FORUM ANNOUNCES NEW GUIDE FOR PRESERVING SCENIC ROAD CORRIDORS

The newly published Roadscape Guide helps communities conserve areas of open space between cities and villages to permanently protect viewsheds and scenic gateways along road corridors.

The Roadscape Guide was produced by the Champlain Valley Greenbelt Alliance (CVGA). This non-profit organization conserved viewsheds along Vermont’s Route 7 corridor and published this “how to” resource guide to share its approach.

From the outset, CVGA was designed to serve as a model, to be a local resource for a limited time before turning its work over to a like-minded non-profit organization. In January, CVGA closed its doors and transferred The Roadscape Guide to the Vermont Forum on Sprawl.

The Forum will be working over the next year to help communities use the guide and other new tools to plan for growth that respects Vermont's unique landscape. Click here to order a copy of the Roadscape Guide.

COMMUNITIES PURSUE GROWTH CENTER DESIGNATION

The working group charged with implementing the state Growth Centers program is completing work on the Implementation Manual that will assist communities planning for growth center designation. The state is producing the manual with the assistance of a consulting team comprised of Brandy Saxton, Kathleen Ryan and Kennedy Smith. The Forum participated in the review of this valuable resource.

At least five Vermont communities have begun work toward designating growth centers, with several others exploring this option. These five – Bennington, Colchester, Middlebury, Waitsfield and Williston – are located in four different Vermont counties and reflect a diversity of community scale and character. Background on the Town of Bennington’s growth centers planning efforts, and the benefits they hope to reap from designation, was reported in this article recently published in the Rutland Herald.

2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS

The Vermont Legislature convened the 2007-2008 biennium last week, with an aggressive agenda to address Vermont’s energy future, global climate change and property taxation.

These are complicated issues that will require complex solutions, including addressing the ways our communities can maximize energy efficiency, promote transit and walking, and maintain viable farming and forest industries.

This year, the Forum, in partnership with the Preservation Trust of Vermont, will focus on the following legislative priorities:

• Secure an increase in the tax credits allocated to the Vermont Downtown and Village Center program.
• Monitor and refine the Growth Center program as it develops, including making a minor technical correction to the related New Town Center designation.
• Ensure that public investments support smart growth, and that existing rules and regulations, such as the smart-growth sewer funding rule, guide the actions of state agencies.
• Promote legislation to mandate and fund a community impact study for any proposed large-scale retail store.

GOING LOCAL

If Vermonters shifted just 10% of our food purchases to locally grown food products, that would add more than $100 million to Vermont’s economy. And that is just food. Imagine what could happen to Vermont’s economy if purchasing all products from local businesses became the norm.

To encourage Vermonters to shop locally, Chris Morrow, whose family operates the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, formed Local First Vermont. When people shop locally, more money stays in the community. That strengthens businesses and the downtowns they serve, and attracts new businesses to the region. On January 8th, 2007, we interviewed Morrow, now Chair of the Steering Committee for Local First Vermont.

1) How did Local First Vermont get started?

After a couple of years of hearing from other bookstore owners around the country about local first efforts in their locales, I felt it was long overdue for Vermont. While most other Local First campaigns are town or city wide, because of Vermont’s geography and demographics I felt like we needed a state-wide effort. After the Business Alliance for Local Living Economy (BALLE) conference in Burlington last June, I met enough people to form a steering committee to get it all going.

2) What are the ultimate goals for Local First Vermont?

Our mission is to preserve and enhance the economic, human and natural vitality of Vermont communities by promoting the importance of purchasing from locally-owned, independent businesses. Basically we are trying to raise the issue to prominence. We want people's behaviors to gradually shift so that thinking 'local first' becomes second nature to Vermonters.

3) How many businesses and communities are currently participating?

We are just getting started, but so far have about 40 business members and a number of non-profit members. Membership development is our priority the next six months.

4) What can someone do to become involved?

Become a member! If you run a business, communicate some of the issues about the value of buying local to your customers. Help organize a local chapter in your town. Shop local.

For more information about Local First Vermont, click here.

VIEW FROM THE FRONT PORCH

Six years ago, Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis started an e-mail bulletin board for their neighborhood in Burlington's South End after finding it difficult to get to know their neighbors and learn about community events. What seemed like a simple idea blossomed, and in 2006, the Five Sisters neighborhood was named a "top ten" neighborhood in the country by Cottage Living magazine with many residents crediting their online forum for a good part of that success.

Michael and Valerie decided to share this successful model with others, and started the Front Porch Forum (FPF), launching 130 neighborhood forums covering 100% of Chittenden County. Now, four months later, more than 3,000 local households have joined. Neighbors post all sorts of messages, from those seeking a babysitter or items for sale, to community events and information. Only residents of a given neighborhood are eligible to join that forum, which enhances the community focus.

Joining a forum is easy, and membership is free. To sign up, read online testimonials, check out media coverage (podcast of VPR's Morning Edition added recently), see sample messages and more, click here.

VERMONT NEWS

State Government Takes on Global Warming

The Vermont Legislature has begun three weeks of review of global warming and its impacts on Vermont. A series of hearings are scheduled with witnesses that comprise the leading voices of global warming and climate change. The hope from key legislators is that Vermont will build a name for itself as a leader of energy efficient, green and sustainable businesses. Author Bill McKibben was one of the opening speakers at a joint hearing at the Statehouse on January 10th, and Vermont Public Radio(VPR) featured his comments. McKibben stated "The Circ highway? Suburban sprawl? More big box stores on the far outskirts of town? These are global warming machines. That's what they produce, more than anything else." For a full transcript, or to listen to the VPR report, click here.

VTrans Considers Bike/Ped Plan
Last Public Hearing Scheduled for January 18th

Would you like to voice your opinion about the importance of bike and recreation paths? The Vermont Agency of Transportation is in the process of holding three public meetings on a new state Bike/Ped Plan. This plan summarizes the current state of bike and pedestrian systems in the state, and outlines new components to be added to the current structure. For more information, and the time and location of the last meeting, click here. Written comments are also accepted.

Vermont Green Building Network Announces Workshop Series

The Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN) will be holding a series of workshops on residential green building practices. The workshops are geared towards architects, builders, and interested parties, and outline the Residential Green Building and the Vermont Builds Greener (VBG)/LEED for Homes Rating System. The training sessions begin January 31st, and will be held in various locales across the state. For more information, or to sign up, click here.

NATIONAL NEWS

6th ANNUAL NEW PARTNERS FOR SMART GROWTH CONFERENCE
February 8-10, 2007
Los Angeles

The 6th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference, Bulding Safe, Halthy and Livable Communities, will be held this February in Los Angeles. The program will cover the latest research on smart growth issues, and topics ranging from new projects to policy. To read more or register, click here.

NEIGHBORWORKS AMERICA TRAINING INSTITUTE
February 19-23
Atlanta, GA

The NeighborWorks Training Institute will convene three days of training in Atlanta this February. Educational sessions will include Affordable Housing, Community and Neighborhood Revitalization, and Community Building and Organization. For more information, or to register, click here.