Calendar
Annual Meeting
While mid-century cars and clothing are cool, would you be surprised to know that the zoning in most communities is from the same era? Did you know that local solutions to housing affordability, community revitalization, climate change, and social justice are often stymied by policy decisions made in the 1970s? A lot has changed since then, from infrastructure spending, to household composition, to consumer preferences – but a lot of Vermont’s mid-century zoning bylaws aren’t keeping up with the times.
Many Vermonters are not getting the outcomes they urgently need because the cumbersome and costly process of overhauling a zoning bylaw is out of reach for most cities and towns. This training will help local leaders identify and select small-scale, incremental changes that can be made without having to overhaul all the zoning bylaws.
The training is built upon Enabling Better Places: Zoning for Great Neighborhoods, a how-to manual that promotes practical, small steps that Vermont’s cities, towns and villages can take to address widespread regulatory barriers that limit the choice of homes available to Vermont residents at prices people can afford. This guide stems from the Congress of the New Urbanism’s (CNU) Project for Code Reform, a strategic initiative to support cities and towns as they reform outdated zoning bylaws in favor of more walkable communities.
To register for this event, click here: https://accd.vermont.gov/sites/accdnew/files/documents/CD/CPR/201208_Zoning4Neighborhoods_Training.pdf
While mid-century cars and clothing are cool, would you be surprised to know that the zoning in most communities is from the same era? Did you know that local solutions to housing affordability, community revitalization, climate change, and social justice are often stymied by policy decisions made in the 1970s? A lot has changed since then, from infrastructure spending, to household composition, to consumer preferences – but a lot of Vermont’s mid-century zoning bylaws aren’t keeping up with the times.
Many Vermonters are not getting the outcomes they urgently need because the cumbersome and costly process of overhauling a zoning bylaw is out of reach for most cities and towns. This training will help local leaders identify and select small-scale, incremental changes that can be made without having to overhaul all the zoning bylaws.
The training is built upon Enabling Better Places: Zoning for Great Neighborhoods, a how-to manual that promotes practical, small steps that Vermont’s cities, towns and villages can take to address widespread regulatory barriers that limit the choice of homes available to Vermont residents at prices people can afford. This guide stems from the Congress of the New Urbanism’s (CNU) Project for Code Reform, a strategic initiative to support cities and towns as they reform outdated zoning bylaws in favor of more walkable communities.
To register for this event, click here: https://accd.vermont.gov/sites/accdnew/files/documents/CD/CPR/201208_Zoning4Neighborhoods_Training.pdf
Rochester Velomont Trail Grant Closeout Hearing
Information on this project can be viewed here.
The Town of Rochester received $60,000 from the State of Vermont for a grant under the Vermont Community Development Program. A public hearing will be held via Zoom on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6:00 pm to obtain the views of citizens on community development, to furnish information concerning the range of community development activities that have been undertaken under this program, and to give affected citizens the opportunity to examine a statement of the use of these funds. The VCDP Funds received have been used to identify the location/path of the Velomont Trail and Hut locations, create trail plans and cost estimates for the trail and hut infrastructure, conduct an economic impact study to prove the projects feasibility and relevance to the surrounding communities, develop the permitting strategy to obtain necessary Federal (US National Forest Service) and State permits, and estimate the anticipated spending patterns of the people who may use the trail. Should you require any special accommodations please contact Julie Smith at [email protected] to ensure appropriate accommodations are made. For the hearing impaired please call (TTY) #1‐800‐253‐0191.
Date Feb 8, 2021
Time: 6:00 PM
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89801991750?pwd=QlpMSWZyN1F2KzRYeExWSHlIdjB1QT09
Meeting ID: 898 0199 1750
Passcode: 943203
Call-in: (929) 205-6099
The next meeting of the TRORC Executive Committee will be on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 3:00 pm via Zoom Meeting – see log-in information below.
Meeting Agenda:
1. Call to Order; Changes to Agenda
2. Public Comment
3. Approval of January 13, 2021 Minutes (attached)
4. Acceptance of unaudited January Financial Reports (attached)
5. Mascoma Wealth Management. Socially Responsible Investing; Additional deposit into Mascoma; CD Review
6. Scholarship Program vote for FY22. (attached)
7. Strategic Plan Update
8. Code of Conduct Changes (attached)
9. Project and Staffing Updates
10. February Board Agenda Review
11. Other
The next Executive Committee meeting will be March 10, 2021. The date, time and agenda will be posted on www.trorc.org
Log-in to Zoom by clicking link below
https://zoom.us/j/92197919036?pwd=OWtPSzU3QllMSlBzbUpueHlOeTV5UT09
Zoning and Subdivision Bylaw Tune-up: How to make your code work for you
Join us as TRORC Senior Planner Kevin Geiger facilitates a zoning and subdivision bylaw training session on Thursday, February 18, 2021, 6:30-8:30 pm.
This lightning Zoom training will go over what town plans want zoning to do and how it can actually do that, including:
- preserving forests or fields while still selling housing lots
- promoting affordable housing
- protecting water quality
- keeping roads from washing out
- reducing commercial impacts
This training will be of use to Planning Commissions, ZBAs, DRBs, Conservation Commissions, and Zoning Administrators
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/98598495500?pwd=azMwTDMvd2ozUWpscUxBZ1F0K0t3QT09
Meeting ID: 985 9849 5500
Passcode: 270203
This is an open and free training, but we request that you send an RSVP to Meghan Asbury at [email protected] if you plan to attend.
NOTE: Virtual Meeting
Under Act 92, this Board is legally allowed to host electronic meetings due to the COVID-19 situation. If you need accommodations for this meeting, please contact Peter Gregory at [email protected].
TRORC will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. Via Zoom (see call-in instructions below)
1. Call to Order. Approval of Agenda (Action)
2. Public Comments
3. Acceptance of the December Board Minutes (attached)
4. Acceptance of the unaudited December and January Financial Reports (attached)
5. Acceptance of FY20 TRORC Audit (audit report and management letter attached)
6. Update on TRORC Investments – Discussion only
7. Updated Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy – Discussion only
8. Staff projects presentations and discussion.
Geoff Martin, TRORC Regional Energy Coordinator, will discuss the work he has been doing with the six participating towns and will discuss work tasks and town participation for FY 22. Next, Kevin Geiger and Sarah Wraight will describe the Sole Proprietor Business Grant Program (Round 1) that is just now concluding and will discuss the details of the next Round scheduled to start in April.
9. Executive Director and Commissioner updates; Introduction of new TRORC staff member. Jake Palant
10. Executive Session, if needed
11. Other
Enclosures
NOTE: If you are unable to attend, please notify your town’s other representative so he or she can attend. Thank you!
The next TRORC Board Meeting will be held on March 24, 2021. A full packet and agenda will be sent out to Commissioners in mid-March.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92529905486?pwd=T095Z3I1L0pLUzhkaTl0UmtWZW44UT09
Meeting ID: 925 2990 5486
Passcode: 073303
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
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https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsf-CrrzItGdUgnKEPWWXhLMSAAkNkp618
Upper Valley Climate Partners Summit
Hosted by the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup. Free and open to the public.
Many Upper Valley organizations, no matter their areas of focus, are concerned about climate change and working at the local, regional, and national level to help communities adapt. Join us for an update on the latest climate science, followed by a panel of UVAW partners sharing how the common thread of climate adaptation weaves through all our work.
Speakers include:
Michael Caduto, Director – Sustainable Woodstock
Matt Cahillane, Program Manager – NH Department of Public Health Services
Kate McCarthy, AICP, Sustainable Communities Program Director – Vermont Natural Resources Council
Peg Merrens, Vice President, Conservation – Upper Valley Land Trust
Erich Osterberg, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences – Dartmouth College
Ron Rhodes, Director of Restoration Programs – Connecticut River Conservancy
Jack Spicer, Clerk, Climate Advisory Committee for the Town of Hartford
Graham Turk, Innovation Strategist – Green Mountain Power
Moderated by Kevin Geiger, AICP, Senior Planner – Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission
The next meeting of the TRORC Executive Committee will be on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 3:00 pm via Zoom Meeting – see log-in information below.
Meeting Agenda:
1. Call to Order; Changes to Agenda
2. Public Comment
3. Approval of February 10, 2021 Minutes (attached)
4. Acceptance of unaudited February Financial Reports (attached)
5. Mascoma Wealth Management. Socially Responsible Investing; Additional deposit into Mascoma; CD Review
6. IREC Update – Town Meeting Results
7. Project and Staffing Updates
8. March full Board meeting?
9. Other
The next Executive Committee meeting will be April 14, 2021. The date, time and agenda will be posted on www.trorc.org
Log-in to Zoom by clicking link below
https://zoom.us/j/99784614111?pwd=MTJ6R2I1MkgvSzFWS0VKQVBJNVExQT09
REMOTE MEETING: Under Act 92, this TAC is legally allowed to host electronic meetings due to the
COVID-19 situation. This meeting will be conducted through the Zoom remote meeting on- line
platform. See the connection information below. If you intend to join the Zoom meeting and have
never used Zoom before, we recommend you begin the log-in process well in advance of the meeting to
allow time for downloads and connections to occur. Or contact Rita Seto ([email protected] – (802)
281-2927) before the event to walk through a practice session.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/9395784520; Meeting ID: 939 578 4520
CALL-IN: People without a computer or other device can call in from the number below and enter the
meeting ID from the phone keypad. 1 (646) 518 9805 and enter Meeting ID: 939 578 4520
Agenda
1. Introductions.
2. Additions to Agenda and Public Comments
3. Approval of January 14 minutes
4. Vermont Project Selection and Prioritization Process (VPSP2) walk through – Rita (45 mins)
VTrans and RPCs will be utilizing the new project selection and prioritization process this year.
Rita will walk through the initial process and look at the initial projects (Roadway, Traffic and
Safety and Paving projects only. Bridges will be next year).
5. Other business (10 mins)
• VTrans Draft Airport System Plan is available for review – the document is available
using the following link: https://vtrans.vermont.gov/aviation/vermont-airport-system-plan
Virtual public meeting on March 24, 2021 @ 6:00pm link available on the project website
https://vtrans.vermont.gov/aviation/vermont-airport-system-plan
• Grants in Aid Year 4 schedule overview
Future meeting topics? Next meeting on Thursday May 13, 2021
• Project Selection and Prioritization Review and Approval
2020-2021 TRORC TAC Meeting Dates:
July 8 / Sept 9 / Nov 11