Smart Growth Vermont

E-News May 2010

Welcome to Smart Growth Vermont's May E-newsletter! This month, read about Windsor, birthplace of the Vermont constitution. Get up-to-date information on our work in Danville and Pittsford and read about the benefits of open spaces. Find out what's happening locally and nationwide, like locating commercial buildings underground. Meet one of our volunteers and hear from Phil and Joan Hoff on why they support Smart Growth Vermont.

Like what you read in our e-newsletter? Let us know. Better yet, support this publication and our work in Vermont communities by becoming a sustaining member. Find out more.

              

Community Update


Danville Residents Consider Regulatory Tools for Preserving Rural Areas

Danville citizens gathered for their final Community Workshop at the Danville Town Hall on April 5, 2010. After reviewing the town's current rural zoning and issues raised by community members at previous workshops, the group heard about studies evaluating costs and benefits of various land use planning tools.  Participants then examined options for rural planning tools, including conservation development, clustering, overlay districts, fixed area based zoning, siting standards and access management.

The next steps will be to use the results of the workshops and other public input, including an analysis of the April 2010 survey results as the basis for a discussion about options for regulatory and non-regulatory tools. For more information, please find the April 5 presentation on the Danville page of our Community Planning Partnership section.

Be Seen...Be A Sponsor


Looking for a way to get your name in front of the developers, architects, town and state leaders involved in smart growth in Vermont? Become a sponsor of our Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership ceremony. This special evening, which will feature a cocktail reception and appetizers at the T.W. Wood Gallery in Montpelier, will honor an outstanding Vermonter who has made a difference in our environment and our communities. Your support is essential. Without sponsors the ticket price for such an evening would be out of reach for many of the people who will want to come to honor this year’s awardee.

Sponsorship levels range from $2,500 to $100, with corresponding benefits. All sponsors of $500 or more get recognition with their corporate logo on all event materials. Everyone will be warmly thanked that evening as well as on our website. For more information, visit our website.

Pittsford Community Meeting Sparks Involvement


A cool cloudy Saturday did not keep folks in Pittsford from coming out to learn how other towns have made community centers, restaurants, senior housing and village greens a reality – all projects they are considering on 15+ acres in the heart of their village.

A local non-profit, Pittsford Community Corporation (PCC), has an option to purchase the property and has been working with Smart Growth Vermont and Preservation Trust of Vermont to involve the residents and ask what projects they think would enhance the village. The panel of speakers shared tips and lessons they learned in developing similar projects -

  • Joanne Harrison talked about the development of River Arts in Morrisville;
  • Linda Ramsdell shared how they developed Claire’s Restaurant as a community supported enterprise and how it has become a place where residents can meet and catch up;
  • Lyssa Papazian told how the community is committed to rebuilding the Putney General Store even after two devastating fires; and
  • Nancy Owens, President of Housing Vermont, illustrated how one community, Proctorsville in Cavendish, created a town green, restored historic buildings and created new housing units.

Representative Butch Shaw urged residents to get involved, learn more about the project, and consider how such projects could strengthen the village. PCC representatives noted that the first step is to raise money to purchase the property. Several people have come forward since the meeting to volunteer their time and skills to keep the project moving forward. For more information on the project, check out the Pittsford page in the Community Planning Partnership section of our website.

Volunteer Spotlight: Evan Yandell


Evan, who began volunteering with Smart Growth Vermont in March, assists staff in the regular maintenance of our computer and printer equipment.  Evan brings with him a great deal of experience, strong troubleshooting abilities, and a willingness to tackle even the most obscure computer issues!

Evan is finishing his sophomore year at the University of Vermont studying computer science. After graduating, he plans to pursue a career in software development or system administration and sees his position at Smart Growth Vermont as a way to gain valuable real-world experience while contributing his time to a local organization.

In his free time, Evan enjoys reading and learning about technology and attending UVM hockey games in the winter. A native of Williston, Evan lives on campus during the school year.

Member Spotlight: Phil and Joan Hoff


We support Smart Growth Vermont because the organization anticipates problems and comes up with creative, practical smart growth solutions to the planning issues our towns face. If we want to make sure Vermont continues to be the unique place it is, we have to act accordingly. Smart Growth Vermont is here to help.

Upcoming Events

Way to Go! Commuter Challenge

It is time once again for the Way to Go! Commuter Challenge coming up May 17-21. The annual program encourages the use of less expensive, healthier, and more earth-friendly methods of alternative transportation. Work together with fellow Vermonters by participating in one of the three commuter challenge categories; business, community challenge, and the K-12 School Challenge, for a chance to win a variety of prizes. Smart Growth Vermont will be one of the many dedicated statewide sponsors participating in this year’s Commuter Challenge. Please join us for this exciting opportunity to make a difference in our communities! To register and to learn more visit, Way To Go VT!

And save the date. Our 2010 Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership event will be held Wednesday, September 15, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the T.W. Wood Gallery and Art Center on the campus of the Vermont College of the Arts in Montpelier.

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

Smart Growth in Action: Fundamental Prinicples


Principle 5: Provide the public with access to formal and informal public spaces, including parks, playgrounds, public greens, water bodies, forests and mountains.

Essential to creating healthy communities is the incorporation of open and public spaces. In dense neighborhoods, area parks, community gardens and recreational areas connect people to the natural world and to their neighbors. In rural areas, the working landscape and natural areas provide economic stability for communities dependent on tourism and agriculture as well as environmental protection for air, water and wildlife habitat. 

The benefits of providing open space, particularly natural open space, are vast and include the filtration of pollution, protection of biodiversity, existence of wetlands to provide flood control, and absorption of carbon dioxide through our forests. The closer we are to the natural world, the better we understand that how we care for the land impacts our health and psychological well being.

Community investment can occur in a variety of ways.  For example, a town could set aside public spaces for people to gather. These parks, recreational areas and town greens promote civic engagement, physical health and emotional well being. The existence of open space increases property values and attracts business, as quality of life has been considered an important factor for companies to relocate. 

Thoughtful, planned developments incorporate open, public spaces for all of these reasons. There are many planning tools and resources available for communities and individuals to increase open space. Design charettes, tree ordinances, resource conservation and overlay districts can be used to incorporate open and public spaces in towns and rural areas. Community participation is the most effective way to ensure that open space is created and maintained. There are many ways to become involved, whether it’s attending planning meetings, taking advantage of public comment periods, working with your conservation commission, writing a letter in your local paper or meeting in a park with community members to discuss a proposed development.

For more information about the planning tools and resources mentioned above, visit our Community Planning Toolbox.

Community Spotlight: Windsor


Windsor, located in southern Vermont, is surrounded by beauty with Mount Ascutney and the Connecticut River giving way to numerous recreational opportunities and artistic inspiration. Home to Harpoon Brewery, the American Precision Museum and Simon Pearce handcrafted gifts, this small, progressive community honors the past while looking forward to a promising future.

Windsor was founded in 1761, and in 1777, the State Constitution was written here. Wood and metal manufacturers were established and much of the historic architecture remains intact, providing tourists with a detailed look into the town’s history. In fact, the community has worked together for many years to design and construct a Waypoint/Welcome Center and a series of interpretive signs throughout the town to keep its history alive.

Many strides have been made by the community to revitalize the downtown district, including the renovation of The Block, originally composed of 72 units within a structure of nine identically attached buildings. A portion of The Block was completed in 1989, and since that time, it has been used to provide affordable housing. Future plans include the installation of a new roof, high efficiency boilers and distribution systems, as well as new windows and an electrical system upgrade. Streetscape design and parking improvements have also been made within the downtown.

On Sunday afternoons, Windsor’s village green hosts a Farmers Market. In addition to all of the recreation areas and opportunities surrounding the town, residents gather annually to celebrate Moondance, a mystical, celestial street festival that lights up the downtown with a parade, performers, educational exhibits and a variety of vendors.

Vermont News

VTRANS Accepting Applications for Transportation Enhancements Projects

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is accepting funding applications for the 2011 Transportation Enhancement Grant Program. Up to $1.5 million will be awarded to municipalities, nonprofits, and State and Federal agencies for transportation enhancements projects in twelve broad categories, including bicycle and pedestrian facilities, purchase of scenic easements or historic sites, rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities, and preservation of abandoned railway corridors. For more information, or application materials, visit VTRAN's website.

Locate Renewable Energy Possibilities in Vermont


Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, in collaboration with the Vermont Center for Geographic Information, Fountains Spatial, and Overit Media, has developed an online tool to help identify areas in Vermont that are suitable for renewable energy projects, mapping existing projects, and identifying vendors and consultants. The first tool of its kind, the goal of the Atlas is to support the efforts that Vermonter’s have made to increase renewable energy opportunities throughout the state.  Check it out!

Weigh In on Burlington's Transportation Plan


The Burlington Planning Commission will hold a public comment hearing on Tuesday, May 11 at City Hall regarding a multi-modal transportation improvement plan. The plan, which provides a comprehensive list of recommendations for roadway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, streetscape and land use, aims to strike a balance between automobile and alternative transportation options throughout the city by 2026. Visit the Department of Public Works website for more information.

National News

Building Industry Underground

One would never guess while walking the streets of Kansas City, Missouri, that some 55 businesses have set up shop 100 feet below the ground. Everything from light industry to office space and a network of rail lines and roads can be found within the 5 million square foot radius. Why underground? To save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, of course! Read on.

Vancouver’s Community Food Gardens and Obama's Effort to Increase Access to Healthy Foods




City Counselors in Vancouver, BC issued a unique challenge to residents in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics: to create 2010 community food gardens by January 1, 2010. The goal of the challenge was to not only grow food, but to promote community engagement. Read more.

In the US, Michelle Obama is working on ways to increase the market for healthy foods in under-served communities. The Obama Administration recently called for $400 million dollars to fund the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which will expand supermarkets, farmers markets and other food stores in areas with limited access to full service supermarkets. Read more.

© 2011 Smart Growth Vermont  |  110 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401
info@smartgrowthvermont.org  |  www.smartgrowthvermont.org  |  802-864-6310

You have received this message because ###USER_email### is subscribed to Smart Growth Vermont E-News. We'll send you about one email per month.

You may unsubscribe or update your email address at any time by going to: www.smartgrowthvermont.org/enews/

To make sure our newsletters continue to be delivered to your inbox, please add info@smartgrowthvermont.org to your address book/allow list.