Champlain Housing Trust Home Repair Loan Program (unanimous)
- Appointed City Manager as representative to IDEAL Vermont initiative (unanimous)
- Approved warrant of 8/31/22 (unanimous)
Development Review Board
The Development Review Board approved a two-year extension of site plan approval for Roger and Lucy Parent at 239 North Main Street, with no changes to the original permit. The board also approved minutes from previous meetings and set the next meeting date.
- Approved two-year extension of site plan approval for 239 North Main Street (unanimous)
- Approved December 6, 2021 meeting minutes as presented (unanimous, with two abstentions)
- Approved June 6, 2022 meeting minutes as presented (unanimous, with two abstentions)
- Approved July 6, 2022 meeting minutes as amended (unanimous)
- Tabled January 3, 2022 meeting minutes due to absences
Development Review Board
The St. Albans City Development Review Board has cancelled its regular meeting scheduled for August 1, 2022, by order of the board chair. No items will be discussed or decided at this meeting.
- Meeting cancelled by order of DRB chair
Development Review Board
The Development Review Board held a public hearing for a combined conditional use and site plan review to convert a two-unit property at 225 South Main Street into three units. No decision was made during the meeting; the hearing was closed and the matter was not voted on. The board also approved the minutes from May 2, 2022, and tabled other minutes.
- Approved minutes of May 2, 2022, as presented
- Tabled other meeting minutes until next meeting
- Closed public hearing for Case #2022-017 and #2022-018 without a vote
Design Advisory Board
The St. Albans City Design Advisory Board approved two design review applications by Frank Mercou: a dormer and stairs at 166 South Main Street, and a site plan to convert a duplex back to a three-unit building at 225 South Main Street. The board tabled a façade color change application for 24 Lake Street until paint samples are provided. The board also tabled January and May 2022 meeting minutes and approved February 2022 minutes with corrections.
- Approved Case 2022-013: dormer and stairs at 166 South Main Street (unanimous)
- Approved Case 2022-014: site plan to restore three-unit building at 225 South Main Street (unanimous)
- Tabled Case 2022-015: façade color change at 24 Lake Street pending paint samples
- Approved February 2022 meeting minutes as corrected
- Tabled January 2022 meeting minutes (no quorum)
- Tabled May 2022 meeting minutes pending corrections
Design Advisory Board
The St. Albans City Design Advisory Board approved all five applications on the agenda, including façade changes, site plan reviews, and a new apartment building. Each approval included specific conditions or recommendations. The board also approved the meeting minutes with minor corrections.
- Approved façade color changes and vinyl siding at 221-229 Lake Street with conditions (all in favor)
- Approved site plan review for Almond Blossoms Schoolhouse at 235 Lake Street (all in favor)
- Approved façade changes for Century 21 MRC at 172 South Main Street with conditions (all in favor)
- Approved site plan review for apartment building at 191 Lake Street with recommendations (all in favor)
- Approved site plan review for 45 Kingman Street renovation with recommendation on lighting (all in favor)
- Approved meeting minutes with corrections (all in favor)
Development Review Board
The Development Review Board Chair has ordered that no meeting will be held at the regularly scheduled time on March 7, 2022.
Historic Preservation Commission
The St. Albans City Historic Preservation Commission accepted the Certified Local Government (CLG) grant application as written by the St. Albans Museum, with amendments, and moved it forward. The Commission also reviewed the Historic District Update, including new boundary lines and seven properties to be added, and discussed next steps for public outreach and a public hearing in April 2022.
- Accepted CLG grant application as written by St. Albans Museum, with amendments (all in favor)
- Approved minutes of December 7, 2021, as presented (all in favor)
- Set April 5, 2022, for public presentation of new Historic District
- Scheduled final Historic District presentation and walkthrough for July 12, 2022
Design Advisory Board
The St. Albans City Design Advisory Board approved two design review applications. For 22 Stebbins Street, the board gave a favorable recommendation for vinyl siding and a new lighting fixture on the north side, with future review of the remaining sides. For 82 North Main Street (Bootlegger Bikes), the board approved a new black vinyl awning and trim colors. Both motions passed unanimously.
- Approved favorable recommendation for 22 Stebbins St exterior changes (vinyl siding, lighting) (3-0)
- Approved favorable recommendation for 82 North Main St awning and trim colors (3-0)
Downtown Board
The St. Albans City Downtown Board tabled approval of the Festival of Trees fiscal agency fee until Treasurer Donna Howard could sign off on final funding numbers, which appear to have brought about $1,900 into SAFF. The board approved the January 25, 2022 meeting minutes unanimously. Discussions covered marketing efforts, fundraising appeals, and the future of the Festival of Trees and St. Albans Community Arts, but no other formal votes were taken.
- Tabled Festival of Trees fiscal agency fee approval pending D. Howard's sign-off
- Approved minutes of January 25, 2022 (all in favor)
Downtown Board
The St. Albans Downtown Board re-elected its current officers and approved a new corporate banking resolution. The board also discussed several upcoming events, including the Kingman Festival and Juneteenth/Pride, and considered a proposal for downtown street signs, but no final decisions were made on those items.
- Re-elected Maureen Brown as Chair, Emily Richards as Vice Chair, and Erik Johnson as Secretary/Treasurer (unanimous)
- Approved new corporate banking resolution granting banking authority to Brown and Johnson, check-signing to Manahan, and online viewing access to four city staffers (unanimous)
- Approved minutes of November 23 and December 28, 2021 meetings (unanimous)
Design Advisory Board
The Design Advisory Board voted to give a favorable recommendation for a new awning at 11-13 Lake Street, with conditions on color and placement. The board also tabled approval of previous meeting minutes due to lack of members present. No other substantive decisions were made.
- Recommended approval of awning at 11-13 Lake St with forest green fabric and black frame (unanimous)
- Tabled approval of previous meeting minutes