Smart Growth Vermont staff accompanied Waitsfield officials and planning consultant, Brandy Saxton of PlaceSense, in presenting a preliminary application for growth center designation to the Planning Coordination Group, which provides guidance and review to communities that are submitting applications. The preliminary application was developed by Ms. Saxton over the past several months with guidance from Smart Growth Vermont, who also assisted the community in securing grant funds to support the effort. The application, which would designate a growth center of slightly over 300 acres, including the historic Waitsfield Village, was positively received by group members. The Town is waiting for comments from agency staff, which are due by March 21st.

Smart Growth Vermont has been working in partnership with the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) and Southern Windsor Regional Planning Commission to advise the Reading Planning Commission on strategies to avoid forest fragmentation. Reading's forest resources have been identified by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife as being part of a regional block of important wildlife habitat as well as a productive economic resource. This month, Smart Growth Vermont staff presented their technical review of the Town's Plan and zoning bylaws, together with options for strengthening those documents and establishing non-regulatory tools to support ongoing forest management. Those options will be presented as part of a community forum in April.

Show Your Support for Vermont's Downtown Tax Credit Program

Please sign our letter asking State leaders to increase tax incentives that support the redevelopment of older and historic downtown properties. During the legislative session, Smart Growth Vermont and other stakeholders will encourage legislators to make these incentives more widely available to communities throughout Vermont. Please show your support by signing the letter now.

Intern and Volunteer Update

Volunteers and interns are crucial to the success of Smart Growth Vermont, so we are fortunate to have an energetic group of students who are currently working on several projects that contribute to our goal of reaching out to Vermont communities. Abby Farnham has been working with us since the summer of 2007, compiling data from a survey conducted in Bristol, one of our Partnership Communities. Currently, Abby is preparing her results for a draft report that will be presented to Planning officials on March 18, in Bristol.

Sarah Von Lehman, a recent graduate of UVM, is currently producing an online community resource guide, which will highlight the importance of buying fresh, local food and Vermont made products. And, Collin Ackerman, also a senior at UVM, is researching downtowns and village centers throughout Vermont and is helping us expand our photo library, by taking pictures and organizing our photo database.

If you are interested in volunteer or internship opportunities with Smart Growth Vermont, please contact Serena.

Thanks to everyone who contributes their time to Smart Growth Vermont. Your service is greatly appreciated!

Join Us and Receive a Free Travel Mug!

Join Smart Growth Vermont as a member and receive a free travel mug! Made in the U.S. and purchased from a Vermont company, our travel mugs are made from of 100% recycled plastic.

Smart Growth Vermont is pleased to be a partner in bringing the “Next Communities Initiative” workshop to Vermont. This two-day workshop, developed by the University of Maine – Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service and the New England Environmental Finance Center, goes beyond talking about smart growth tools to discussing how communities can address underlying conflicts and accomplish their land use goals. The workshop will be help in the NewsBank Conference Center, Chester, VT on Saturday April 12 and again on Saturday April 26. Other partner organizations include the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies, Vermont Planners Association, Smart Growth Vermont, Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. For more information, or to register, visit www.vlct.org.

Also, Be sure to check out the Upcoming Events page on our new website! You'll find information about conferences, lectures and presentations on a wide variety of topics.

Smart Growth in Action: Camp Meade, Middlesex

Camp Meade site plan

Historic Camp Meade, located within the Village of Middlesex, is undergoing a transformation. Designed in the 1930's to provide housing to Conservation Corps workers, this seven-acre site is now destined to become a mixed-use village center.

Strider Development, LLC of Moretown, VT is in the beginning phase of a five year project to transform Camp Meade into a "village within a village." The developers, with support from the community, would like to see Camp Meade become an asset to the residents, a place where both socially responsible businesses and housing reside.

The first phase of the project, which was completed in November, is an energy efficient building now home to the Red Hen Bakery & Cafe and artist space. The small, historic cabins will be offered to artists as individual studio spaces.

The Camp Meade development is perfectly located to offer a variety of nearby transportation options, including a park & ride and access to the bus line that runs from Montpelier to Waterbury and Burlington.

The vision for Camp Mead is a village of energy efficient buildings, recycling stations, a streetscape that accomomdates pedestrians and bicyclists, housing and a place were residents can meet their neighbors.

Community Spotlight: Vergennes

Vergennes, founded in 1788, is the third oldest incorporated city in the U.S. and home to 2,800 residents. Positioned seven miles inland from Lake Champlain on the navigable Otter Creek, Vergennes was an ideal location for a naval shipyard during the War of 1812, a site which can still be visited today. As the only inland port city on Lake Champlain with a railroad stop, Vergennes developed into a hub for trade.

By the 1990’s, however, Vergennes had faded somewhat from its historic splendor. The main strip along 22A was looking weathered with several buildings in desperate need of revitalization, until one project helped reverse this downward trend. In 1994, the Vergennes Opera House was restored and re-opened in 1997, one hundred years after it was first built. The success of the project spurred the formation of the Vergennes Partnership in 1999, to organize the revitalization of Main Street, the Riverfront and to gain State Downtown Designation. The tax credits that resulted in the Downtown Designation were used to improve sidewalks, develop handicap accessibility, make facade improvements, and much more. Vergennes has benefited from this program by earning the most tax credit and grant money per capita in the State from the program.

Vergennes is a town on the rise with much to offer any visitor or resident. Boaters make up a large number of summer visitors to the city and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum draws visitors from across the region all summer long. You can also visit the Rokeby Museum to learn more about the Underground Railroad. So, on your next trip through Addison County, stop in Vergennes and admire the recent revitalization and the unique history it holds.

Creative Communties Program Releases Report

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) recently released a report, The Creative Communities Program: Models for Advancing Vermont's Creative Economy. The report highlights eleven communities throughout Vermont that are working to enhance their community's economic vitality, while maintaining local culture and character. The report, along with a resource DVD, is part of VCRD's ongoing Creative Communities Program. To learn more about the program, visit VCRD's website.

Burlington Voters Say Yes to Moran Plant Revitalization

Burlington residents went to the polls on Town Meeting Day to decide the fate of the vacant Moran Plant, and the outcome was a victory for Mayor Bob Kiss, who worked hard to promote its revitalization. Sixty-five percent of Burlington voters approved the project, slated to become a waterfront tourist attraction, both in the summer and winter months. Plans for the Plant, which has been vacant for over twenty years, include building an ice / rock climbing gym, a children's museum, a community sailing center, and an outdoor ice skating rink. Read more.

The Future of Vermont is in Our Hands

Are you concerned about the future of Vermont? Well, now is your chance to speak up. The Vermont Council on Rural Development has founded the Council on the Future of Vermont, a two year program that will take public input from Vermonters, as well as evaluate trends, and compile the information into a comprehensive report that will outline what Vermonter's consider to be the most important issues for the future of the State. Visit www.futureofvermont.org to submit your ideas.

2008's 'Dozen Distinctive Destinations' Announced

The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently announced its 2008 "List of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations". Criteria used to determine what cities make the cut include, dynamic downtowns, a commitment to historic preservation and cultural diversity. Some of the cities on the list are Crested Butte, Co., Columbus, Miss., Portland, Or. and Fort Davis, TX. To view the list, or to see past selections, visit The National Trust for Historic Preservation's website.

New Lifestyles Threaten Suburban Developments

Suburban housing developments throughout the US have been hit hard by the recent subprime crisis, leaving many homes abandoned due to an ultimate rise in foreclosures. Now, experts are beginning to wonder if these once desired developments will become America's future slums. However, if this trend continues, the subprime crisis may not be the only culprit. In fact, there is also evidence that people are leaving the suburbs for neighborhoods closer to schools, work and other services, realizing that walkable communities offer a new lifestyle in a changing society. Read more.

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E-News March 2008

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