2024 Village Center Zoning Updates

In early 2024, Jericho applied for and received a Bylaw Modernization Grant (BMG) from the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Funding from this grant program is for municipalities for land use, development, and zoning bylaw updates in support of a pedestrian-oriented development pattern that increase housing choice, affordability, and opportunity in areas planned in accordance with Vermont’s smart growth principles (24 V.S.A. §2791). This funding is intended to help municipalities confront the State’s housing shortage and ready areas for new housing investments.

Throughout 2024, the Planning Commission (PC) will be working with David White from Sterling Mountain Community Planning and Design to review the Village Center (VCTR) zoning and Character Based Zone (CBZ) bylaws and identify areas for amendments. The Enabling Better Places document published by the DHCD will be used as a guide for the zoning amendments.

Proposed changes simplify an existing form-based code in the Riverside Village Center, align with the Town Plan, and establish regulations appropriate for an area serviced by a future municipal wastewater system in Riverside.

The amendments address five topics:  

1. Dimensional Standards – lot sizes, lot coverage, building setbacks and height, number of principal buildings on a lot, non-conforming conditions, required architectural treatments, and character-based frontage requirements; 

2. Parking –number of on-site parking spaces, on street parking, and location of parking that can reduce costs and are appropriate for walkable neighborhoods. 

3. Allowable Uses – reduce restrictions for housing, contemporary definition of family composition, and reduce unnecessary subdivision of land to support diverse uses and barriers to housing. 

4. Street Standards – Allow on-street parking, public realm standards, reduce lane widths, and implement complete-street principles to create streets that support more intense land use and walking, biking, and driving; and,

5. Development Review Processes – Reduce requirements for conditional use approval and discretionary site plan review, simplify requirements for small-scale development, allow limited deviations from certain zoning standards, avoid overreliance on PUD reviews, and make staff responsible for site plan review – all updates that can reduce costs and time associated with permitting housing.

In early 2024, Jericho applied for and received a Bylaw Modernization Grant (BMG) from the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Funding from this grant program is for municipalities for land use, development, and zoning bylaw updates in support of a pedestrian-oriented development pattern that increase housing choice, affordability, and opportunity in areas planned in accordance with Vermont’s smart growth principles (24 V.S.A. §2791). This funding is intended to help municipalities confront the State’s housing shortage and ready areas for new housing investments.

Throughout 2024, the Planning Commission (PC) will be working with David White from Sterling Mountain Community Planning and Design to review the Village Center (VCTR) zoning and Character Based Zone (CBZ) bylaws and identify areas for amendments. The Enabling Better Places document published by the DHCD will be used as a guide for the zoning amendments.

Proposed changes simplify an existing form-based code in the Riverside Village Center, align with the Town Plan, and establish regulations appropriate for an area serviced by a future municipal wastewater system in Riverside.

The amendments address five topics:  

1. Dimensional Standards – lot sizes, lot coverage, building setbacks and height, number of principal buildings on a lot, non-conforming conditions, required architectural treatments, and character-based frontage requirements; 

2. Parking –number of on-site parking spaces, on street parking, and location of parking that can reduce costs and are appropriate for walkable neighborhoods. 

3. Allowable Uses – reduce restrictions for housing, contemporary definition of family composition, and reduce unnecessary subdivision of land to support diverse uses and barriers to housing. 

4. Street Standards – Allow on-street parking, public realm standards, reduce lane widths, and implement complete-street principles to create streets that support more intense land use and walking, biking, and driving; and,

5. Development Review Processes – Reduce requirements for conditional use approval and discretionary site plan review, simplify requirements for small-scale development, allow limited deviations from certain zoning standards, avoid overreliance on PUD reviews, and make staff responsible for site plan review – all updates that can reduce costs and time associated with permitting housing.

  • Zoning Discussion - October 15, 2024


    Click Here to View Presentation Slides




  • Zoning Discussion - September 17, 2024

    . Presentation by David White of proposed changes: Bylaw Modernization Grant (BMG) Village Center zoning


    Click Here For Presentation Slides

  • Zoning Discussion - August 6, 2024

    David White, Consultant for the Bylaw Modernization Grant will give a presentation and discuss the draft zoning amendments regarding:

    • Portions of Sec. 10 relating to BLA’s, Subdivision, Site Plan and PUD review processes
    • Sec. 11 – General Development Standards
    • Sec. 13 - Architectural Design Standards


    Click Here For Presentation Slides

  • Development Potential & Use Table- June 18, 2024

    At the meeting on June 18, consultant David White discussed the development potential of each Village Center and proposed changes to the use table in the zoning with the Planning Commission. He also provided a high level summary of other zoning changes to expect in the proposed amendments based on prior meetings and conversations.

  • Jericho Corners & Jericho Center (VCTR) zoning discussion- 6.4.24

    At the meeting on June 4, the Planning Commission reviewed and discussed a presentation from consultant David White about the villages of Jericho Corners and Jericho Center. The presentation highlighted the differences and similarities between the districts. Planning Commission members discussed their observations and key takeaways from walking tours in each village and reviewed the dimensional standards and purpose of the zoning district from the bylaws. Click the image below to view slides from the presentation.

  • Riverside CBZ discussion part 2- 5.21.24

    At the meeting on May 21, the Planning Commission reviewed and discussed a presentation from consultant David White about the Riverside Village Character Based Zoning (CBZ) and the relationship between it and the Village Center (VCTR) zoning district. The presentation highlighted the differences between the districts and made a recommendation to consider changing the delineation between the districts. Click the image below to view slides from the presentation.

  • Riverside CBZ discussion- 5.7.24

    At the meeting on May 7, the Planning Commission reviewed and discussed a presentation from consultant David White about the Riverside Village Character Based Zoning (CBZ). The presentation highlighted areas of unnecessary complexity and overly prescriptive architectural standards and made recommendations for substantial changes to improve and simplify the regulations. Recommendations included a name change to the CBZ districts; from "Character District 4 (CD4)" to "Riverside Village Center" and from "Character District 3 (CD3)" to "Riverside Village Neighborhood". Click the image below to view slides from the presentation.

  • Zoning Audit Overview- 4.16.24

    At the meeting on April 16, the Planning Commission reviewed and discussed a presentation that provided an overview of the zoning audit done by the Town Planner and consultant David White of the Village Centers and Character Based Zoning districts. The presentation highlighted areas of discrepancy, where the current zoning doesn't align with recommendations from the state Enabling Better Places guide and general recommendations for amendments to consider. It also identified aspects of the Development Review Process that could be streamlined and other improvements to improve efficient processing of zoning applications. Click the image below to view slides from the presentation.

  • Introductory Presentations by Sterling Mountain Planning

    On February 20, David White from Sterling Mountain Planning gave two presentations to the Planning Commission to kick off the project. The first provided an overview of the scope of changes that the Planning Commission will be asked to consider in this Village Center zoning update. Click the image below to view slides from that presentation.

    The second presentation was focused on the Village Center zoning district in Riverside/Underhill Flats that's called the "Character Based Zone." This type of zoning is a Form Based Code, which is different than traditional zoning because it's more prescriptive in the appearance of buildings and the layout of a village area and has increased flexibility in terms of the types of uses that can be located there. Click the image below to view the slides from that presentation and learn more about Form Based Codes.


  • Project Introduction Slides

    Click the image below to view a slides presented at the 1/16/24 Planning Commission meeting to introduce the Village Center Zoning Update project.

Page last updated: 25 Jun 2025, 12:09 PM