Items:
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning
How are brownfields impacting Central Vermont?
Information Session: Applying the New Onsite Rules in Central Vermont
CVRPC Exploring "Scenic Byway" Status for I-89 Corridor
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning
Pre-disaster mitigation is any action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people or property from hazards and their impacts. It involves an ongoing effort at the individual, local, State, and Federal levels to reduce the impact of disasters on families, homes, and communities. In October 2000, President Bush signed into law the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA), commonly known as the 2000 Stafford Act amendments. The DMA encourages states and local communities to undergo pre-disaster mitigation planning efforts in order to reduce the impact of disasters in the future. Under the DMA, a National Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program is established, which will provide funding over a three-year period.
By November 1, 2004, Vermont and its communities will be required
to have approved pre-disaster mitigation plans in place in order
to be eligible for post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs
funds. Currently, the Federal government pays 75% of post-disaster
costs, while the State and the impacted community cover the remaining
25%. A community without a plan in place will be on its own when
recovering from a disaster (except for emergency provisions).
This should not be taken lightly, as hazard mitigation funding
following natural disaster declarations has surpassed $50 million
in Vermont since 1989.
Pre-disaster mitigation plans identify potential natural hazards
in a geographic area and outline methods to prevent, reduce, and
recover from their impacts. Vermont Emergency Management will
be responsible for developing an approved plan for the State,
while the Regional Planning Commissions will be responsible for
developing the regional and local plans with assistance and input
from local officials. CVRPC will be developing a pre-disaster
mitigation plan for the Central Vermont Region. We will identify
potential disasters, potential impacts from these disasters, vulnerable
sites, and mitigation projects that would reduce the impacts of
disasters in Central Vermont.
The second phase, which will be implemented during FY 04, requires that CVRPC organize local appendices for each municipality. These appendices will identify potential hazards, vulnerable sites, and mitigation projects that are specific to individual municipalities. Since most Vermont communities are threatened mainly by flooding, storms, and landslides, many of these mitigation projects will deal with things such as road design, culvert improvements, and building improvements. The extent of both the regional plan and the local appendices will depend heavily on the funding that Vermont receives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Vermont has received $264,000 from FEMA for this year to be used to develop the regional plan and the framework for the community-based data. The second phase, next year, is scheduled to fund completion of the regional plan, including community-based appendices. It is expected that future funding from FEMA will be directed toward the specific mitigation projects that are identified in the regional plan and community-based appendices. CVRPC is in the initial stage of pre-disaster mitigation (PDM) planning. Once the regional PDM plan is underway, we will contact municipal officials to identify local priorities for pre-disaster mitigation planning. If you have any questions, please contact our office.
The Vermont Downtown Program, established under the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, recently released its application guidelines for the village center designation process. This village center designation, as provided for in 24 V.S.A chapter 76A, was created by the Legislature to recognize and encourage local efforts to revitalize Vermont's traditional village centers. The definition of a village center, according to the statute, is: "Village center means a traditional center of the community, typically composed of a cohesive core of residential, civic, religious, and commercial buildings arranged along a main street and intersecting streets. Industrial uses may be found within or immediately adjacent to these centers." According to the Downtown Program, village centers are to be designated to support the revitalization of what exists, not as a growth center. New growth should be expected in these village centers; however, they should not be used as a target for all new growth in a municipality.
Applications for designation must be made by the select board.
Decisions regarding designation will be made by the Vermont Downtown
Development Board. A municipality may seek designation for more
than one village center, but each must meet the specific application
requirements. Also, village centers will be designated on a three-year
basis, so renewal requests will be due every three years. These
renewals must demonstrate that the village center continues to
meet all requirements for designation.
If a village center is designated under this program it will be
eligible for the following benefits:
ß 5% Vermont Income Tax Credit for Substantial Rehabilitation
of Certified Historic Buildings. This credit is available for
income producing buildings that apply for and qualify for the
20% Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit. Therefore, qualifying
projects receive a total tax credit of 25%.
ß 50% Vermont Income Tax Credit for Code Improvements to
Commercial Buildings. This credit is available for capital improvements
to commercial buildings in order to comply with: fire, life safety,
and accessibility codes; Health Department rules for food establishments;
Agriculture Department rules for the sale of dairy and meats;
and Agriculture Department rules on weights and measures. Only
one award, up to $5,000, can be awarded to any one building.
ß Designated village centers will be given priority consideration
for all grants administered through the State's Municipal Planning
Grant Program and the Consolidated Plan for HUD funding, including
the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).
ß Designated village centers will be given consideration
and priority by the State Building Department when leasing or
constructing buildings, in consultation with the community.
ß A special assessment district in a designated village
may use funds for operating costs in addition to capital expenses.
The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission encourages municipalities in the region to apply for village center designation. Staff is available to help with this process by answering questions, writing required letters, assisting in the mapping process, and assisting in the general application process. Please contact our office if you have any additional questions. If you would like a copy of the application guidelines, please visit www.dhca.state.vt.us/DHP/programs/villagedesignation.htm.
How are brownfields impacting Central Vermont?
Brownfields are former industrial or commercial properties that have been abandoned, under-utilized, or idled because of the presence of contamination or the perception that the sites are contaminated. A brownfield inventory and assessment includes the identification of brownfield sites and an assessment of the redevelopment potential of these sites, based on elements such as contamination levels, reuse potential, developer interest, and community desire to redevelop the property. CVRPC is in the process of submitting an application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfield Assessment Grant Program.
If successful, this grant will provide the Regional Commission with up to $200,000 to fund the Central Vermont Brownfield Inventory and Assessment Initiative, a project aimed at conducting activities related to brownfield assessment in Central Vermont. These activities include the compilation of a list of all potential brownfield sites in the area, environmental assessments of sites to reveal contamination levels, and a list of priority sites to begin remediation and redevelopment plans. In addition, the grant funding will be used to conduct community outreach around the issue of brownfield assessment and redevelopment in Central Vermont. The goal of this outreach will be to educate citizens about brownfields, their impact, and the benefits of redevelopment, and will allow for citizen participation during the project. CVRPC will update the status of the grant application through our webpage. Contact CVRPC staff with any questions or comments.
Information Session: Applying the New Onsite Rules in Central Vermont
The Legislature passed landmark legislation in the last session that dramatically changes how onsite septic systems are regulated in Vermont. CVRPC hosted a technical discussion regarding how the new Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules will have an impact on our Region and our State. Anne Whiteley, legal counsel for the Department of Environmental Conservation, and Marilyn Davis, Director of the Vermont Wastewater Management Division, led this discussion. Municipal representatives, attorneys, realtors, and landowners were invited to this event. To learn more about how these new regulations affect property in Central Vermont, view the event on digital archives. Call our office at 229-0389 if you have any questions about this event.
CVRPC Exploring "Scenic Byway" Status for I-89 Corridor
Vermont's interstate highways are corridors of unique, scenic beauty offering the traveling public access to a landscape defined by a harmonious mix of natural and cultural features. As most visitors to the State arrive via the interstates, they are the places where first impressions of Vermont are often formed. As such, their aesthetic quality and functionality is essential to both our image and economy.
The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, in collaboration with four other regional planning commissions, has submitted a proposal to the Vermont Agency of Transportation's Enhancement Program to undertake the development of a management plan for the I-91 and I-89 corridors from the Towns of Waterbury and Newbury south to the Vermont-Massachusetts state line. The management plan would include an assessment of resources along these corridors and a strategy for maintaining and enhancing them. This plan would be developed in cooperation with affected towns, State agencies and other stakeholders and would incorporate an extensive public participation process.
The plan will also explore the feasibility of seeking Federal Scenic Byway designation for these interstate corridors. The benefits of such designation could include access to Federal funds for improvements, resource protection, and marketing/tourism development.
If you would like more information on the joint proposal, or the Scenic Byways program, contact Steve Gladczuk or Chris Walsh at CVRPC.