Planning Commission

Why are we doing this scoping study?

• The Planning Commission continues to hear that Jericho residents want more infrastructure that provides safe ways to walk and bike more around town - to get to school, visit friends, shop and dine. Fewer car trips improves health and well-being, and reducing emissions is better for clean air and water.

• The backbone of a safe and useful bike/ped network would be a connection between our three Village Centers. This was identified as a priority in a Bike & Pedestrian Master Plan for Jericho that was developed in 2015. (click to view study report)

• The current study will look at 2 options to connect Jericho Corners (Jericho Elementary School/Griswold Street) with Riverside/Flats (Browns River Middle School/Mills Riverside Park) and determine which is most feasible. One option is along the south side of Route 15 and the other is following along an old railroad bed through private property north of route 15.

• The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission receives federal funds to work with consultants and towns to complete scoping studies like these. Jericho is fortunate to only pay a small portion of consulting fees for this work.

Didn't we already study this idea?

• Yes. The Town hired Dubois & King (D&K) in 2016, to develop plans to connect Jericho Corners with Riverside. (click to view study report)

• D&K considered 3 options for a sidewalk/path. One on the north side of Route 15, one on the south side of Route 15, and a "cross-country" path using the old railroad bed north of route 15, which runs parallel to Browns River, generally from Cilley Hill Road to Raceway Road/Route 15. The 2016 study considered:

  • Traffic

  • Who would use the path and where would they go (i.e. school, work)

  • Options for crossing Route 15

  • Impacts to homes and utilities along the route.

• The river, wetlands, and private property issues (no existing right-of-way) were perceived as major obstacles to using the old railroad bed, therefore the option of using that route was not fully explored.

• The option on the north side of route 15 had more significant impacts to utilities, required more property acquisition, required more residents to cross route 15 in order to access the path, and was more expensive than the south side option.

• In 2016 public engagement was minimal - fewer than 10 residents attended the primary meeting and about 10 others wrote emails.

• In May 2017, the Selectboard selected the option for a sidewalk/path along the south side of Route 15, separated by a green strip where possible as the preferred alternative.

Why repeat the study? Why aren't we just building something?

• In 2017, D&K estimated costs to build a connection would range from $600,000 to $900,000. State and federal grants pay to design and build most sidewalks and paths. Towns typically cover 10%-20% of the costs; grants cover 80%-90%.

• Jericho applied for Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) grants to build segments of the Route 15 south side path but was declined twice. VTrans gave feedback on improvements needed to strengthen a grant application in order for the project to be funded. Without grants, building the connection would be too expensive.

• Since the original study, residents continue to press for safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure with a lot of interest in a cross-country path option. The Planning Commission and the Selectboard decided to re-open the project and fully evaluate the cross-country railbed option along with the south side of Route 15 option.

• The Planning Commission believes that more public engagement will lead to a better design with more public support, and a better design will lead to a stronger application which is more likely to win funding. In fact, we have already seen higher participation rates with over 70 people attending the initial public meeting in February, 2023.

Are you curious about opportunities to create a path to walk or ride a bike from the area near Jericho Elementary School all the way to Mills Riverside Park? The Town of Jericho is working with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and their consultant, Stantec, to investigate the feasibility of creating a multi-use path (for bikes and pedestrians) between the villages of Jericho Corners and Riverside/Underhill Flats. Join us for a community discussion at the Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, February 21^st, at 7:00 PM at the Jericho Town Hall or via Zoom (link to be posted on the Planning Commission agenda). The purpose of this meeting is for the community to share ideas, support, and/or concerns regarding this connectivity project. Currently under consideration are a path adjacent to Route 15 and/or a multi-use trail that could follow the old railroad bed between Raceway Road, Route 15 and beyond.

Click to view a PDF version of the presentation: Jericho VT 15 Multi-Use Path Scoping Study Local Concerns Meeting

The consultant will use resident input from this meeting to develop and refine design concepts that will be presented at a future meeting. For more information, see this page on the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission website: https://www.ccrpcvt.org/jericho-corners-to-riverside-multi-use-path/

The Jericho Planning Commission is responsible for community planning focusing on land use, development, and growth. Planning integrates land use with priorities for housing, transportation, economic development, recreation, energy use, natural resources conservation, and healthy living. Jericho’s plans and zoning regulations must comply with state laws and goals, and with the Chittenden County regional plan.

Vermont's primary land use planning goal:

To plan development so as to maintain the historic settlement pattern

of compact village and urban centers separated by rural countryside.

Here are the main topics discussed by the PC in our work during 2022:

1. Housing Assessment

2. Zoning for Housing

3. ARPA

4. Town Plan 2024

5. Official Map

6. Hiring New Town Planner

Click Here To Read The Full Report

On January 5, 2023 the Planning Commission presented recommendations that the Selectboard consider allocating some ARPA funds toward investments to help expand housing options in Jericho and to catalyze mixed use development in the Riverside Village Center.

Click here to read the document: PC Recommendation to Selectboard - ARPA

View the Presentation Slides Here

The Select Board and all of our staff are pleased to announce the hiring of Linda Blasch, who has accepted the position of Town Planner. Following a regional search and group interviews with the hiring committee, Planning Commission, Town of Jericho staff and the Select Board, it turns out that our next Town Planner has been living in right here in Jericho! Linda has most recently been a regional planner with Northwest Regional Planning in St Albans. She has worked with numerous Franklin and Lamoille County municipalities to develop and managing transportation, water infrastructure and community development projects. Having also worked for the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation, Linda has more than a decade of experience assessing and implementing grant funded projects. She has worked extensively with state and municipal staff, locally elected and appointed officials, and town boards. Linda has a track record of collaborative successes, partnering with small Vermont communities to identify creative ways to get transformational projects to completion. As a Jericho resident, Linda has developed a depth of understanding and appreciation for both the attributes that make Jericho unique-- and our opportunities, assets and challenges. Linda will be located in the Planning and Zoning office, beginning December 5th. She will be working closely with the Planning Commission on the upcoming revision of the Town Plan, the completion and approval of an official town map and forwarding the process of identifying and implementing ARPA funded projects. Welcome aboard Linda!

Like most towns in Vermont, and nationwide, Jericho is experiencing a shortage of diverse housing stock. The state is encouraging towns to make small changes to their zoning codes to encourage more housing. Jericho implemented some of the recommended changes in the 2021 updates to our bylaws and plans to make additional changes in future editions. We are collaborating with the Affordable Housing Committee and diligently working to encourage development of low income, and workforce housing within Jericho to supplement existing and ongoing development.

This topic was recently featured on Vermont Edition. Click below to listen:

https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2022-09-30/vermont-towns-are-considering-changes-in-their-zoning-regulations-to-spur-more-housing

The Selectboard and Planning Commission are pleased to share that they have selected Sterling Mountain Community Planning & Design (https://www.sterlingmountainplanning.com) to assist with the update of the Town Plan. This project will begin in fall 2022 and continue for about a year. Residents will have many opportunities to participate and help develop ideas for how Jericho should grow and prosper over the next 10 years. Check out the Town Plan 2024 project page (coming soon) for more info.

The Town of Jericho (VT) is looking for its next Town Planner. Jericho (pop. ~5,080) is a small rural community in the center of Chittenden County about 30 minutes from Burlington to the west and Mt. Mansfield to the east. The community has 3 small historic village centers surrounded by a quintessential rural landscape and abundant recreational opportunities.

Do you:

Want to work in a growing community that cares deeply about planning?

Seek a new challenge and opportunity to take your career to another level?

Want to play a leadership role in guiding the future of a dynamic rural small town?

Have a weakness for craft beer or coffee, maple creemees, and handmade chocolate all within walking distance of your office?

If so, this job is exactly what you should be looking for!

The primary responsibility of the Town Planner is to assist the Planning Commission in carrying out their statutory functions and supporting the Town Administrator in managing the implementation of grant funded projects. The work of the Town Planner involves researching, analyzing, developing, and proposing land use planning and development policies, plans and ordinances for consideration by the Planning Commission and Selectboard. This work requires a high degree of independence, initiative, sound judgment and professionalism.

Jericho has number of exciting planning initiatives currently underway that make this role particularly enticing including an update of the 2020 Town Plan, a wastewater feasibility study for the 3 state-designated Village Centers, prioritization of ARPA funding, and a multi-modal path scoping study. The Town also has several very active citizen committees working on affordable housing, trails, land conservation, energy, equity, and social justice.

Our ideal candidate will be highly independent, curious, collaborative and a great communicator, and have a Bachelor’s degree and 3 or more years of experience in the field. The Town can offer a very competitive salary DOQ, a comprehensive benefits package, a flexible work environment, and a team-oriented work setting.

For a complete job description click HERE. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume and list of three references to John Abbott, Town Administrator via email at jabbott@jerichovt.gov or via mail at P.O. Box 39, Jericho, VT 05465.

The Town of Jericho is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The deadline for responses is 9/23.

The Planning Commission meets next on Tuesday June 21, 2022 at 7:00pm.

The PC is holding their meeting in person at Town Hall and via Zoom. Public comment at this meeting is welcomed and encouraged using the following methods:

• Join us in Town Hall
• Join the Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86061814292?pwd=TmM4TzJFVWVHbitnMGM3c2pPVzd0dz09 Join by phone: +1 646 558 8656
  Meeting ID: 860 6181 4292, Passcode: 863700
• MMCTV live video recording on Youtube: http://mtmansfieldctv.org/live-streams/ and on local Comcast cable channel 1076 and 1086. Note that these MMCTV options will not allow for live public comment

The PC will discuss their recommendations to the Selectboard related to the second ARPA survey, the status of their RFQ for the Town Plan and the Official Map project, future zoning updates, and summer outreach plans.

The full PC agenda is available to view on the PC webpage.