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AUGUST
8/2, 11:00am: Clean Water Advisory Committee Meeting
8/3, 5:45pm: CCRPC Executive Committee Meeting
8/8, 3:00pm: CCRPC Brownfields Advisory Committee Meeting
NOTE: NO CCRPC BOARD MEETING IN AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
9/5: CCRPC Office Closed
9/6, 9:00am: CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee
9/14, 2:30pm: CCRPC Planning Advisory Committee Meeting
9/21, 6:00pm: CCRPC Board Meeting
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Traffic Alerts
Stay informed about roadway construction and other traffic alerts in Chittenden County by signing up for the Chittenden County Traffic Alert, a weekly email service.
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CCRPC
Commission Representatives
Bolton: Joss Besse
Buel's Gore: Garret Mott
Burlington: Andy Montroll
Charlotte: Jim Donovan
Colchester: Marc Landry
Essex: Jeff Carr
Essex Junction: Dan Kerin
Hinesburg: Andrea Morgante
Huntington: Barbara Elliott
Jericho: Catherine McMains
Milton: TBD
Richmond: Bard Hill
Shelburne: John Zicconi
South Burlington: Chris Shaw
St. George: Jeff Pillsbury
Underhill: Brian Bigelow
Westford: Dave Tilton
Williston: Chris Roy, Chair
Winooski: Michael O'Brien, Vice Chair
For more information, including Commission agendas and minutes, schedule and resources, click here. |
Around the County: Photo of the Month
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Click photo to enlarge.
Fireworks display at the Vermont Symphony Orchestra's performance at Shelburne Farms on July 4th
Photo by Lee Krohn
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Charlie Baker, Executive Director
Cathy Aikman, Chittenden County Opioid Alliance Project Director
Dan Albrecht, Senior Planner
Pam Brangan, GIS Data & IT Manager
Jason Charest, Senior Transportation Planning Engineer
Eleni Churchill, Transportation Program Manager
Forest Cohen, Business Manager
Bryan Davis, Senior Transportation Planner
Marshall Distel, Transportation Planner
Chris Dubin, Transportation Planner
Bernie Ferenc, Transportation Business Manager
Christine Forde, Senior Transportation Planner
Andrea Gunther, Finance Assistant
Peter Keating, Senior Transportation Planner
Lee Krohn, AICP, Senior Planner
Regina Mahony, Planning Program Manager
Melanie Needle, Senior Planner
Emily Nosse-Leirer, Planner
Sai Sarepalli, Transportation Planning Engineer
Emma Vaughn, Communications Manager
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United Way Volunteer Opportunities: Summer 2016
Looking for ways to volunteer this summer? Check out short-term and special event volunteer opportunities with the United Way for the coming months.
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Volunteer with Neighbor Rides
Neighbor Rides is a strategic initiative of United Way of Chittenden County supported by a dynamic group of community partners that brings people and places together to help meet the transportation needs of seniors and persons with disabilities. This partnership uses volunteer drivers to leverage government and community-funded transportation programs and help more people by decreasing the cost per ride.
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Good afternoon,
On June 27th, dozens of Chittenden County leaders in the fields of housing, business, local and state government, and social services announced a new campaign to increase the production of housing and setting a target of 3,500 new homes created in the next five years.
The new coalition, called Building Homes Together, was formed by the Champlain Housing Trust, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and Housing Vermont and released an initial list of nearly 100 community leaders supporting the effort. The housing shortage in Chittenden County has been well noted with unhealthy vacancy rates and high rents. Employers can't find workers, and workers themselves spend more time in commutes and with a higher percentage of their paychecks on housing costs.
The campaign will provide up-to-date data to the community on the need for and benefits of new housing, build cross-sector and public support for housing development, increasing access to capital, and support municipalities. Consistent with our ECOS Plan, it is important that more new housing be located in our municipal villages, town centers, downtowns and similar locations that are walkable and transit accessible.
Individuals, businesses or organizations that wish to sign on and participate in the campaign are encouraged to by sending an email to Chris Donnelly at Champlain Housing Trust. For more information, visit ccrpcvt.org/housing.
Best regards,
Charlie Baker Executive Director |
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The following legislation relating to municipal and regional planning took effect on July 1, 2016.
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Act 90 extends the local planning cycle from five to eight years. As such, municipal plans adopted or readopted on or after July 1, 2015 will remain in effect for eight years. Act 90 also describes a specific process for plan review and re-adoption, which includes considering the recommendations of the regional planning commission, engaging in community outreach, considering consistency with the State's land use goals, and more. Learn More »
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VTrans has announced the latest round of grants for municipal park-and-ride facilities. This legislation grants authority to a regional planning commission and its municipalities to enter into voluntary service agreements with each other for joint services such as sharing of employees and joint purchasing. Learn More »
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Act 174 gives regional and municipal plans substantial deference in the Section 248 process for energy and energy-related projects. In order to receive this higher standing, municipalities and regional planning commissions will be required to meet enhanced data collection, goals and standards in their energy chapters. The Department of Public Service will publish recommendations and standards related to the determination process by November 1, 2016. Learn More »
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Act 171 specifies that municipal and regional plans adopted on or after January 1, 2018 will need to include forestry language. Specifically, the land use section of municipal plans will need to be consistent with the expanded State planning goal regarding identifying and improving areas for aquifer protection and forest blocks, wildlife habitat and habitat connectors. Learn More »
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Vermont State Primary Election Day on August 9th
A statewide Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, August 9th, 2016, to vote for candidates of the following offices: U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor of Accounts, Attorney General, State Senator(s), State Representative(s), and High Bailiff. Learn More »
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CCRPC Hires Andrea Gunther as Finance Assistant
Andrea will be assisting both CCRPC Business Managers with financial and administrative duties. Before joining the CCRPC, Andrea was a Staff Accountant for over six years for a local accounting firm. She brings over 15 years of accounting experience and obtained her accounting degree from Champlain College. Andrea grew up in northern VT and currently resides in St. Albans. Welcome, Andrea!
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Revisions to the Vermont Open Meeting Law
On May 24, 2016, amendments to the Open Meeting Law went into effect when the governor signed Act 129 of the 2015-2016 Legislative Biennium. The Open Meeting Law applies to all "public bodies" which includes all municipal boards, councils, commissions, committees, and subcommittees. Learn More »
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In celebration of our 50th anniversary year, we will be featuring a few CCRPC Commissioners in each newsletter to get a behind-the-scenes look at who they are and how they contribute to our communities.
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Barbara Elliott, CCRPC Huntington Representative (2013-Present)
Barbara's job as Huntington's Town Administrator is to help enable Huntington's governing body and volunteer committees, boards and commissions address issues that impact the local community and the larger Chittenden County community. Barbara believes that effective local governance, vibrant communities, and the health and welfare of individuals and families all rely on the active volunteer participation of local residents. Learn More »
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Bard Hill, CCRPC Richmond Representative (2015-Present)
Bard has been on the Richmond Water/Sewer Commission since 2013 and the Richmond Selectboard since 2014. This work has helped to inform his understanding of the need for thoughtful management of water and wastewater, and the challenge of balancing the sometimes competing interests of cost, quality, and access. It has also influenced his thinking about balance in our community and region -- across our human ecosystem including demographics, economy, employment, environment, transportation, education, energy and utilities, aesthetics, affordable accessible housing, and access to health and social services. Learn More »
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Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
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Road Erosion Sites: Prioritization and Remediation Plans RFP - Proposals Due July 27
The CCRPC is soliciting proposals for the development of a prioritization methodology for gravel and paved road erosion sites for the following municipalities: Bolton, Essex, Jericho, Huntington, Richmond, St. George, Underhill, and Williston. The methodology will be used to prioritize/rank erosion sites within each of these municipalities, and conceptual plans and cost estimates will be developed for selected top priority erosion sites. Learn More »
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2017 Municipal Park-and-Ride Grant Program: Applications due Aug 31
VTrans has announced the latest round of grants for municipal park-and-ride facilities. The objective of the Park-and-Rides Program is to provide safe and convenient parking facilities to encourage the consolidation of travelers and the reduction of single occupancy vehicles on the roads. Learn More »
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Better Roads Grant Recipients Announced
Early this summer eight Chittenden County municipalities were awarded Better Roads Category A grants from VTrans: Bolton, Essex, Huntington, Jericho, Richmond, St. George, Underhill, and Williston. The grants will fund road erosion risk inventories [or replace with "inventories of road-related erosion and stormwater issues"] of paved and gravel roads in each of those municipalities. The CCRPC will perform the inventories and then assist with prioritizing the erosion sites within each of these municipalities, and develop conceptual plans and cost estimates to correct the top priority erosion sites. The total grant amount with local match is $61,250.
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Transportation Project News & Updates
For a full list of transportation projects, visit the CCRPC Transportation Advisory Committee website; a full project list is provided in every TAC agenda and is updated regularly. View the latest TAC agenda »
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Implementing ECOS Strategy 1
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Brownfields Assessment Environmental Consulting Services RFQ: Qualifications Due August 5
The CCRPC is issuing an RFQ with the intent of selecting three to six qualified environmental consultants or consultant teams to provide Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments, Corrective Action Plans and related services on an "on-call" basis for a period of up to five years. Learn More »
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New White Paper: Supporting the STEM Cluster & Young Professionals in Chittenden County
Growth in the STEM cluster has been recognized as a key economic development strategy for Chittenden County and Vermont. This white paper explains the important role that the STEM cluster and young professionals play in the county's economy; examines the current conditions of the STEM cluster and young professionals; explores the building blocks necessary for growing the STEM cluster economy; and offers suggestions for future work that can be undertaken by the CCRPC to help support the STEM economy. Learn More »
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Energy & Natural Resources
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Implementing ECOS Strategies 3 & 4
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Vermont Clean Water Fund Needs Your Input
The Clean Water Fund Board is asking for public input on Vermont's Clean Water funding priorities for the next state fiscal year. Comments are due July 30th. Learn More »
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Clean Water Infrastructure Asset Management Grants: Proposals due Aug 1
The aim of these grants is to help municipalities develop asset management plans to better finance and schedule improvement and continued maintenance of clean water infrastructure. Learn More »
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Lake Champlain TMDL Phase I Implementation Plan
DEC will be posting a draft of the updated Lake Champlain TMDL Phase 1 Implementation Plan for public comment in early August. In addition, public information meetings will be held on the updated plan August 29-30. There will be a public meeting in Burlington on August 29th in the afternoon. Stay tuned for details on specific timing and venues.
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Hinesburg Town Forest First in US to be Recognized by National Register of Historic Places
The National Park Service officially listed the Hinesburg Town Forest in the National Register of Historic Places on June 7, 2016. Established in 1936, the Hinesburg Town Forest today encompasses 837 acres and has been actively managed and maintained by the Hinesburg community over the past 80 years. Learn More »
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Implementing ECOS Strategy 2
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Municipal Planning Grants Due October 31st
DHCD is pleased to announce approximately $457,000 in state funding to help Vermont's cities and towns realize their visions for building more livable and vibrant communities. View the FY17 MPG Program Description for details on eligibility, application process and funding priorities. Grant applications are due October 31st with funding decisions announced in December. Learn More »
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Implementing ECOS Strategies 5, 6 & 8
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New Video: Housing is Health Care
Last year the Champlain Housing Trust made a commitment to end chronic homelessness in our region. This commitment was grounded in collaboration -- working with a variety of partners to solve what has seemed an intractable problem. Collectively, good progress is being made. Watch a new video that describes some of this work.
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Upcoming events in Chittenden County and beyond
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Municipal Day at National Life: September 9, 2016
This all-day event will offer poster presentations, workshops, technical assistance, and the opportunity to engage with Agency staff members and municipal colleagues from across the state. Learn More »
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Open Streets BTV: September 11, 2016
Come bike, stroll, roll, dance or skate along car-free streets from the Old North End to Downtown! Activities, food and family fun for all. Learn More »
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Way to Go! Challenge: September 26-October 7, 2016
In an effort to make this year's Way to Go! Challenge even more accessible, we've moved the dates from the Spring to the Fall. Just like last year, any trip counts, not just your commute to work. Join the 2 week Way to Go! Challenge this September 26th through October 7th. Sign up early and pledge to participate on as many days as you can. Learn More »
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2016 Vermont Collective Impact Conference: November 2-3, 2016
Registration is now open for this statewide, two-day conference that will build on the momentum of the 2015 Collective Impact Conference and provide opportunities for teams of stakeholders to learn and work together in furthering emerging or existing Collective Impact efforts. Learn More »
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Vermont Statewide Housing Conference: November 15, 2016
This conference brings together a unique mix of housing financers, advocates, developers, planners, tenants and more. Registration will open in August. Learn More »
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