Thanks to our student and faculty partners at the Land Use Institute at the Vermont Law School, communities now have more information on ways to ensure our farmers are protected from nuisance lawsuits. In 1981 the state of Vermont enacted a “right-to-farm” law in response to new residential development that had begun to encroach on existing agricultural lands. Vermont’s right-to-farm statute is an important element of the legal framework protecting the state’s working rural lands and the food, jobs, viewsheds, and other benefits that they provide. Essentially, as long as a farm complies with the law, operates consistently with “good agricultural practices,” is established before surrounding residences or other non-agricultural activities are, and does not “significantly” expand or change its operations after surrounding residences or other activities are established, a court must presume that a residential neighbor’s nuisance claim is invalid.

Planning Commissions are often faced with decision between choosing between two main regulatory structures in order to regulate local land use. The first option is to create a Planning Commission (PC) and a Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) or they may instead create a PC and a Development Review Board (DRB), which subsumes all of the responsibilities of the ZBA and the land use regulation functions of the PC. Each of these two structures has distinct pros and cons.

To learn more about these pros and cons as well as Vermont’s right-to-farm statute, related Vermont Supreme Court Decisions and how communities are utilizing zoning to protect farm activities, check out these new tools in our Toolbox.

Redstone Receives Housing Endorsement for Banknorth Block

When you combine renovation of historic buildings into housing, infill of a city block and use of a brownfield site in the heart of downtown Burlington, you have a winning project. Redstone Commercial Group has received Housing Endorsement from the Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative for the final phase of their project, which will include a 125-room, hotel, 36-unit apartment building, and 238 space parking garage in the mid-block. Smart Growth Vermont is a founding member of the Collaborative.

The first phase of the project, which received a Smart Growth Award from Smart Growth Vermont in September, includes the completed Champlain Housing building with 20 affordable and market rate apartments and office space, condos in the historic Hinds Lofts and apartments in two renovated historic homes. This mix of housing and commercial space in downtown Burlington will give residents access to transportation options as well as and easy walk to shops, city services and recreation.

Member Spotlight: Gerianne Smart

I care about Smart Growth Vermont and support the organization because I care about Vermont. The organization helps keep us honest. If we care about the place we live and want it to grow in a way that is true to that place, we need organizations like Smart Growth Vermont to keep our goals in front of us. The baseline is that we love this place and don’t want to ruin it.

Autumn-on-the-Green Kicks Off New Project in Danville

A crisp sunny autumn day was the perfect setting to kick off our new project to enhance rural character with the Town of Danville. Noelle spoke to over 80 people at the town's annual Autumn-on-the-Green event in the center of Danville Village. People shared what they loved about the landscape and rural countryside throughout the community. Working with the Planning Commission, Noelle also held five focus groups to gain a better understanding of how residents define “rural character,” to solicit opinions on various planning options for protecting rural character, and to develop an understanding of what residents feel are the key elements of rural character (farms, scenic views, forests, open meadows, etc.) that make Danville a special place. Our Autumn-on-the-Green survey and these focus groups will help the town develop thoughtful and forward-thinking strategies that are transparent, equitable and sustainable ways to enhance rural character and guide growth. For more information or to follow the project checkout our website.

Intern Spotlight

Megan Fitzgerald joined Smart Growth Vermont as an intern in September and has been assisting staff with membership management and researching and writing articles for our monthly e-newsletter.

Currently in her junior year at the University of Vermont, Megan's major is Public Communication, with a minor in Political Science and Community International Development. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering for programs like the Campus Kitchen and the American Cancer Society. Her interest in Community Development began after taking relevant courses in college and examining her own hometown in Virginia.

Megan plans on studying in Belize during the spring semester through a service learning project. She hopes to one day work in the nonprofit sector with an organization that aims to strengthen communities. When she’s not reading MSNBC or hanging out with friends, Megan enjoys exploring new towns and writing for the Vermont Cynic, UVM’s school newspaper.

Button Up Vermont, a program partnered by Efficiency Vermont, Central Vermont Community Action Council and the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network, has begun organizing workshops to teach the public about ways to make simple heating improvements in their homes and how to access the resources needed to get started. Several workshops are scheduled for November. Find one in your area. Or, contact Diane Peduzzi, Button-up@cvcac.org, if you're interested in hosting one yourself.

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: Senior Housing in Vermont

Photos courtesy of Cathedral Square

Vermonters are aging rapidly and by 2030, nearly one-fourth of the state's residents will be 65 or older. This presents many challenges as the need for senior housing grows at the same time that housing costs are rising. While many seniors wish to age “in-home,” a growing number are transitioning to smaller, more affordable homes that are close to services and public transportation.

One organization, Cathedral Square Corporation, recognizes that smart growth and aging are inextricably linked. Founded in 1979, Cathedral Square owns and manages 24 properties for seniors in four Vermont counties and believes that locating senior housing in strong downtowns close to services and transportation choices is essential. They are the lead organization in the Vermont Aging Collaborative, which brings together nonprofit housing and service providers throughout the state, with the goal of creating an integrated network of long-term care services.

Their first building, a nine-story high-rise that provides assisted and independent living in downtown Burlington, is a great example of livable senior housing. Besides beautiful views of Lake Champlain, residents are close to all essential services in downtown, including Fletcher Allen Health Care. There are similar projects in other downtown communities, such as St. Albans, with similar smart growth benefits.

Formerly a parking lot for a strip mall, Grand Way Commons in South Burlington is now home to Cathedral Square’s offices with three floors of independent senior housing above. Seniors are within walking distance of a supermarket, pharmacy and other businesses.

Future projects include a mixed-use development in Burlington’s New North End. Cathedral Square will partner with the Champlain Housing Trust to develop 100 units of multi-generational housing along with retail and office space.

The waiting list for Cathedral Square’s senior housing is famously miles long. This goes to show that the growth of our downtowns and village centers is not just smart; Vermonters demand it and our seniors require it.

Community Spotlight: Williston

Photo credit: Rick McGuire

Williston began as an agrarian community and was settled by Thomas Chittenden, Vermont's first Governor. Although farming continues in the area today, commercial and industrial businesses are also important sectors to the local economy.

Williston's Village Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a Certified Local Government, which is a federal tool that the community can use to preserve it's character for future generations. The Village is predominantly residential, however, the Library, Town Hall and a few shops and restaurants also mark the small district. During the summer and fall months, the local farmers market draws residents and visitors to the Village with a variety of vendors and musical entertainment.

Tafts Corners is one of the most common destinations for people living around Williston due to its large number of retail outlets. Although this area of development poses many land use challenges, positive strides are also being made. The recent growth center designation is designed to direct almost 80 percent of growth in the next 20 years to this area. Town officials hope this will be another step in keeping farms active.

Finney Crossing is a great example of a smart growth development within the growth center boundaries. This compact mixed-use neighborhood will include a range of housing types, from single family homes to multi-family apartments, as well as shops and offices. People are at the center of the design, with an extensive sidewalk network and multiple public outdoor spaces. While Finney Crossing now exists only on paper, if it is built as planned, it will represent a major step towards turning the Tafts Corners area into a neighborhood as well as a commercial and retail destination.

Video Project Highlights How People are Preparing for the Coming Heating Season – and Our Energy Future

How are you preparing for the coming winter? Have higher gas prices changed how you get to work? A new video project is exploring how the recession and fluctuating fuel prices are changing how people in Chittenden County generate, use and save energy.

“The previous heating seasons, combined with the recession, were a wake-up call,” says Barry Lampke, Director of the Champlain Initiative. “Through our Changing Face of Chittenden County project, we are asking people if they are changing how they heat their homes, get to work and plan for our energy future.”

The Champlain Initiative’s Changing Face of Chittenden County project makes connections between the issues of health, energy, change population and information technologies, tells the stories people embracing changes, and provides resources for you to take action

Visit www.champlaininitiative.com to share your opinion or story about energy issues, see what others think, and learn how you can take action at home, work and in your community.

Champlain Housing Trust Releases Study on Success of Homeownership Program

For the past 25 years, Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) has created homeownership opportunities for low and moderate income households and in exchange, home buyers have shared the market appreciation with the next buyers, allowing for these homes to remain permanently affordable.

CHT has just released a study examining their innovative homeownership program. Lands in Trust, Homes that Last, analyzes CHT's work and proves how effective the organization has been in delivering benefits to both the individuals and communities they serve.

Key findings in the report include:

Vermont Rates High in Destination Scores

Vermont tops the list yet again! This year our fine state has been ranked sixth in the world and first in the United States for stewardship and authenticity in the "Survey of Destination Stewardship" which was conducted by the National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations.

“We’re incredibly honored to be ranked as a top destination in the world, and we’re thrilled that Vermont received an even higher ranking from 2004,” said Vermont Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Bruce Hyde. “Vermont has worked tremendously hard to preserve its natural resources and scenic beauty.”

The rankings are published in the November/December issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

White House Garden Harvest Benefits Local Food Shelf

The White House garden bore a successful second harvest in its first year of existence, and the bounty will be donated to Miriam's Kitchen, a local food shelf.

The initial cost for soil and seeds to plant was $180 and the payoff has been the production of more than 750 pounds of fresh produce! Possibly more valuable, however, is that the local school children that assisted in planting, weeding and harvesting the garden have learned the skills to start their own backyard gardens and the importance of eating fresh, local produce. Way to go!

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E-News November 2009

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