Planning Commission Minutes 02.25.26

Posted on

Guilford Planning Commission

Meeting Minutes

Feb 25, 2026, 6:30-8:00 PM

Town Office, 236 School Rd, Guilford, VT (Hybrid)

Commissioners present:

Christina Belagour, Marty Ramsburg, Jeannette Tokarz

Selectboard liaison: Mike Szostek

Members of the public: invited guest: Linda Hecker (Conservation Commission)

Davida Bagatelle, Elliot Diringer, Michael Knapp,Teresa Marcy, Art McEvily, Deb McNeil

Call to Order:

Meeting called to order at 6:33. Quorum attained.

Members of the public: invited guest: Linda Hecker (Conservation Commission),

Davida Bagatelle, Elliot Diringer, Michael Knapp,Teresa Marcy, Art McEvily, Deb McNeil

Rules of procedure reviewed

Changes to agenda order: Jeannette proposed several changes to the agenda order

Approval of minutes: Minutes from 1/28/26 were approved unanimously.

New Business

  1. Linda Hecker, Chair, Conservation Commission, provided an update on the Vermont Conservation Design, which is a prioritization tool that identifies the lands and waters most important for maintaining Vermont’s ecologically functional landscape. Vermont’s 30 x 30 law that sets a goal to conserve 30% of the state’s land area by 2030 and 50% by 2050 will be guided by the conservation targets within Vermont Conservation Design. 

Objectives of the Vermont Conservation Design:

  • Utilize the Vermont Conservation Inventory with regards to endangered plants, animals, forests, working lands, etc., to pinpoint critical areas for conservation. Completed 2025.
  • Conserve communities: craft an ecologically functional landscape plan that supports Vermont’s communities and livelihoods by ensuring all people can directly benefit from conserved lands and land-based enterprises.
  • Build capacities of landowners, agencies and other stakeholders to have viable pathways to achieve conservation objectives.

The Conservation and Planning Commissions have overlapping missions regarding land use in Guilford and will continue to collaborate.

2. Draft document ‘Local and State permits guide’

  • Jeannette has compiled a rough guide to permits that might be needed for construction projects, burning brush, etc.
  • Once compiled, vetted and edited, the document will be posted on the Town website. A paper copy could be included in an edition of the Guilford Gazette to inform residents of its existence
  • Michael Knapp will work with Jeannette on this project.

Recurring business

1. Land use regulation in Vermont is changing in response to two forces: conservation goals, including initiatives to prevent building in river corridors prone to erosion and flooding; and state-wide promotion of housing growth in compact village centers and adjacent neighborhoods.

We discussed how to engage our  community in productive conversations regarding land use issues in Guilford. There are potentially 2 tracks:

  1. Informational:
    1.  Inform residents that recent legislative acts increase the amount of land in Guilford that will be subject to state-level regulation via Act 181 (Tier 3 and the Road Rule) and Act 121 (the River Corridor Act). Maps delineating the areas of Guilford affected by these regulations are available although the Tier 3 maps aren’t final.
    1. Inform residents of Windham Regional Commission’s (WRC) Future Land Use (FLU) map.
      1. By statute the WRC has to develop such maps. The map places land into 11 categories. It is anticipated that in Guilford the names of the designations will change but that conceptual intent of how land is categorized will remain the same. Final maps are due by the end of this year; WRC hasn’t published a timeline to present Guilford’s preliminary FLU map. Jeannette will contact WRC to inquire about the status of our maps and request a presentation to the PC.
  2. Potential impacts for Guilford:
    1. By statute WRC has to develop housing targets for each municipality derived from the Vermont Housing Needs Assessment.  Housing needs assessment  Such targets are aspirational only with no mandate to build or penalties for not achieving them. The targets do not override property owner’s rights on their parcel(s).
    1. Also by statute our Town Plan ‘must look at data on year-round housing to recommend a program for public and private actions that meets the housing needs of low- and moderate-income households.’ (Department of Housing and Community Development Act 47 Summary) DHCD Act 47 summary. The next update of the Town Plan is due in 2030.

The Commission was queried as to the ‘end goal’ of our outreach efforts. A working group composed of Elliot Diringer, Michael Knapp, Therese Marcy and Jeannette Tokarz will meet before the next scheduled meeting to examine this question more deeply and report back.

2. Appointment/reappointment of members to the Planning Commission. Nathanael Matthisien and Marty Ramsburg have agreed to continue to serve. Michael Knapp will be appointed as a new member. Historically the first Selectboard meeting after Town Meeting is when appointments/reappointments are considered.

Action Items:

  • Work on guide/spreadsheet/checklist for permit process: Jeannette and Michael K
  • Outreach to WRC regarding Guilford’s Future Land Use Map rollout timeline-Jeannette
  • What’s the PC’s goal?: Jeannette, Michael K, Elliot D, Therese.

Next Meeting:

Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 to 8:00 PM

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM

Meeting recording: https://youtu.be/wpHiBLZukgo