It's summer and the Planners are out in the field. The big project this summer is the parking and stormwater project in the Notch. There will be some inconvenience, but the parking situation in the Notch has long needed remediation. The recent storm, which caused major flooding in the County, has also been keeping everyone at LCPC busy filing disaster reports and helping the towns in any way they can. Additional infomation can be found below. | |
A Note to Our Towns
We are writing this note to provide you with an overview of our role in times of disaster and who to contact about what. We’ve worked hard both within the region and with the state in the years since tropical storm Irene to put processes in place to help avoid confusion and duplication of effort. We’ve had multiple disasters since Irene that have helped us hone lines of communication and distribution of guidance and build relationships with our staff so your emergency management directors, road foremen, town administrators and managers, and selectboard chairs know who to go to with questions. Because there’s constant change among selectboards, they may be less familiar with our role in support of towns.
Before disasters we assist towns with the development and updating of their annual local emergency management plans, through which towns lay out how they are going to respond during an emergency and who will do what. This latest event underscores the importance of these plans. We also convene the Regional Emergency Management Committee, which is a broad-based committee that promotes preparedness and planning for all hazards that may affect communities in the region, and it serves as an excellent networking opportunity for the region’s emergency response and support community. We assist towns with the development of their local hazard mitigation plans, taking steps to maximize state funding to match federal public assistance through the Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund, the development of flood hazard and river corridor bylaws and town plan elements, and floodplain administrator training.
During and after disasters we may be mobilized at the direction of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to serve as local liaisons, through which we collect damage and need information for situational awareness at both the regional and state level. You’re likely familiar with us reaching out to town points of contact to collect this information. We feed this information back to the SEOC through which it is distributed to the various emergency response functions and agencies. This process also helps negate requests for the same information by multiple agencies. Within our region, we have established a relationship and protocol with the VTrans districts and the ANR River Engineers to collect information they have about damage in towns, and vice versa, so as to reduce the need for towns to report the same information twice. During the recovery phase we may be asked to play a number of different roles, getting out information about the damage information collection process necessary for the state to determine if it can ask for a Federal Disaster Declaration, and, if declared, what resources are going to be made available, how to access those resources, and what rules and procedures apply. The Lamoille Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) takes the lead on business disaster situational awareness and recovery. Later in the recovery phase, we will often collaborate with LEDC on broader community recovery assistance.
Staff Points of Contact
Alec Jones, GIS Planner: questions related to all things Vermont Emergency Management, FEMA, State Emergency Operations Center, the Regional Emergency Management Committee, and all related programs. alec@lcpcvt.org 802-888-4548 x109
Seth Jensen, Deputy Director: questions related to all things FEMA and disaster recovery programs. seth@lcpcvt.org 802-888-4548 x102
Rob Moore, Transportation Planner: questions related to all things Transportation and VTrans. rob@lcpcvt.org 802-888-4548 x106
Tasha Wallis, Executive Director: questions related to LCPC’s role in statewide coordination and planning. tasha@lcpcvt.org 802-888-4548 x105
Meghan Rodier, Senior Planner: questions related to ANR and water quality. meghan@lcpcvt.org 802-888-4548 x103
Lamoille Economic Development Corporation info@lamoilleeconomy.org 802-888-5640
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Introducing our Board Members | |
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Liz Courtney was drawn to Vermont for many reasons including its natural beauty, its quaint villages, and its participatory democracy. She lived in Chicago, Milwaukee, and New York City for her first 37 years, but when she and her husband started a family in 2017, they decided to leave the city and put down roots in Vermont.
The need for broadband internet for remote work in media, music, and marketing factored into their locating themselves in North Hyde Park Village where Liz quickly became immersed in a burgeoning community effort to revitalize the village. After working with LCPC on a project to calm traffic and create a more walkable village center, Liz joined the LCPC board as a County Director in 2020. In 2021 she stepped up to chair LCPC's new Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee where she helped write the planning commission's Declaration of Inclusion and develop an equity impact assessment to guide the municipalities in making planning, zoning, and community projects more inclusive and impactful for all.
Channeling her love for the writings of Jane Jacobs, the community organizer who fought for livable, walkable, mixed use cities, Liz applies that same spirit to rural development. She's an active member of North Hyde Park's Gihon Valley Hall committee, working to rehab an old Grange Hall and bring it to life with music, theater and community events. Her full time job involves marketing and communications for nonprofits and businesses working on sustainability and social impact, and her other full time job is raising two delightful children and playing a supporting role in her musician husband Zeph's recording studio. Recently she and her family relocated to a hilltop in Wolcott along with Liz's parents where you'll find her gardening, baking, hiking, biking, and trying to learn how to cook Chinese cuisine.
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As a recently appointed member of the LCPC board, I am learning a great deal about this organization and mission. As a seventh generation resident of Cambridge on my father’s side and a second generation (Swiss) and Native American (Iroquois) on my mother’s side, I tend to bring an appreciation of and a knowledge and respect for the land, air, water, and people while accepting that change is inevitable.
These values have been reflected in my husband’s and my reconstruction of The Brewster River Gristmill, the manufacturing of the second oldest hydraulic wood splitter in the country, including patented technology, through L. O. Balls Woodsplitters, and Ash’s Sugarhouse, including developing energy saving ideas for production.
I have retired as an emergency/crisis counselor for DCF, having served in the DCF Emergency Services Program for several years.
I am here to learn, to share, and to serve our town, our county, and our state.
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Jim Lovinsky, Executive Director of the Lamoille Housing Partnership, who is retiring, received a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by LCPC Chair Caleb Magoon | | |
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Julia Compagna accepted the award for Excellence in Community Service for Robin Pugh, Manager of the 2nd Chance Thrift Store in Morrisville.
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Donna Merriam, from Friends of the Morristown Centennial Library, received an Honorable Mention in Community Service.
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Calvin Stanton of Johnson received an Honorable Mention for Community Service. Calvin could not be present. The award was gratefully accepted on his behalf by Howard Romero. | |
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The Cambridge Greenway Riverbank Stabalization Project was one of two winners for Excellence in Project Design. Caleb Magoon here presents the plaque to Laird MacDowell, Chair of the Cambridge Trails Committee and Tyler Billingsly, designer of the project.
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Two Sons Bakehouse and Jenna's Promise Coffeehouse was the 2nd recipient of the Marvin Award for Excellence in Project Design. Greg and Amy Tatro accepted the award. | |
The Planners at LCPC and Some People You May Know | |
Rob Moore, Transportation Planner and Senator Peter Welch.
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I met with Sen. Welch, RCT leadership, and various community partners to discuss the importance of public transit in providing human services to our neighbors in need. After the meeting, I mentioned that 30 years ago this May, I drove to Alaska and back with now Senator Chris Murphy (Connecticut), at which point Sen. Welch pivoted to stand beside me, took this selfie of us, sent it to Sen. Murphy, and provided it to LCPC for use in our newsletter.
Rob Moore
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Seth Jensen, Deputy Director and Senator Bernie Sanders. | | | |
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Alec Jones, GIS Planner and Members of the Governor's Staff
During their visit to Lamoille County, Assistant to the Governor Doug Farnham was welcomed at the Jones Family Goat Farm. Here he is accompanied by Steve and Brian Jones, and LCPC's GIS Planner, Alec Jones.
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Environmental Restoration Underway in Smugglers’ Notch!
After years of planning, construction began on a project to protect the environment, improve stormwater management, and improve visitor parking safety in Smugglers’ Notch.
The Lamoille County Planning Commission (LCPC), on behalf of the Smugglers’ Notch Partners, is working to complete environmental restoration along the segment of Vermont Route 108 (VT 108) between Stowe and Cambridge, the Smugglers’ Notch Scenic Highway, to preserve and restore the Notch’s natural beauty and landscape.
The project is a continuation of the Smugglers’ Notch Partners ongoing efforts in the Notch. Past efforts have included the restoration of the Barnes Camp Visitors' Center, the Smugglers’ Notch Boardwalk at Barnes Camp, and the relocation of the long trail. The current project will include reestablishing native vegetation, improving stormwater management, and establishing designated parking areas along the Notch Road.
J. Hutchins Inc. of Richmond Vermont, the general contractor for the project, began work in late May and will continue throughout the summer. The project will restore native vegetation at two sites, improve stream buffers near Big Spring, and provide safer access to the cliffs at the Notch Proper and safer trailhead parking for Sterling Pond and Hell Brook Trails. LCPC is working with Vtrans and VT Forests, Parks, and Recreation to secure funding for the next phase of the project, which will restore additional roadside parking to native vegetation and provide safer access to cliffs near King Rock.
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Contractor J. Hutchins Inc. begins construction at Notch Proper South/Sterling Pond Trailhead
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New Stacked stone retaining wall at
Notch Proper South.
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LCPC Works with VTrans to Prevent Future Truck “Stuckages”
in the Notch
As summer returns, so too has the annual tradition of tractor trailer trucks becoming stuck in Smugglers’ Notch. The first two “stuckages” of 2023 occurred over the Fourth of July weekend.
Over the last several years, LCPC has partnered with Vtrans to investigate potential ways to further discourage trucks from attempting to traverse the narrow roadway through Smugglers’ Notch.
Since 2020, Vtrans has increased signage along I89, Route 15, and Route 100 to provide advance notification that the Notch is impassible to tractor trailer trucks. While the total number of trucks becoming stuck has decreased since these improved signs were installed, some drivers still attempt to pass through the Notch.
Based on extensive feedback from public meetings and online surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023, Vtrans is evaluating the effectiveness of “chicanes” before the gates at either end before Route 108 enters the Notch. Vtrans will be seeking more community feedback and potentially piloting short term tests of the concept over the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
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Brownfields Program
The Lamoille County Brownfields Program has officially finished its first year under recent EPA funding. LCPC has been hard at work informing property owners about the program and creating a seamless process that requires little effort, and no financial commitment, from site owners. The Brownfields Committee has worked with various municipalities throughout the county and expects new sites to be nominated for inclusion in the program. The EPA grant runs through 2026. All commercial property owners should reach out to LCPC about assessing their sites for possible contamination in anticipation of a sale. The committee is accepting new site applications on a regular basis. If you have any questions regarding the committee or the site nomination process, please reach out to Salvador Morales at salvador@lcpcvt.org.
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Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP)
The Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services is offering this new program for municipalities to improve energy resilience and efficiency for municipally owned buildings. The program provides three main opportunities:
1. Up to $4,000 “mini grants” for community capacity building,
2, Free building energy resilience assessments, and
3. Up to $500,000 to implement recommendations from the free building assessments.
BGS is now accepting applications for the free Building Energy Resilience Assessments. These assessments will recommend energy efficiency and resilience improvements for municipally owned buildings. The assessment will also make municipalities eligible to apply for up to $500,000 in implementation funding to implement recommendations provided in the assessment report.
The assessment application is available on the BGS MERP webpage. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until January 15, 2024.
LCPC is available to assist with the application process. Please direct any questions to Victoria Hellwig at victoria@lcpcvt.org or (802) 851-6342.
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Flood Insurance Rate Maps Being Updated
FEMA is currently updating the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) in Vermont for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). When the new maps go into effect, FEMA requires that town bylaws meet current standards for participation in the NFIP. If your bylaws are not sufficient, residents will no longer be able to purchase nor renew flood insurance through the NFIP.
Participation in NFIP also increases the percentage of your town’s post-disaster Emergency Relief and Assistance Funding (ERAF), that provides the State coverage of public disaster recovery costs that can save a municipality thousands of dollars after a disaster. An initial Work Map meeting for Lamoille County is estimated to be held by FEMA this summer. After this meeting, municipalities will need to be NFIP compliant by 2025.
LCPC will be reaching out to each municipality in the coming months to offer assistance with updating their flood hazard bylaws in preparation for the new FEMA maps.
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LCPC Seeks Public Comment on Draft 2023-2031 Lamoille County Regional Plan
The Lamoille County Planning Commission (LCPC) is seeking public comments on the draft 2023-2031 Lamoille County Regional Plan. The Regional Plan can be found online at https://www.lcpcvt.org/regionalplandraft or at LCPC’s Office at 52 Portland Street, 2nd Floor, Morrisville, VT 05661.
The draft Lamoille County Regional Plan was created under the guidance of the Regional Plan Committee, a sub-committee of the LCPC Board of Directors. The purposes of the plan are multifold. The plan addresses the economic, social, and environmental factors that influence growth and development in Lamoille County.
The Regional Plan is a non-regulatory policy document that serves as a guide for decision makers, a vision for the region, and as an eight-year action plan to address concerns of regional importance. This guiding document aids the LCPC in carrying out its mission to “ensure the protection of the region's environment and conservation of natural resources, and facilitate sustainable economic development for the benefit of all residents and visitors through a coordinated and cooperative planning process at the local level.” Guiding policies and action items are found in the “Strategy” section at the beginning of each chapter of the draft Regional Plan.
You may provide comments on the draft plan by attending one of the public meetings or:
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E-mailing comments to Salvador Morales at salvador@lcpcvt.org
- Mailing comments to the Lamoille County Planning Commission at PO Box 1637, Morrisville, VT 05661
When submitting comments on the draft Regional Plan please refer to Version A on the LCPC Regional Plan Committee Page.
Public Meetings:
The 1st public hearing has been scheduled for:
Johnson Municipal Building (2nd Floor), 293 Lower Main Street West, Johnson, VT
or Join Via Zoom at:
Meeting ID: 854 09581 1536
Passcode: 256041
Phone: 1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
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It is road construction season. Many locations around the county have road work projects underway. Allow extra time for your travels, and plan alternate routes. Please heed flaggers and warning signs, and drive safely; worker safety is essential to completing projects on schedule. One of the highest profile projects in our region is the Smugglers' Notch Parking and Stormwater Improvement Project led by Seth Jensen. Information and updates about this project can be found at https://www.lcpcvt.org/smuggsinfo.
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Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT)
Another high-profile project, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, is now open to the public. Work on finishing touches continues in discrete locations, so use caution and follow directions from work crews to ensure your safety. Maps and construction updates are posted on the official VTrans website, to help plan your time on the LVRT visit
https://vtrans.vermont.gov/lvrt
for more information.
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Public Transit Updates
Microtransit, an innovative way of providing public transit, has begun in the Morrisville and Village of Hyde Park areas. Rather than waiting at a bus stop for a fixed route bus to pick you up, riders need to request rides "on demand". This should provide greater flexibility for the riders in getting where they need to go when they need to be there. For more information on the service schedule, how to request rides, and details about the service area, contact RCT through their website https://www.riderct.org/
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The Municipal Roads General Permit is now in its 2nd 5-year reporting cycle, and all ten Towns in Lamoille County have made herculean efforts to comply with the requirements. This Permit and related laws are in effect until January 1, 2037, by which time all Vermont Towns are required to attain 100% compliance on all jurisdictional sections of town roads. LCPC staff annually assists all ten Towns with accessing funding specifically for the purpose of complying with the Permit. | |
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Here are a few examples of transportation work LCPC staff helps our communities with:
Belvidere: Rob helped with 2019 Halloween Storm related project management over a period of several years including reimbursements to the Town, and more recently assisted with applying to various grant programs for several projects on local roads to improve flood resilience and safety. LCPC functions to enhance the Town's administrative capacity for managing grants and projects related to roads since Belvidere does not have a highway department.
Cambridge: Rob assisted with grant applications to extend the Greenway Trail and study a dangerous intersection. Rob, Kate, Meghan, and Seth provide ongoing help coordinating between various regulatory agencies and funding partners on many projects with transportation components.
Eden: Rob assisted Town officials in refining concepts and scope of work proposals for various road projects to be funded in part by the Vermont Asbestos Group court settlement funds, and supplemented the transition of institutional knowledge about Town road projects from former to current Town employees.
Elmore: Rob, Kate, and Seth have helped the Town in various ways on the challenging path to building a new Town Highway Maintenance Garage; the new facility is scheduled to be completed in time for this coming winter.
Hyde Park: Rob, Kate, and Seth have helped the Town with planning for improvements in North Hyde Park to make the area safer for bikes and pedestrians. Also, Rob and Alec recently concluded work with the Town to study two important road structures and plans for making them more resilient to flooding.
Johnson: Rob and Tori assisted the Village with requesting a federal "earmark" from Senator Welch for the rehabilitation of the Village Maintenance Garage; final decisions about funding are subject to Congress. Rob assisted the Village with submitting a grant application to study extending the existing Village sidewalk network westward to Wescom Road. Rob and Sal have been assisting the Town with a study to identify options for rehabilitating the historic Scribner Covered Bridge. Rob, Meghan, and Seth continue to provide help coordinating between various regulatory agencies and funding partners for improving infrastructure related to stormwater along Railroad Street and the Town Library parking lot.
Morristown: Rob provided assistance with research and gathering information about safety concerns and speeding on several roads, which the Town is using in ongoing discussions with local residents about how to make improvements. Rob also provided assistance to Town staff with understanding compliance requirements of the Municipal Roads General Permit, and next steps the Town can consider taking.
Stowe: Rob, Kate, and Seth are providing ongoing assistance with planning in the Moscow Village part of town, which in part includes safety improvements for bikes and pedestrians as well as vehicles. Rob provides ongoing support and assistance to Town Staff and VTrans regarding safety and congestion along the Mountain Road; the breadth of this planning work also includes coordination with public transit operators, engaged citizens, and local businesses on both big picture planning and shorter-term action that can be taken by various parties.
Waterville: Rob provides ongoing support to Town officials in understanding safety and speeding concerns, and identifying solutions, in the Village and near the elementary school. LCPC functions to enhance the Town's administrative capacity for managing grants and projects related to roads since Waterville does not have a highway department.
Wolcott: Rob recently provided assistance with research for a grant to fund road signs around town. Rob, Kate, and Seth provide ongoing assistance with planning for bike and pedestrian safety, and Lamoille Valley Rail Trail access and parking enhancements. Meghan is providing assistance with studying and identifying funding to replace a narrow bridge which will improve flood resilience and public safety.
Contact Rob Moore (rob@lcpcvt.org) or (802) 851-6347 for more information on these or any other transportation related issues.
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