Following the close of a busy 2015 legislative session, we'd like to take a moment to thank our lawmakers for passing H.35, a $7.5M water quality bill designed to clean up pollution in Lake Champlain and other waters throughout the State. This bill was signed by Governor Shumlin yesterday, June 16. While more work will be needed in the coming years, this is a positive step toward achieving our clean water goals.

At the CCRPC, we are looking forward to providing additional assistance to our municipalities on road-related water quality projects, as well as making sure the projects that are prioritized in the tactical watershed basin plans are those that have the largest positive impact with the least associated cost.

We also look forward to continuing support of our urban municipalities via Smart Waterways and the Chittenden County Stream Team.

For more information on H.35 and its new rules for runoff that target pollution flowing from farms, roads, and developed areas, visit the Vermont General Assembly website.

Best regards,

Charlie Baker

Executive Director

The CCRPC has hired two new staff members to help advance its efforts in transportation and land use planning. Emily Nosse-Leirer joined the CCRPC in May as a Planner and will work on a variety of land use issues, including municipal planning. Marshall Distel joined the CCRPC in May as a Transportation Planner and will be assisting with the development of regional and local transportation plans, as well as providing research and technical assistance to support various projects. Welcome, Emily and Marshall!

As Westford's Planning Coordinator over the last 10 years, Melissa has overseen several zoning revisions and a major rewrite of the Westford Town Plan, plus other major milestones, including spearheading the Westford Town Center Revitalization project and Village Center Designation. Congratulations, Melissa! [Learn More]

VTrans is soliciting applications for projects through the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. The intent of the program is to improve access and safety for bicyclists and/or pedestrians through the planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects. Application deadline: 1:00pm, July 17. [Download the Guide and Application]

The CCRPC welcomes six summer transportation interns. They will be working on a variety of traffic studies and municipal infrastructure inventories throughout Chittenden County, including inventorying and analyzing the condition of roadway pavement, sidewalks, roadway signs, and storm water culverts. Summer interns include: Ethan Chamberlain, UVM; Pat Finn, UVM; Jamie Huntington, BU; Joe Laughlin, UVM; David Mejia, UVM; and Max Seigel, UVM.

Tier Two of the Rivers and Roads Training Program targets a wide range of state, municipal and private sector transportation professionals. Participants leave the training with the knowledge and skills required to distinguish between stable and unstable rivers, identify various types of river instability, forecast a rivers response to alternative structural treatments and build those treatments. Two upcoming training opportunities available in 2015. [Learn More]

Do you have a question about paving status, bridge maintenance, or another project in your area? The VTransparency team has taken data from sources all over the agency to create tools for getting answers to some of the questions they get most often. [Learn More]

• Jericho Transportation Study | Appendix
• Jericho Bicycle & Pedestrian Facility Master Plan | Appendix
• Milton Bicycle & Pedestrian Scoping Study

Governor Shumlin signed legislation that will help Vermonters buying their first home through VHFA by providing up to $5,000 for qualified buyers to cover the costs typically faced at closing. The new program is part of a larger economic development bill, passed by the Vermont legislature in the final days of the session. The program will be available through VHFA's network of participating lenders late this summer. [Learn More]

"Celebrate Solar Tours" will take place across the state on Saturday, June 20, the weekend of the Summer Solstice. Like open sugarhouse weekend in the spring and open art studio weekend in the fall, the summertime tours will give Vermonters the opportunity to get an up-close view of solar systems to learn about the technology, economics, and benefits of solar. [Learn More]

Discover the benefits of "closing the loop" with your own household food scraps in this interactive, hands-on demonstration of a healthy compost system. [Learn More & Sign Up]

Under Act 148 of the Universal Recycling Law, starting on July 1 every residence and business will be required to separate recyclable metal, glass, plastic and paper from trash. Also beginning July 1, municipalities will have to provide recycling containers along with trash cans in public places and transfer stations. [Learn More]

The Green Mountain Club cut the ribbon on the Winooski Valley Long Trail Footbridge on June 12. Building a new crossing over the Winooski River in Bolton has been something the Club has wanted to do for over 100 years. [Learn More]

The planBTV South End Draft Plan was presented at two public meetings on June 16 and June 17 at Arts Riot in Burlington. [Learn More]

Vermont's Downtown and Village Center tax credit program is one of the primary benefits of Downtown and Village Center designation, and supports revitalization seen in community centers across the state. In 2015, $2,200,000 in state income tax credits are available to projects that enhance the historic character and improve building safety of older and historic commercial buildings in these designated communities. Application deadline: July 1, 2015 by 4:30 pm. [Learn More]

Burlington's Development Review Board has approved plans for two new dormitories on the UVM campus. The 195,000 sq. ft. project consists of two new buildings housing 699 beds. Costs are expected to reach $42 million at the site, which is inside the main campus, located near the Ira Allen Chapel and Billings Memorial Library. Occupancy is expected by 2017. [Learn More]

Join the Pride Center of Vermont for a one-day training featuring Jessica Pettitt, nationally recognized diversity speaker, trainer, and stand-up comic in her mission to inspire change, dismantle oppression and recognize our privilege. [Learn More]

For the first time, Vermont FEED is expanding its pioneering Farm to School Institute to school teams from across New England and New York. Thirteen teams have recently been selected to participate, thanks to funding from a USDA Farm to School grant. Schools in Chittenden County include: Champlain Elementary in Burlington; Essex Town School; Milton High School; and South Burlington High School. [Learn More]

The Shelburne Selectboard voted on May 26 to initiate the process of adding high school students to most of their appointed boards in an effort to encourage involvement at an early age.

FEMA has announced the FY 2015 Notice of Funding Opportunities for two of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs: Flood Mitigation Assistance and Pre-Disaster Mitigation. The submission deadline is August 28, 2015 at 3:00pm.

This position is largely community-based and entails working with and maintaining critical relationships with a variety of partners in Chittenden County. The work is guided by an in-depth work plan that has defined goals to meet specific grant requirements. Job opening #616822. Interested candidates must apply online.

For questions regarding emergency preparedness, including LEPC 1, please contact Lee Krohn in the CCRPC office.

On July 10, Burlington will join communities around the country in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The event will take place at North Beach in the early afternoon, where a recent ramp improvement has been made to allow people with limited mobility to access the water. Stay tuned for more details.

This year's conference, Leading the Energy REVolution, will be held at the Sheraton in Burlington on October 8th and 9th. [Learn More]