Barre City Trestle #308 Alternatives public meeting Recording and comments

Barre City, VT – A Project Alternatives Meeting for the project listed below was held on
Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 beginning at 6:00 PM at the Alumni Hall Meeting & Conference Center in Barre City.

The meeting was held by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans).

 The presentation and contact information are up on the rail program webpage here: Bridge Management | Agency of Transportation (vermont.gov) and the 2/22 meeting recording is available on youtube here: https://youtu.be/5qskQk9rii0?si=C6q1lmxUjKRmzey1

Written comments can be emailed to Erin Charboneau (erin.charbonneau@vermont.gov)


Bridge Scoping Project
• Barre City WACR (22) – Bridge 308 on the Washington County Railroad, Montpelier &
Barre Division Over Stephens Branch
The intent of the meeting was to gather input from stakeholders, including Town Officials, local
residents and businesses, emergency services and other interested parties. During this meeting
we will discuss the alternatives for the bridge that were evaluated through the scoping process,
including the consultant’s recommended alternatives.
Representatives from both VTrans and Barre City will be available at the meeting to gather input
on the alternatives.


Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Work

CVRPC is pleased to announce that we are working with four communities within the region on updating their municipalities Local Hazard Mitigation Plans. These both create a 5-year plan to address hazard mitigation and also allow towns to access FEMA funding for hazard mitigation as well as help communities to increase their Vermont Emergency Relief and Assistance Funding for public assistance damages.

These communities are:

Barre City– Survey link-https://tinyurl.com/ynnvh3p7

Cabot-draft LHMP available

Waitsfield– Survey link-https://tinyurl.com/3y4juzd3

Waterbury– Survey link-https://tinyurl.com/yc2ayjd9

If you would like more information or to make comments on these plans please contact

Keith Cubbon cubbon@cvregion.com.

As drafts are completed, they will be links added to this post.

Prioritizing Culvert Replacement and Dam Removal

Updates on Water Quality Improvement Projects

The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) received grant funding from the Water Quality Division of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) via a 604b grant administered by the Rutland Regional Planning Commission. The funding was used to review sector-based assessments (e.g. Stormwater Master Plans) to: 1) ensure projects identified in the assessment process are both included and accurately represented (e.g. up to date information regarding project phase) in the Department of Environmental Conservation Watershed Projects Database; and 2) identify potential projects that align with the goals, strategies and actions of the town plans of CVRPC member municipalities. This project was conducted to support the water quality restoration efforts of a variety of stakeholders, including the municipalities served by the CVRPC, watershed groups, the Agency of Natural Resources, the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District, the Winooski Clean Water Service Provider and the Winooski Basin Water Quality Council.

In coordination with the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Winooski River Basin Planner, Keith Fritschie, CVRPC staff reviewed four sector-based assessments and identified 100 water quality improvement projects that have not been entered into the Watershed Projects Database. In addition, in collaboration with Friends of the Winooski River, the details of 14 projects were updated in the database to reflect their current status. A review of town plans for thirteen of CVRPC’s member municipalities identified water quality restoration projects that may prove more feasible to implement due to municipal support was also conducted. Staff developed a spreadsheet to align municipal priorities with potential projects. This spreadsheet will be shared with watershed partners and municipal boards and commissions to build awareness of opportunities for water quality restoration efforts. Assessments of the remaining towns will be completed in the next fiscal year. With sufficient financial support, this review may be expanded to include Local Hazard Mitigation Plans and Emergency Management Plans to expand the list of potential projects.

Information gleaned during this effort will help support tactical basin planning and implementation, and serve as a useful resource for identifying projects for advancement through the Winooski River Basin Clean Water Service Provider Formula Grant and / or Water Quality Enhancement Grants. For more information regarding this effort or water quality restoration efforts in the Winooski River Basin, please contact Brian Voigt, Program Manager (voigt@cvregion.com).

Riparian Buffers and Invasive Species

2023 Draft Tactical Basin Plan Review and Presentation

2023 Draft Tactical Basin Plan Review – Sept 14

Flood Recovery Services – Barre Auditorium

There will be a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) located at the Barre Auditorium this Friday through Sunday, 9-5.  MARCs serve as one location where public and private organizations come together to help those affected by disaster.  Several state and non-profit agencies involved in individual disaster recovery will be present to answer questions and guide visitors to appropriate services, including FEMA, American Red Cross, Economic Services, Dept. of Labor, Vermont Dept. of Health, and others.

MARCs provide:

•         Meal and water from the Red Cross

•         Cleaning kits

•         Assistance finding recovery resources

•         Private well water test kits and PPE

•         Basic medical services

Fundamentals of Land Use Planning and Regulation in Vermont – March 29th

March 29, 2023 | 6pm – 7:30pm

This presentation is designed for new and experienced members of Select Boards, Planning Commissions and Development Review Boards. Anyone is welcome to attend!

Topics covered in this presentation:

  1. Planning for a Vibrant Sustainable Community
  2. Roles and Responsibilities of the PC, DRB and ZA
  3. Implementing the Municipal Plan and Land Use Regulations
  4. Meetings, Hearings and Due Process

Remote Participation via Zoom

Via computer, tablet or smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89428995074?pwd=YkVYcWdLY2ozUU9nUWVta2U2QTJQZz09

Via Phone: +1 (929) 436-2866 Passcode: 051810

Questions? Contact CVRPC Planner Jon Ignatowski: ignatowski@cvregion.com

CVRPC Appoints New Executive Director 

We are pleased to announce that Christian Meyer has been appointed executive director of the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC).  Christian has worked with the organization since 2021 and served as the acting director since October 2022. 

Christian, a native of Maple Corner in the Town of Calais, currently lives in Montpelier with his wife and two children. He enjoys working on his house and bumping into new and old acquaintances on the streets of Montpelier. 

Christian joined CVRPC in early 2021 as a senior transportation planner, coming from Waterbury, Connecticut where he worked on similar regional issues with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments. He brings his experience working with municipalities to help them identify and obtain the resources needed to achieve their goals. In his new role, Christian intends to build on the existing relationships with local leaders from the Central Vermont region, which includes Washington County and the towns of Orange, Washington and Williamstown, to ensure each municipality understands and benefits from the assistance that is available to them through their partnership with the Regional Planning Commission.