Bradford Academy, Bradford, Vermont | Source: John Knox
IN THIS ISSUE OF NEWS & NOTES
Who is TRORC and What Can We Do for You and Your Town?
Have you ever thought: “I hear the name TRORC a lot, but I’m not sure what they do”? You’re not the only one. Many Town Officials and partners have only experienced a small sample of what we offer the 30 towns in our Region.
TRORC is the regional planning commission for east-central Vermont. We serve 30 towns, helping them with mapping, grants, plans, data, ordinances, and other projects. Most of all, we are a wealth of knowledge for our towns; we can advise on planning practice, provide you with information about statutory requirements, connect you with people around the state, help you apply for or manage various grants, and much more.
As someone at a recent event told us, “Until today, TRORC was this vague thing out there that if I needed some help and I really didn’t know who else to go to, maybe I would reach out. Now, I’m about to become your biggest pain in the butt! I have a list of things now and I’m going to start sending a bunch of emails. Your collective off-the-top-of-your-head knowledge is phenomenal.”
If you have a question or an idea, odds are we can point you in the right direction. To learn more about how we help towns in specific areas, including transportation, housing, economic development, land use, grants, and water quality, watch the information session we hosted last month. The video is bookmarked, so you can jump to a specific topic by clicking on the time-stamp in the video description.
Do you have a question for us? Feel free to email [email protected] or give us a call at 802-457-3188.
TRORC's Offices at King Farm, Woodstock VT | Source: TRORC .
TRORC To Work with Conservation Commissions
TRORC works frequently with many town groups and offices, but one town group that we do not often interact with is the Conservation Commission. With the help of Michelle Davis, a student from Vermont Law School with an interest in planning, staff from TRORC have been contacting Conservation Commissions and scheduling meetings to discuss ways we can best support their work. We have reached out to all Conservation Commissions, and plan to meet with interested Towns over the next few months.
Is your town interested in forming a Conservation Commission, and would like resources? Or would you like to schedule a meeting? Email Paige at [email protected].
2019 Field Season Has Begun, and DEC
Grants-In-Aid Year 3 Now Open!
TRORC staff are busy with assisting towns with their road erosion inventories. We are completing the towns of Fairlee and West Fairlee and are beginning this early summer with Pomfret, Barnard, Royalton, Rochester and Hartford. TRORC worked with the towns of Hartland, Woodstock, Topsham, Newbury, Plymouth, Bradford and Brookfield on this last round of VTrans Better Roads grants and all applications for road erosion inventories were recently awarded.
The Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Municipal Roads Grants-in-Aid Program Year 2 is ending quickly; towns must complete their ditching projects by July 31, 2019. The Grants-In-Aid program offers funding to participating municipalities to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) on hydrologically connected road segments that currently do not meet standards. Invitation letters to participate in Year 3 Grants-in-Aid were sent to towns last week, along with select municipalities that are eligible for equipment purchase grants. The grant allocation for the TRORC region is $475,900, and 21 of 32 municipalities are eligible for equipment purchases. Deadline to submit letters of intent to participate is July 3, 2019. Please contact Rita ([email protected]) with any questions or see our full announcement here.
-Year 3: Grant Invitation- Letter of Intent to Participate
Road Erosion Inventory Training | Source: TRORC.
Upcoming Training: How to Engage with Your Community
Do you have trouble finding volunteers to serve on boards or assist with projects? Do you suffer from a lack of quorum? Are the same two people showing up to public hearings? You’re not alone. TRORC has hired Rebecca Sanborn Stone of Community Workshop to teach us about creative ways to foster more diverse and meaningful public engagement. All Regional Commissioners and town officials are invited. Topics include:
-Focusing your available time more effectively to expand feedback.
-Using gathering locations and social networks to magnify your time.
-Telling stories to frame messages that are meaningful to your audience.
-Thinking differently about what success means.
Come share your triumphs and challenges, exchange ideas, and launch your work.
Join this TRORC training on Tuesday, June 18th from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Royalton Academy with Rebecca Sanborn Stone.
This free event will include light refreshments. Space is limited, so RSVPs are required. Please register at our Eventbrite Page
Royalton Academy | Source: Google Maps
Bicycle and Pedestrian Grants Due 6/28
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is soliciting applications for projects this year through the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. The intent of the VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Program is to improve access and safety for bicyclists and/or pedestrians through the planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects. The grant application is due June 28, 2019.
The Bike/Ped Program provides funding for either a scoping study or a design/construction project. For a copy of the VTrans 2019 Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Program Guide and to access the application materials, visit the VTrans Bike/Ped Program website.
If your town would like grant writing assistance, contact Rita Seto ([email protected]) ASAP. Other questions about the program and application process can be directed to Jon Kaplan, VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, via email or at (802) 498-4742.
TRO Region Saw Widespread Flooding in April
Widespread flooding occurred in the TRO Region on April 15th from heavy and prolonged rain storms. This was due to a combination of fast snow melt, high temperatures, and over two inches of rain. There was enough damage statewide to warrant a Preliminary Disaster Assessment (PDA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the week after the storms took place. The Governor’s office has made a formal request to the President to make this a federally declared disaster. TRORC wants to remind towns to fully document your repairs, whether they are temporary or permanent. Several emails have been sent out to every town and multiple boards/committees explaining the process. It is expected that mandatory applicant briefings will take place in August and TRORC will make sure that affected towns are aware of this.
For more information on what to do to prepare for FEMA public assistance, please contact
Tory Littlefield at [email protected].
Town Officials from Pittsfield and FEMA survey damage during the PDA.
Source: George Deblon, Pittsfield Road Foreman
FY19 VTrans Better Roads Awards Announced
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) recently announced the hotly anticipated project awards for the FY19 Better Roads grants. TRORC assisted 19 towns with 28 grant applications totaling $600,000 in project requests. VTrans awarded 17 of the 21 construction project applications submitted (ditching and cross culverts, stream bank stabilization and large culvert projects) totaling $500,000! TRORC will be working with the remaining 7 towns on completing their road erosion inventories for the December 31, 2020 deadline. If your town is interested in project applications for the FY2020 Better Roads due in the Fall, please contact Rita Seto.
Several Municipal Planning Grants (MPGs) Completed in the Region
Five Municipal Planning Grants (MPGs) have been completed in the TRO Region. TRORC staff have worked with the Towns of Randolph, Rochester, Corinth, Bradford, and Fairlee over the past eighteen months on a variety of projects. Comprehensive Town Plan rewrites were conducted in Randolph, Rochester, and Corinth that are expected to be adopted by Selectboards this fall. Bradford completed a much-needed update on their zoning bylaw, and Fairlee developed a Capital Improvement Plan.
This current grant cycle, TRORC staff are working with the Towns of Royalton and Bethel on Town Plan rewrites. The new MPG grant cycle is expected to be announced in early June, with a due date of September 30, 2019. TRORC can help your community write an MPG application for a variety of projects. We can also administer grants that have to do with Town Plans, zoning, or capital improvement plans.
If your community is interested in applying for an MPG this fall, please contact Tory Littlefield at [email protected] for more information.
Green Mountain College Students Create Maps for Region
Students from the Fall/Spring Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping courses at Green Mountain College (GMC) have created several maps for the TRO Region. Most of the projects that students completed were driven by recommendations in the TRORC Regional Plan and looked at the following:
• Analysis of bird habitat at elevations over 2,500 feet;
• Broadband and cellular availability in the Region;
• Senior health resources;
• Food access;
• Black bear habitat; and
• Energy siting maps
You can view this great work by these students on our website under ‘Featured Project.’
Map of broadband & cellular towers along major roads | Source: Green Mountain College
Regional Plan Adoption Hearings
TRORC has initiated a process to update the Regional Plan. This encompasses every chapter and appendix of the Plan. The Energy Implementation Plan was incorporated directly into the Regional Plan instead of being adopted by reference like it was done for the 2017 Plan. A required 30-day mailing was sent to all thirty of our member towns’ Selectboards and Planning Commissions, along with adjoining regional commissions and several state agencies.
Two public hearings have been scheduled for the draft Plan next month:
• Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at Damon Hall in Hartland, 6 p.m.
• Thursday, July 11, 2019 at the Royalton Town Offices in South Royalton, 6 p.m.
All draft sections of this new Regional Plan are available for viewing on our website. Physical copies of the proposed amendments are available for viewing during normal TRORC business hours. Any comments on the draft Plan can be mailed to our office or emailed to [email protected] for consideration.
Congrats to Victoria Littlefield from TRORC!
This month, we are very proud to announce that Tory from our office achieved a great milestone in her planning education. A few weeks ago, Tory received her Master of Science Degree in Resilient and Sustainable Communities (MRSC) from Green Mountain College. This place-based program allowed Tory to apply all of her classwork to the TRO Region in subjects such as food security, transportation, land use, energy, housing, and social justice. Congratulations Tory!
Regional Wonders:
Gile Mountain Trail & Fire Tower
With spring foliage out in full swing, what better way to appreciate the landscape than with a 360-degree panorama of the mountains, stretching as far as Killington, Ascutney, and the White Mountains in New Hampshire! To experience this amazing view tucked back in the Norwich Town Forest, you’ll need to boldly climb up a 75-foot fire tower.
The Norwich Town Forest includes great moderate walking and biking trails, and it takes only 0.7 miles to reach the top of Gile Mountain. Make sure to plan a trip to this fantastic spot!
View from the top of the fire tower | Source: TRORC