The Shelburne Planning Commission is working on a comprehensive revision to the town’s Zoning Bylaw and Subdivision Regulations. This effort is intended to implement the policies of the Shelburne Town Plan, align the town’s land use regulations with recent changes to state statute and improve the town’s ability to efficiently administer its regulations.
The proposed regulations will be written, discussed and revised chapter-by-chapter. Some elements of the proposed regulations will be set by state statute and other elements may be retained from the adopted regulations. The Planning Commission will be focusing primarily on those elements identified in the regulatory audit where changes are needed to effectively implement the policies of the town plan.
Robust public engagement will be encouraged throughout the project. All meetings of the Shelburne Planning Commission and other town committees that may be involved in the project will be noticed and open to all with opportunity for public comment as required under Vermont law. Meeting agendas, packets, minutes and video (when available) for Planning Commission and other town committees are available from the Agenda Center on Town of Shelburne website.
Project-specific materials and information will be posted on this website as well. Periodic updates on the project will be sent to everyone who signs up for the mailing list (see form at top of page). At particular points during the project, there will be more structured meetings for the purpose of inviting public feedback on the proposed regulations.
Thursday, January 18, 6:30 pm
Zoom Meeting ID: 768 094 9854
This virtual only session will be an opportunity for Shelburne residents to ask specific questions about the zoning changes under consideration and how the town’s regulations were affected last year by changes to state law under the HOMES Act (Act 47).
Questions are being accepted in advance via the form at the top of this page. If you cannot attend the virtual session, you may ask any questions you have via the form as well. We will be producing a FAQ compiling the questions and answers following the session.
Saturday, January 27, 9 am
Shelburne Town Hall
This Neighborhood Meeting will be a facilitated discussion of important policy choices under consideration by the Planning Commission. It will focus on how to support housing creation and mitigate the impacts of higher density development within the growth areas established in the Shelburne Town Plan. Discussion questions to be posed at the meeting will be:
Should Shelburne’s regulations do more to support housing creation, choice and affordability in Shelburne Village and surrounding residential neighborhoods than the minimum required by the state under Act 47?
What should Shelburne’s regulations do to mitigate impacts when allowing for multi-unit, higher density residential, mixed use or commercial development along Shelburne Road and in surrounding residential neighborhoods?
Wednesday, January 31, 7 pm
Shelburne Museum Auditorium
This Neighborhood Meeting will be a facilitated discussion of important policy choices under consideration by the Planning Commission. It will focus on how to support housing creation and mitigate the impacts of higher density development within the growth areas established in the Shelburne Town Plan. Discussion questions to be posed at the meeting will be:
Should Shelburne’s regulations do more to support housing creation, choice and affordability in Shelburne Village and surrounding residential neighborhoods than the minimum required by the state under Act 47?
What should Shelburne’s regulations do to mitigate impacts when allowing for multi-unit, higher density residential, mixed use or commercial development in Shelburne Village and surrounding residential neighborhoods?
Thursday, February 1, 7 pm
Shelburne Town Hall
This Neighborhood Meeting will be a facilitated discussion of important policy choices under consideration by the Planning Commission. It will consider how to reconcile housing with resource protection and how to mitigate the impacts of active recreation and manage open space. Discussion questions to be posed at the meeting will be:
How should Shelburne’s regulations reconcile regional housing needs and state (Act 47) mandates with town policies related to resource protection (environmental, agricultural, scenic)?
How should Shelburne’s regulations guide the location and mitigate the impacts of active recreation uses and recreation-based businesses?
Saturday, February 3, 10:30 am
Shelburne Vineyard
This Neighborhood Meeting will be a facilitated discussion of important policy choices under consideration by the Planning Commission. It will consider how to reconcile housing with resource protection and how to mitigate the impacts of active recreation and manage open space. Discussion questions to be posed at the meeting will be:
How should Shelburne’s regulations reconcile regional housing needs and state (Act 47) mandates with town policies related to resource protection (environmental, agricultural, scenic)?
How should Shelburne’s regulations respond to the needs of major institutional landowners sustaining much of the town’s scenic rural landscape while mitigating the impact of tourism, recreation and production activities on that land?
Saturday, February 10, 3:30 pm
Zoom Meeting ID: 768 094 9854
This virtual only session will be an opportunity for Shelburne residents to ask specific questions about the zoning changes under consideration and how the town’s regulations were affected last year by changes to state law under the HOMES Act (Act 47).
Questions are being accepted in advance via the form at the top of this page. If you cannot attend the virtual session, you may ask any questions you have via the form as well. We will be producing a FAQ compiling the questions and answers following the session.
The process for adopting land use regulations involves public hearings by both the Planning Commission and Selectboard. The Planning Commission is responsible for developing proposed regulations. However, it is the Selectboard that has the authority to adopt those regulations. The adoption process municipalities must follow is laid out in 24 V.S.A. § 4441, 24 V.S.A. § 4442 and 24 V.S.A. § 4444.