Smart Growth Vermont is now accepting nominations for the 2008 Arthur Gibb Award. This award is presented to a Vermont resident who embodies Arthur Gibb's leadership skills and ability to balance competing interests in crafting innovative solutions, and who has made a lasting contribution to moving smart growth policies forward in their community or region or across the state as a whole.

In past years, the Arthur Gibb Award was given to an individual at the same time as Smart Growth Awards were presented for outstanding projects. Starting in 2008, Smart Growth Awards will be given only in odd-numbered years, while the Arthur Gibb Award will remain an annual event. Therefore, we are seeking nominations only for the Arthur Gibb Award this year.

Nomination packages must be postmarked or submitted by e-mail no later than July 15, 2008. Application forms and instructions are available on our website. For more information, please contact Jason Van Driesche, Smart Growth Vermont's Program Director, at 802-864-6310 or by email at jason@smartgrowthvermont.org.

Community Planning Partnership Update

Smart Growth Vermont has begun work on a multifaceted project with the Town of Burke that will help the town prepare for large-scale anticipated growth. Working in partnership with the Northeastern Vermont Development Association, Smart Growth Vermont will build on a series of plan and bylaw revisions already put into place by the town over the last few years. The town’s planning efforts are in response to a major resort development planned for Burke Mountain that will add a projected 1000 new housing units to this small rural town over the next decade. “With Ginn Corporation’s purchase of Burke Mountain, the town knows that growth is inevitable,” said Noelle MacKay, executive director of Smart Growth Vermont. “But they are determined to be out in front of the process, guiding growth in ways that are compatible with the town’s rural character, scenic beauty, and ecological value.” This work is made possible in part by a Municipal Planning Grant from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

From the Toolbox

Smart Growth Vermont has just added a new tool and case study to the Community Planning Toolbox: an overview of the Downtown Designation tool that provides information and resources about how Vermont's Downtown Program can help communities boost the health and vitality of their downtowns.

The associated case study highlights the experience of the village of Bellows Falls as it applied for -- and benefitted from -- downtown designation. While the tax credits offered by the Downtown Program are perhaps its best-known feature, the program also provides opportunities for community leaders to explore new ideas and network with leaders from other designated communities.

The Community Planning Toolbox features specific examples of zoning, bylaws, community development and educational materials that promote smart growth. In an effort to continue expanding this valuable resource, we are always adding new tools and case studies. So, take a look inside the Toolbox, and if you can't find what you need, let us know.

Be sure to check out the Upcoming Events page on our website! You'll find information about conferences, lectures and presentations on a wide variety of topics. For example, Food, Fuel and the Future of Farming is the topic for a two-day conference hosted by the Vermont Law School on July 24 and 25 in South Royalton, VT. Panels will include: Industrial Animal Agriculture, Farm Policy, and Agriculture's Relationship to Climate Change. For more information, visit the Vermont Law School's website.

Smart Growth in Action: Burlington's Banknorth Redevelopment

View of the Champlain Housing Trust building from the Hinds Lofts

Downtown renovation is a tricky business, and the redevelopment of an entire block on King Street in the heart of downtown Burlington is no exception. Known as the Banknorth block, this prime location is seeing infill from one side to the other, with everything from from upscale residential condominiums to office space and affordable housing.

In 2002, Redstone, Housing Vermont and Champlain Housing Trust partnered to acquire the majority of the block from TD Banknorth. The redevelopment of the historic Hinds Lofts was the first project to be completed, and twelve of the fifteen condominiums are now sold and occupied.

Next door to the Hinds Lofts, Champlain Housing Trust is constructing a four-story LEED-certified building on King Street that will house their staff and operations, offer rental space to other organizations, and provide affordable apartments on the top two floors.

Additionally, two historic buildings along the Pine Street side of the block are being converted to condominiums. Although this is not part of the larger redevelopment described above, the project will compliment the mixture of uses on the block and provide additional housing opportunities for people who want to live within walking and biking distance to everything downtown Burlington has to offer.

Finally, Redstone has begun rehab on the historic Woodbury’s Armory at the corner of Pine and Main. They’re looking for commercial tenants and plan to incorporate the historic building into a major infill project in the center of the block. Eventually the center of the block will feature a +/- 300 car parking structure with a large mixed-use building above.

Projects like this one are happening all over Vermont. Their popularity is an indication of how much interest there is in living close to downtowns. As gas prices continue to rise, demand for downtown housing will only increase, and communities that embrace smart growth principles will be well positioned to benefit.

Community Spotlight: Brattleboro

Photo by: Gregory Lesch

Brattleboro, VT -- one of Outside magazine's Top Dream Towns -- is hip and charming all rolled into one. Where else can you find classic New England covered bridges, tall steeples, and majestic maples alongside trendy bookstores, a co-op featuring local foods, and a downtown shop called Save the Corporations from Themselves?

Chartered in 1753, Brattleboro was an industrial hub by the early 1800s. Today, the two largest employment sectors are service and retail, but there are more than ninety manufacturing companies in the area as well. Key businesses include Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, with 800 employees; United Natural Foods, Inc., which employs 487 people; and C&S Wholesale Grocers, which provides 795 jobs.

The landscape surrounding Brattleboro only adds to the quality of life in this quintessential Vermont town. Nestled between the West River and Connecticut River and bordering the Green Mountains, Brattleboro offers outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers numerous places to recreate. No matter where you are in town, hiking, biking, skiing and fishing are just around the corner.

Downtown Brattleboro is also a great place to start a business, thanks in part to Building a Better Brattleboro (BABB), a community development organization that was formed in July 1988 to maintain and enhance downtown Brattleboro's image and economic vitality. Since its formation, BABB has helped the Town secure Downtown Designation status, raised funds for infrastructure and facade improvements, and attracted new businesses to the downtown district.

Housing is surprisingly affordable given all of the amenities the town has to offer. Windham Housing Trust -- whose Executive Director, Connie Snow, was the recipient of Smart Growth Vermont's Art Gibb Award for Individual Leadership in 2006 -- works continuously to provide housing for low to moderate income families. In keeping with smart growth principles, the organization renovates old buildings and applies energy conservation measures whenever possible.

Whether you're looking for an eclectic, laid back environment or a classic New England experience, you can find it in Brattleboro. The possibilities are endless, so stroll downtown and grab a bag of popcorn at Sam's Outdoor Outfitters while you contemplate your next adventure.

Weigh in on Truck Safety in Vermont

The current federal weight limit for large trucks is 80,000 pounds. Safety is the main reason for this limit, and keeping truck traffic safe is of particular concern for Vermont. National statistics show that 76% of all fatal crashes occur on two-lane roads, and in Vermont, 77% of major roads (excluding interstates) are two lanes. If limits were increased, Vermont would likely suffer disproportionately as safety declined. In addition, damage to roads already costs Vermont motorists $167 million each year, and heavy trucks would likely increase the bill. Yet Governor Douglas is aiming to do just that by asking Congress to increase the federal weight limit to 99,000 pounds. If you'd like more information about this issue, contact the Truck Safety Coalition at 703-294-6404, or email Cathy Chase at cdchase@cox.net.

Mini-Grants Available to Launch Community Gardens in Vermont

Friends of Burlington Gardens has recently announced it will award up to ten $500 mini-grants to help fund the start-up of community gardens in Vermont communities that lack places where residents can grow their own food. The statewide program will provide seed money to local groups that plan to open gardens in spring 2009. Eligible garden sites must be at least 2,500 square feet and provide at least ten plots for local residents. To learn more about the program, visit Friends of Burlington Gardens.

Rutland Could Benefit from Improved Sidewalks

Housing developments over the last two or three decades have often been been built without accompanying sidewalks. The reasoning behind this trend has been that although sidewalks are nice, they simply aren't necessary, since most people drive everywhere. However, during this same period, obesity rates and chronic health problems began to rise across the country. Is this a coincidence, or has the lack of sidewalks contributed to a decline in healthy lifestyles? According to a Rutland Herald editorial, Rutland has the highest rate of obesity in the state, and the poor condition of the few existing sidewalks is probably part of the problem. So we can pay for more sidewalks now, or we can pay for more hospitals later. Which is the better deal?

Award-Winning Documentary Follows Grassroots Campaign to Stop WalMart

The residents of Damariscotta, Maine rallied together to keep a Super WalMart from locating in their small town in the award winning documentary OurTown. Red Door Media followed two young mothers' grassroots campaign to educate the community and recruit volunteers to take on the largest retail corporation in the world. What these two determined community activists demonstrate is that local citizens have the right -- and the ability -- to shape the future of their communities. Thanks to a generous grant from the Horizon Foundation, the filmmakers are currently visiting communities throughout New England to present this citizen-inspired documentary. For more information or to request a showing in your community, visit www.ourtownmaine.com.

HR 6052 Could Boost Mass Transit

The Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 (HR 6052) passed the House of Representatives on June 26. The bill would authorize $1.7 Billion in federal funding to help mass transit agencies expand services or reduce fares in an effort to promote an increase in transit use. As gas prices continue to rise, communities should increase transportation options, but high fuel costs often force them to cut service instead. This legislation would expand public transit at a time when it is most needed.

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E-News July 2008

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2008 Arthur Gibb Awards