 Welcome, I'm Diane Meyerhoff, host for Town Meeting TV's South Burlington City Council candidate forum, part of our ongoing Town Meeting 2021 coverage. The show is being aired live on Town Meeting TV and streamed live on our YouTube channel. We welcome your comments and questions. If you're watching this program live, please join the conversation at 862-3966. I'm joined by Councillor Helen Realy, the incumbent. Thank you so much for joining us Helen. And Helen is running unopposed so we're going to have a more casual discussion for at least 15 minutes anyhow. So, tell me a little bit about what's going on in South Burlington around development, open space, there's been some conflict in there about that. What does that mean for you? Well, we're working we're almost to the end of IZ or interim zoning, and that was put in place almost two years ago to get a handle on I think, and maybe try to even base on based some of our decisions on science. That would be about the importance of some of the fragile open space areas, particularly in the southeast quadrant, and feeling the pressure to develop and create more housing, and to understand that so we can make some potentially changes to the land development regulations, the LDRs, and the Planning Commission is doing that. We had a couple studies, we had a group doing open space, and we have a housing committee and we have a housing trust fund so affordable housing is a big issue in South Burlington. But it unfortunately turned into kind of well there's a group that want to, you know, build anywhere and everywhere and do not want any extra parameters about or rules and regulations for development. And then there's an equally loud group, I guess, who feel that in part because of climate change and in our environment that we need to really stop development and what we call the southeast quadrant where most of the open space is. So I think we have their report and the Planning Commission is doing a good job with developing regulations. And I think the conflict. Maybe it's just a chasm of differences of opinion, but I think one of the important issues for the Council going forward is really to bridge that chasm and we really need to find common ground it shouldn't tear us apart. We should not be like the US Congress where you know you have this group and that group and we're never going to say yes to anything you want. I think the vast majority of people really think that. Yes, there will be some development in the southeast quadrant, but there also should be based on some of the good science areas that are set apart and not allowed to be built on built upon. I think that links to sort of the climate change issue because some of those vulnerable areas are the very things that research tells us will prevent some of the weather events that are extreme from really destroying property and parts of the city. And you know we're up a little higher from Lake Champlain and all that water if it's filled with stuff going into Lake Champlain where we all, you know we drink that we, it's a natural resource that's worth protecting. So those kinds of that interplay with development and reasonable conservation I think can and will come together. Yeah, go ahead. Are the, are the, those vulnerable places you spoke about. Are those at this point, municipally owned privately owned a mixture. Yeah, it's a mixture. Yeah, yeah, some are owned by the University of Vermont so they certainly are partners that we need to have this conversation about some of the science comes from their very own professors. And then much is privately owned. And then there's other parts that the city has conserved. So they're, you know, off limits for a development. So it's that conversation about, you know, I mean there's already regulations like wetlands if you know you can't build a house in the middle of those. And so some of those natural resource issues are being looked at by the Planning Commission and and you know, modified to really make sure that some of the land is really protected. And that's what we are waiting to see. So. And as much of the pressure on those vulnerable lands are on the quadrant in general, is it most of it for housing and is that because the city's made a commitment to look for more mixed use kind of housing and affordable housing and such. Is that kind of what you're seeing. Well, I think that's what a lot of people feel that that's the place the easiest place to build. There's other groups, myself included that, you know, I think there will be development and housing mostly housing in the southeast quadrant. I also think we have set in place, particularly with the city center places where denser housing makes sense close to services close to transportation close to jobs. I mean one of our other goals with as well as having housing for all levels of society. It's also to be walkable and rideable city. And that doesn't mean building way out at the end of Heinsberg Road and trying to walk or bike along that to get to school or work or someplace else. And it's interesting you talked about sort of the building. What's the situation with the mall right now what's going on there. And I haven't really heard much lately yeah so tell us about that. Well that that's another really interesting potential collaboration. Sorry. Diane's cat just walked across the screen. So that's why we're laughing. So that's a potential partner. And we would like to have that. I think it's 66 acres become part of city center and work with them to really revitalize it make it both a business sector viable business sector, as well as housing, more housing, and even some things that would draw people in, you know, maybe some of the things that would make it better to have a building ring or, you know, cinema or, you know, those kinds of things that, and then related to that is a bridge over the interstate so all the college students can safely walk or ride across the bridge to get to South Burlington and South Burlington can go across the bridge and safely get into Burlington in downtown Burlington. So that's, that's an area for, you know, collaboration and working with them and so we have had conversations and I think they, they didn't shut the door. They are amenable to seeing what we can work out together, because certainly if it's a TIF, then you can use the TIF funds to build some of the infrastructure that may not be there that they would need to. So they could actually become part of the existing TIF district? Yes. We would have to apply and have to get permission from the state. But yes, VEPSI I think is the board that makes that decision. Yeah. Well, you can certainly see, you know, an area that is already disturbed, if you will, right. Yeah. That is a, that is seems to be a place where you would think, oh, this is a great spot for us to do some of that. Oh, sure. Yeah. And that's where you could really have some density. It would make sense. I think there's other opportunities, you know, the Hanna-Fords that they built recently and then then redid the new Hanna-Fords that, you know, what used to be Kmart. That's a building that doesn't have a use right now. Yep. We should be working with Hanna-Fords to say, how can we help redevelop that? What would be creative going in there? Right. So I think there's a, there's a number of areas throughout the state, throughout the city, the transect zones, where you have a lot of roads that come in, you have public transportation is close to schools and so forth. Those are other areas for, I think, housing development as well as business development. I don't think we should only look at the Southeast quadrant. Yeah. Okay. And we don't need to. Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about the F-35s in the airport. Yeah. Well, and tell me what your feeling is about adding Winooski to the airport, the Burlington Airport Commission. Yeah. Well, I am South Burlington's commissioner. So I'm on the airport board. We're on the end here. I am on the inside there. And I definitely think Winooski deserves a seat. South Burlington and Winooski are the two cities that are most affected by the F-35s. And everyone I've spoken to says, well, you know, they are louder than the F-16s. Even though we were told they wouldn't be, they really are. So they are definitely something to be reckoned with. And we're working through with the FAA and the airport commission and the city of Burlington to, and we're getting close to having dollars to really start the sound mitigation program in Winooski and South Burlington. In fact, the money, I think the grant has been made and we should be able to go forward with testing 10 homes, it's starting small, to figure out what are the different programs that would work. And is it windows, is it doors, you know, insulation, or is it, they ought to sell. And is that, is that, have you done some of that work in other buildings near the airport? Is that, have you already done some of that? No, no, not, not as an FAA program related to the F-35s or the F-16s. The proposal passed was one of, tear them down because they're uninhabitable. Okay. We recently signed an MOU with, between Winooski's Burlington and South Burlington that makes it clear that none of us believe that is the preferred method. I really want to get down this path of noise mitigation and seeing if we can make some of the homes more livable. And South Burlington's elementary school, Champlain, no Chamberlain, I'm sorry, Chamberlain. I lived in Burlington for a while. I have just gotten a grant to, that the FAA is installing a new HVAC system for the whole building to help reduce the noise for the children. Interesting. Oh, you know, I think we're moving along. Do I get complaints? Yeah, I get some. And there are certainly people in both Winooski and South Burlington who still feel very, very, very strongly that they should never have been based here. I didn't think they should be based here either, but I lost that battle. So now I think we have to make the best of it and see what we can do to make the homes more livable. And are people in general who live that close or particularly affected by the noise, are they game to give this a try? Are most people interested in trying to find ways to mitigate the noise? Well, I think many are. I think that's part of the process and the rollout is to really meet with every homeowner and analyze their home and find out if it's even doable. If it can't reduce the noise to 45 decibels, then it's not worth doing, according to the FAA anyway. So there's that piece of it. There may be people who don't want anything done to their house, but I don't, I would be surprised if someone came in and said, you know, I'm going to put new windows and doors and insulation in your home and we're working with Vermont gas systems and thinking about some, at the same time, some efficiencies. That that's quite a package of goodies. It still doesn't might not make them support the FAAs at the F35s rather. Right, right, right. Yeah, I can make their health better. The people who really couldn't tolerate it are probably left by now. Is that fair to say or moved on have sold the house or. Exactly. I think so. I think some people also wanted their kids to finish out school, or they wanted to, you know, wait till they retired or. Sure. Yeah, yeah. Huh. Interesting. Well, okay, we'll see how the vote goes in Burlington for the for the Winnowski seat. It'll be interesting to see how that what happens with that. Yeah, yeah. So we are just about out of time. Do you want to appeal to the voters for any of the ballot items or anything you'd like to sort of sum up before we. Well, I hope they vote yes on everything. I hope they, I hope they vote for me. Yeah, I'd like them to vote for Dave Kaufman for the other city council person. But you know I particularly want them to pass the budgets and the TIF ballot item is is really important to the city and its future economic viability so I certainly want that passed and I would love to see the school budget passed. And move on and figure out next steps after COVID and all that kind of hard feelings and disconnect with we need a new high school or not. Yeah, that was that was a tough vote so I'd like us to start moving forward. Great. Well thank you so much for joining us we appreciate it. My pleasure. You have to tell everyone not to not forget to vote the early ballot which at this point, I don't know if they still can be mailed in South Burlington do you have drop boxes. We have drop boxes at City Hall. So, and a lot of come in and I hope everyone votes and and does it. Yes, and you can do it. Yeah, still on Tuesday March 2nd on time. And importantly, I hope everyone will watch our Tom meeting TVs live results show on Tuesday night starting at seven o'clock. I thank you for doing this. So it's really important to educate the public and have them part of the solution. Yes, thanks so much good. We will see everyone soon. Thank you so much for joining us. Oh, you're very welcome. Thank you.