Details about the Commercial District Project
The Commercial District of Jericho is located along Route 15 where Jeri-Hill Ace Hardware, Mountain High Pizza, and Autosmith are. The area is called the Commercial District because for many years the town planners thought that the central location along Route 15 would attract lots of businesses.
Some businesses have located there, but there are also many houses. There are still several acres of undeveloped open land along Route 15 between Raceway and the new light at Browns Trace.
The Town wants to take a fresh look at this area. The Town received a grant and hired a land use consultant to study the Commercial District, to understand the potential for the area to be further developed.
The consultant is responsible to deliver a “Master Plan” which will illustrate the community’s desired buildout for the Commercial District. The consultant will help the town to look at various scenarios and to consider zoning changes.
The consultant started the project by working with several landowners to understand their intentions to develop their land in the Commercial District and how that development would fit within the existing Town Plan and zoning regulations. The consultant and the Planning Commission will review a first draft of a Master Plan in early 2019. Then, the consultant and the Planning Commission will hold a series of workshops and public meetings to hear what Jericho residents think and feel about the long-term vision and potential for the Commercial District.
The Planning Commission’s goal for 2019 is to create a Master Plan for the Commercial District that shows a community-wide vision for the future and to develop zoning updates which would implement that vision.
Some questions for residents to think about for the Commercial District are:
· How much development would most residents hope to see in this area?
· What type of development would most residents hope to see in this area?
o Is this a good spot for new neighborhoods, business parks, or farms?
o What else could we envision here?
· How can we protect the Mt Mansfield views?
· How should future development in this Route 15 Commercial District area look and function, compared to development in Jericho’s Village Centers?
o The Commercial District is one of four areas zoned for growth and “mixed use” (businesses and residences in the same area). The other areas zoned for growth and mixed use are the three Village Centers – Riverside (where the Jericho Market is, aka the Flats), Jericho Corners (where Joe’s is), and Jericho Center (where the Country Store is).
o The three Villages’ zoning requires walkable small-scale development. Pedestrians and public transit are priorities. The Commercial District allows large scale development and provides space for businesses that use large trucks. Auto access and parking are prioritized over pedestrians, cyclists, or public transit.
o How should the four areas be the same? How should they be different?
o If the zoning changed, to help make the Commercial District more walkable and residential, then certain types of businesses might not be able to operate there. Is that a problem?
· Should the town do more to help make more building and development happen in the Commercial District?
