Welcome to Leicester, VT

Agenda for Leicester Planning Commission

 

Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Town Office at 6:00 p.m.

 

Call to Order

Roll Call

Approve Previous Minutes

Review of Town Plan Maps with ACRPC

Plan next Steps, next meeting date

Adjourn

 

 

Leicester Planning Commission Meeting Minutes (unapproved)

Tuesday, April 15, 2025   6:00 p.m. Town Office

Present: Members Jay Michael, Suki Fredericks, Donna Swinington (Chair); Diane Benware (Selectboard Chair), Lyndsay D'Avignon (Alternate), Julie Delphia (Town Clerk & Treasurer), Rebecca Elder (ACRPC)

Meeting called to order by Chair Donna Swinington, followed by roll call. Introductions were made.

Previous minutes were read.  Diane motioned to approve, Jay seconded, board approved.

Rebecca Elder presented members with printed slides from the ACRPC presentation, a copy of Leicester’s Zoning Districts mapped, a copy of Leicester’s current Future Land Use (FLU) Map, and a draft copy of the proposed FLU Map.

Rebecca began by briefly explaining the purpose of ACT 181 as a means of protecting environmental resources at the Vermont State level and suggested listening to the recording of the ACRPC meeting from February in order to keep this conversation directed at the drafted FLU Maps.  She, on behalf of ACRPC, reminded present individuals that any drafts that are presented by ACRPC are simply suggestions.  She said zoning districts, as they stand, will not be affected.  She also made clear that the specifics of Tier 3 (forest blocks and wildlife habitat areas) development rules have not yet been written.

Julie asked if municipality regulations will preempt state regulations.  Rebecca did not know the answer, but said she would look into it.

Proposed FLU Maps were reviewed up close.  Julie and Suki pointed out areas of conflict.  Present individuals agreed that more clarity is needed to differentiate conservation areas granted current use permits.

Leicester’s unique zoning around the lake will need to be addressed and protected.  Julie wanted to be sure that landowners’ already restricted development possibilities wouldn’t be impeded.

Drafted FLU Maps include a buffer zone for Salisbury Town’s Village Area.  Present individuals agreed that a viewing of the area would be necessary before any of the cartographers could reasonably make designations of that sort, as they encroach town boundaries and represent areas that are not likely to be developed as part of Salisbury’s Village Center due to rocky ledges and other natural land aspects.

 

NEXT STEPS:

Rebecca will follow up with her resources to clarify as many of the concerns as possible. She will return to the next meeting with any concrete answers that she can get.

Members will continue to read/review the current plan and make notes, write down questions and suggestions.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, May 13, 2025; 6:00 PM at Leicester Town Office

Meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM, motioned by Lyndsay, seconded by Jay, board approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Lyndsay D’Avignon, Planning Commission Alternate