On August 19 (Monday) at 7pm at the Town Hall, the Selectboard will be listening to hear what community members want. Specifically, how people want our land use regulations to shape the future of Hinesburg's forests, farms, and most rural residential areas. What's your vision for the most rural parts of Hinesburg? Do you see suburban neighborhoods with houses overlooking patches of fields, and subdivisions sprinkled along the forested hillsides? Do you think agriculture is on its way out of Chittenden County, to inevitably be replaced by residential development as the years go by?
The Planning Commission has a very different vision. The Selectboard is currently considering their proposal to revise Hinesburg's zoning to help retain the working landscape while allowing a modest amount of residential development consistent with the patterns of our existing fields, forests, and rural neighborhoods. The Rural Area Zoning proposal is the result of over a decade of community discussions, research, work, and meetings (lots of public meetings). It can be boiled down to three simple objectives:
1) Provide rural area landowners with more options by expanding the types of uses allowed in the Agricultural and Rural Residential 2 zoning districts. Innovation for a working landscape - open lands and the supporting businesses to bolster the rural economy.
2) Clarify and improve rural area development design to make sure important natural resources are better defined by the Town, and considered early in the design process.
3) Define how much residential development is allowed via an objective formula, and allow for smaller lot sizes to increase flexibility when creating new subdivisions.
The substance of the Rural Area Zoning changes is worth reading. You can find the details on the town website at http://www.hinesburg.org. This is an important public hearing! The Selectboard is on the verge of deciding whether or not to move forward with the proposal. They are looking to YOU for input, and they need to hear from a cross-section of community members.
Alex Weinhagen
Director of Planning & Zoning
Town of Hinesburg
hinesburgplanning@gmavt.net
www.hinesburg.org - Planning/Zoning page
802-482-2281 ext. 225
10632 Route 116
Hinesburg, VT 05461
Feb 9, 2025, 2 to 5 PM
Regular Selectboard MeetingFeb 10, 2025, 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Bristol Elder Eagles February Events!Feb 14, 2025, 10 AM to 12 PM