After almost two years of planning and research, we are close to adopting the ECOS Plan, and looking forward to increasing our attention on implementation activities.  For example, we are making bigger investments in walkable community design and zoning.

We are providing funding and assistance to a number of our communities (including Jericho, South Burlington, Shelburne, Westford, and Winooski) establish Form Based Codes, which is a different way to consider zoning than just by type of usage.  We are also thinking about putting together a self-study primer on Form Based Codes (perhaps as a PPT presentation)...if this is something you would find helpful for your Committees or communicating with residents, please let us know by contacting Communication Manager Andrea Grayson agrayson@ccrpcvt.org or Senior Planner Regina  Mahony rmahony@ccrpcvt.org.   

We were also very pleased to see the legislature's support for TIF legislation to make it easier for our communities to make investments in public infrastructure. These public investments are a critical component to achieve our collective smart growth objectives.

We're also looking forward to watching the projects of the ECOS grantees unfold, including the Let It Rain project which is bringing together critical stormwater education and the arts. Have you seen the rain barrels on Church Street? A full schedule of activities can be found at www.letitrainvt.org. 

Mayor Weinberger puts his bike on a bus

2-sided info-map

The City of Winooski recently installed this double-sided informational kiosk in front of the Champlain Mill in downtown Winooski. The kiosk, in both French and English, describes the City's local history and provides a detailed map to local historical and recreational assets. Funding for the design and construction of the kiosk was shared between a Lake Champlain Byway grant administered by the CCRPC and the City.

   

  

Richard Watts' UVM Sustainable Transportation Planning class visited the CCRPC on April 17th for a briefing on ECOS and other transportation proje

 

Peter Keating received the "Excellence in Regional Transportation Award" on behalf of the CCRPC at the annual National Rural Transportation Conference in Greenville SC, in April for a presentation titled, "Transportation Surveys: Attitudinal Changes and Trends in Chittenden County, VT, 2000 - 2012."  Peter was given the award by Amy Kessler, the Chair of RPO America, and the Community Development and Planning Director for North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission (NCPRPDC). 

       

  

Michele Boomhower hosted a delegation of mayors and planners from Albania last month, and described our goal to concentrate development, which is the opposite of their approach.The visit was coordinated by the Vermont Council on World Affairs. 

  

        

[In this section of the newsletter, we will highlight the work of your town or organization that is contributing to the ECOS mission of a healthy, inclusive and prosperous community. To be included, please send your news to agrayson@ccrpcvt.org.]  

Rain barrel by Jerome Foster

One of the ECOS Project grantees is Let it Rain,  a stormwater program managed by the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District (WNRCD). Their goal is to improve water quality in Vermont's Lake Champlain Basin by reducing the volume and pollutant load of stormwater entering our rivers, lakes and streams.

This summer they are teaming up with some great local organizations and talented artists to use rain barrels, a symbol of water conservation, to bring Burlington, VT Connecting the Drops - an exhibit to celebrate water, educate the community about stormwater and have fun.

Look for the decorated rain barrels From May 13 to Sept 1 Church and College Streets, with each barrel displaying a single page of a "water story" that tells the tale of stormwater in Burlington and what you can do to combat it.   

And, to celebrate the lake, on Wednesdays from June 26 to July 31, 5-8 PM, there will be a block party on the top block of Church Street .with music, games, prizes and giveaways, food and activities hosted by ArtsRiot.  

The Local Mitigation Planning Handbook is the official guide for local governments to develop, update and implement local mitigation plans. While the requirements have not changed, the Handbook provides guidance to local governments on developing or updating hazard mitigation plans to meet the requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 44 - Emergency Management and Assistance §201.6,  

Integrating Hazard Mitigation Into Local Planning is a publication that highlights case studies and tools for community officials providing practical guidance on how to incorporate risk reduction strategies into existing local plans, policies, codes, and programs that guide community development or redevelopment patterns.  

Mitigation Ideas provides a range of potential mitigation actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and disasters. Ideas for mitigation actions are presented for the following natural hazards: drought, earthquake, erosion, extreme temperatures, flood, hail, landslide, lightning, sea level rise, severe wind, severe winter weather, storm surge, subsidence, tornado, tsunami, and wildfire.

For more information of FEMA's Mitigation Planning Program, please visit http://www.fema.gov/multi-hazard-mitigation-planning

For more information about FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants, please visit http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.

 

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Summer Course Opportunity:

UVM School and Workplace Emergency Planning and Response

1 Credit Hour

The course foundation is built upon the use of FEMA incident command and communication system protocols.   School, business, and organization leaders and  emergency responders will receive practical, activity-based information and resources, all designed to prevent, prepare for,and respond effectively to all types of school and community emergencies.  Secret Service analysis of student shooters in U.S.schools will set the stage for the importance of implementing harassment and bullying prevention policies,integral to comprehensive school and organization crisis prevention.

Who Should Enroll: School administrators, business and organization leaders, facility/operations managers,law enforcement, and fire,hazmat, rescue and related emergency responders.

Meeting Dates June 18 July 11 - 5:00 to 7:30 PM

Location:University of Vermont, Lafayette L408

Register: http://learn.uvm.edu/register/

For further information please contact: Winton Goodrich 802-652-7256 (office) / wgoodrich@sbschools.net

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Better Buildings Summit for State and Local Communities
May 29-31, 2013, Washington, DC

The transition to a clean energy economy - saving energy in our buildings, generating clean and reliable electricity, and promoting sustainable transportation - will lead to a range of benefits most of us are familiar with by now: reduced waste and savings to taxpayers, job and economic growth, a cleaner environment, and a more secure energy future.  

Join us at the second annual Better Buildings Summit for State and Local Communities, May 30-31, in Washington, DC, to engage with fellow state and local government, and K-12 education leaders on effective actions and policies to build a clean energy economy in your states and local communities. Information and Registration. 

2013 3SquaresVT Outreach Conference

Thursday, May 30, 2013, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM 

8th Annual Downtown and Preservation Conference

Update on State Designation Program Reform
The Downtown Reform Bill H. 377 

Does your municipality have regulations that protect shoreland areas? Is this accomplished through a bylaw or ordinance?

There has been a lot of conversation this session about which cities, towns or villages have shoreland zoning regulations or ordinances, as a result of the bill H. 526.  The most recent list of regulations in municipalities from the Agency of Natural Resources is dated 2010.  You may find those lists here: http://www.vlct.org/events-news-blogs/current-news/shoreland-zoning/ 

H. 526 as it passed the House may be found here.