Planning Commission
The Jericho Planning Commission (PC) is made up of seven volunteer-members appointed by the Select Board. We do our work through a lens which attempts to balance the public good with private rights and interests by listening to public input, researching issues and solutions, and following state and regional laws and guidelines.
The primary duties and responsibilities of the PC include:
Prepare the Comprehensive Plan, for consideration by the Selectboard. The Comprehensive Plan, also known as the Town Plan or Municipal Plan, describes the future visions and goals of the community, and it sets forth how the Town intends to achieve its goals.
Propose by-laws, for consideration by the Selectboard. The by-laws, also known as Land Use and Development regulations or zoning regulations, implement the growth and development goals of the community, and they must conform with the Town Plan.
Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Public participation and comment is welcomed and encouraged. Click Here For PC Meeting Procedures
Other roles of the PC:
Advises the Selectboard and other Town committees (e.g. Conservation Commission, Trails Committee, Affordable Housing Committee) on planning topics, projects, and the capital program.
Assists town committees and staff with actions that will implement the visions and goals of the adopted Town Plan. Each town committee has a liaison on the Planning Commission so we remain apprised of each others' work.
The PC is assisted and guided by the Town Planner, who is a town employee. Through this collaboration the PC and Planner:
- Collect information and recommend town policies related to land use and development, housing, public spaces, transportation, economic and social development, historic and scenic preservation, recreation, energy use and conservation, and natural resources protection.
- Identify grants from government and nonprofits to fund projects.
Ensure Jericho complies with state planning goals and smart growth principles.
Work with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, our neighboring towns, and state agencies like the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Agency of Natural Resources.
Click on any of the buttons below to read the documents:
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Click this link to view more planning documents on the Town Documents Page. You can also find all old versions of the Town Plan and Land Use Regulations Here. You can also find more Planning Documents on the sidebar of this page.
Here are some of our current projects - click on each image for more information.
 Connecting Jericho Corners and Riverside - Multimodal Path |
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Planning Commission Meeting July 7
The Planning Commission met on July 7 via Zoom.
The PC heard from Alex Weinhagen, Planning Director of Hinesburg, about their Official Map and the process they went through to create that map.
The PC learned a bit more about the State statute that sets out regional and local planning goals. Click this to View the presentation.
The PC also be discussed the draft changes to the Zoning Regulations related to the Commercial District. They have been working on the draft since last fall, based on the Master Plan finding and community input, You can view the new draft on the Commercial District page.
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Lend Your Voice to Vermont/National Commute Survey
The commutes of many Vermonters have changed significantly due to COVID-19, with many shifting to telecommuting. Now that workplaces are starting to open back up, transportation planners in Vermont are interested in understanding the potential changes in work travel.
The CCRPC, CATMA, and Vermont Agency of Transportation invite you to provide feedback on how COVID-19 may impact your commute to work.
Complete the 5-minute survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACTcovidCATMA
Results from the survey will provide important information to towns, transportation planners and providers, policy makers, and employers on how to meet the needs of commuters and help ensure your return to the work site is safe and reliable. The survey was developed by the Association for Commuter Transportation and Center for Transportation Demand Management.
The survey is open until July 3, 2020, and as an incentive all submissions received by June 26, 2020 will qualify for a drawing for one of five (5) $100 Amazon gift cards. The survey can be completed by all individuals currently working or planning to return to work in the coming months. Thanks in advance for your participation.
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Planning Commission Meeting June 2
The Planning Commission meets next on June 2 at 7:00 pm. There will be no physical location for this meeting and it will be held virtually. The public is invited to attend:
- via Zoom webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88451845445 . If you enter the meeting via the video, you will be able to offer verbal comment. or
- call in to the webinar by phone: (646) 558-8656 or (301) 715-8592, enter the Zoom webinar ID # 884 5184 5445 . If you enter the meeting via phone, you will be able to participate live and offer comments. or
- or watch live via MMCTV https://www.youtube.com/user/MMCTV15/live . This is a view only option. or
- Live on MMCTV Comcast Cable Channel 1086. This is a view only option. The meeting will also be recorded and available to view at later dates.
You can also leave comments here or send an email to Katherine Sonnick, Town Planner, ksonnick@jerichovt.gov.
During this meeting, the Planning Commission will continue to discuss any new comments on the new draft of the Commercial District Zoning. That draft can be viewed on the Commercial District project page on this website, clicking the blue text in the previous sentence. Up through Sunday May 31, you may also provide comments directly on the document on that same CD project page.
They will look at three additional changes that were outstanding in the May 11 draft:
The PC will likely also discuss amendments to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) language in the Zoning as well as looking forward to their long term scheduling and will discuss their meeting/projects for the next several month.
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May 19 PC Meeting
The Planning Commission met on May 19. There was no physical location for this meeting and it was held virtually.
During this meeting, the Planning Commission discussed a new draft of the Commercial District Zoning. That draft can be viewed on the Commercial District project page on this website, clicking the blue text in the previous sentence. They explained that on the Commercial District page there is application set up where anyone can leave comments on any part of the draft regulations. This will be available to all to see.
The PC also discussed some possible ways that the town can encourage local agriculture.
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May 5 Planning Commission Meeting
The Planning Commission, after taking a break in April, meet on May 5. There was no physical location for that meeting.
The following items were on the agenda:
- COVID-19 Meeting Procedures
- Public Comment
- Approve Minutes of March 10, 2020
- Liaison Updates
- General Updates
- Discussion– Upcoming Meeting Schedule
- Discussion– Upcoming Draft Commercial District Zoning Language
- Schedule - The PC hopes to get another round of edits from their consultant at the beginning of May.
- Review Process - Considering the current social distancing measures in place, the PC will discuss how to move forward with the review of the draft.
- Discussion – Next Projects , Short-Term and Long-Term
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March 10 Planning Commission Meeting
The Planning Commission met on Tuesday March 10. The following items were discussed:
- They interviewed Sabina Ernst for a Planning Commission vacancy and voted to recommend to the Selectboard that she be appointed to the PC. She will be interviewed by the Selectboard at their next meeting on March 19.
- Liaison updates - Sarah shared updates related to the Trails Committee.
- They discussed the draft language they have received from their consultant for the Commercial District. Specifically, the discussed the use table. They will have a more involved discussion on the draft at their next meeting on March 24.
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 18
The Planning commission meets next on Tuesday February 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Town Hall. They have a busy agenda. The full agenda may be viewed on the sidebar of this page.
- The PC members, as become a custom, will update each other on their interaction with other boards and committees. We call this "Liaison Updates."
- They will discuss where they are on developing an Official Map.
- The chair, Jason Cheney, will provide an update on the Ride Share project that he is working on with the Council of Rural Development.
- The majority of the evening will be spent in discussion with their consultant, Chris Sargent, reviewing the draft zoning language for the Commercial District. That draft language can be viewed on the Future of the Commercial District project page.
- They will also discuss their plans for their table at Town Meeting Day.
All are welcome to attend. If you cannot make it, the MMCTV video will be available for viewing later in the week following the meeting.
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 4
The Planning Commission met on Tuesday February 4.
They spend much of their meeting discussing their future projects and organizing their workload. They are currently working with their consultant on new zoning the the Commercial District. That will be wrapping up soon. The decided that they will focus on the following items next:
- An Official Map for the Commercial District and trails around Town;
- Edits to the Riverside Character Based Zoning District, they will be working with the DRB on this;
- Edits to the Zoning Planned Unit Developments;
- Edits to the Zoning to include energy efficiency; and
- Protecting agricultural land and encouraging agricultural businesses.
They looked at their survey on renaming the Commercial District and have a proposed new name - the Mansfield Neighborhood & Business District. AKA Mansfield or the MN&BD. What do you think? They'll be reaching out to folks about this name in the near future.
The PC will have a table at Town Meeting in March. This is a great time for anyone to stop by and chat about planning with the PC.
The minutes of the meeting will be availalbe on this page later this week and the meeting was recorded by MMCTV. That is available on this web page.
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Planning Commission Meeting - January 21
The Planning Commission meets next on Tuesday January 21 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Town Hall.
The meeting will focus mostly on setting out a road map for short and long term planning projects. They will will be looking at their task list to help inform their next steps. You can view their Planning Task document here.
All are welcome to attend.
Watch MMUCTV Recordings
Questions? Contact Us
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Committee Chair
SBEmail Pchair@jerichovt.gov -
Jericho Town Planner
Phone 802-899-2287 x103 Email lblasch@jerichovt.gov