Guilford Planning Commission Meeting

May 28, 2026

Attendees

Christina Belagour, Michael Knapp, Charlie Light, Nathanael Mathiesen, Marty Ramsburg, Jeannette Tokarz

Michael Szostek, Selectboard liaison

Elliot Diringer, member of the public

Agenda

1. April 29, 2026 meeting minutes approved

Announcements

1. Windham Regional Commission is hosting the webinar: What Can Towns Do to Support More Housing on 6/10/26 from 6-7 pm.

Last meeting follow up

1. Resident’s request that the Planning Commission discuss whether or not to advise the Selectboard to write a letter to state officials requesting that the Road Rule and Tier 3 be repealed or that Act 181 be repealed altogether.
   1. The Selectboard voted on 5/11/26 not to send a letter to state officials
   2. S.325, which repeals Tier 3 and the Road Rule, is awaiting the Governor’s signature
      1. In light of the above developments, the Planning Commission will not take any action at this time.
2. Planning Commission’s ‘Charter’
   1. Currently the PC’s methods of operation are informal:
      1. Roles and responsibilities aren’t defined
      2. No structure for onboarding or mentoring exists
   2. Action already agreed upon
      1. Each special project will be overseen by 2 PC members as part of a working group; ideally members of the public will be included-this is already operationalized

            Suggested actions:

• Develop a Charter
  • Consult with VLCT regarding possible assistance
• Outreach to potential new members of the Commission beginning in October/November

3. 2024 Strategic Plan Goal #3: Host Community Conversations around land use, housing, conversation, etc.
   1. Inform residents of what is happening
      1. Update Planning Commission’s landing page ‘Land Use topics’
         1. Potential topics
            1. 802 Homes toolkit
            2. ADU creation information
            3. Act 250/181 fact sheet
            4. Act 121 fact sheet
      2. Article in the Guilford Gazette (deadline for submission June 30) about the information on the landing page
      3. Guilford Permit Guide needs to be reformatted on the Town website. Michael Knapp will reach out to Uriel.
   2. Community Conversations
      1. Robust discussion ensued regarding how the PC can/should facilitate community dialogue. Initially the conversation focused on Housing creation as an organizing topic  but evolved toward a desire to host a process in which an inclusive range of residents would articulate a shared community vision. Such a vision would express shared values around how Guilford grows and how it would want to guide such growth.
      2. Michael S advocated for including awareness of the state’s financial health in the process, i.e., having a wider lens.
      3. Ideally such a process would entail respectful conversations, some in small groups, that started with shared information. This wouldn’t be a one-time event but part of a multi-step process.

Suggested actions

• Working group will take this information under advisement and discuss further

          4.            Town Plan

1. The edition of the Town Plan in due in 2030
   1. A resident with experience in project management and prior service on a Vermont Planning Commission has volunteered to assist the PC with evaluating progress to date on Strategic Plan/Town Plan goals, which ones to focus on, which to sunset. This will be discussed further at the June meeting

Next meeting: Wednesday, June 24 @ 6:30 pm, Town office and on Zoom

Meeting recording: https://youtu.be/jBUHpd8vQOk