AGENDA

 

Leicester Planning Commission Meeting

Tuesday, Aug 26.  6:00 p.m.

Town Office

 

Call to Order

 

Roll Call

 

Updates: if any

 

Review of Leicester Transportation Portion of Plan

 

Timeline

 

OTHER:

 

Next Meeting: Sept 9, 2025

 

Leicester Planning Commission Meeting Minutes (unapproved)

Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 6:02 p.m. Town Office

Present: Members Jay Michael, Jeff McDonough, Donna Swinington (Chair); Diane Benware (Selectboard Chair), Lyndsay D'Avignon (Alternate)

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

Those present reviewed the Transportation section of the Town Plan, submitted by ACRPC.  Some language was defined and members discussed edits to be made.  Diane and Lyndsay will make those edits and re-submit them for second review.

A condensed list of edits to be made:

•          Discussion about moving Old Jerusalem Rd is not active at present and the comment will be stricken
•          Information regarding a Traffic Advisory Committee grant will be included
•          Squash culvert defined as failing culvert
•          Comment about relocation and construction of new salt & sand shed will be moved to recommended action portion of the plan
•          Road maintenance equipment needs to be verified and rentals shall be noted
•          Some bridge replacements have been made and the list will need to be updated
•          Rill erosion was defined as shallow water runoff damage
•          Brainstorm of pedestrian/cyclist safety measures to consider including
•          Accuracy of public transportation options will need to be verified, particularly Dial-a-Ride
•          Language used for goals requires clarity

Timeline was discussed and the PC expects to be able to review ACRPC’s update to the Enhanced Energy Plan and the Flood Resilience portions at the next scheduled meeting.

It is time to consider whether the images will need to be updated, make decisions about the FLU Map drafts, and determine whether Leicester will opt-in to defining a “Town Center” (due by January).

To ensure timely completion of the Town Plan update, a tentative additional meeting was proposed for September 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM.  The PC will know if this meeting will be necessary by the next scheduled meeting: September 9, 2025 at 6:00PM at Town Office.

7:04 PM, Jeff motioned to adjourn, second by Jay, so approved.

Respectfully submitted, Lyndsay D'Avignon, PC Alternate

Leicester 2025

 

Transportation

Introduction

The Town of Leicester straddles U.S. 7, the principal north-south highway in western Vermont. Leicester-Whiting Road is used as a detour when flooding of Otter Creek closes Route 73 between Brandon and Sudbury and provides the principal east-west travel corridor through Leicester.

 

In all, the town hosts 24.580 miles of town roads, and 3.425 miles of state roads. The town road network is managed by the Highway Department made up of a two-person crew and two part time employees. The Highway Department is overseen by a member of the Selectboard who serves as road commissioner. In addition to annual maintenance and paving responsibilities, the Highway Department is accountable for the repair and replacement of street signs, supervision of roadside mowing, ditch and culvert work, maintenance of town owned equipment, and salting and sanding parking lots at the town office, town meeting hall, and senior center.

State Highways

U.S. 7 runs 3.425 miles from the town boundary with Brandon, north to the town boundary with Salisbury. The Average Daily Traffic is 7,268 vehicles This section of U.S. 7 is managed by the Vermont Agency of Transportation District 3 headquartered in Rutland.  The road is serviced out of the Middlebury Garage. Pavement along most of the section is considered Fair and the last work was completed in 2015. There is one bridge, a two-span rolled beam built in 1943 over the Leicester River. In addition, there is one 10’ culvert conveying Seymour Brook just south of the intersection with Leicester-Whiting Road. 

 

Traffic calming measures

The Selectboard of Leicester has been actively seeking ways to make the 4-corners safer.  While it does not qualify as a high-frequency crash zone, the Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) agrees that it would be worthwhile for a firm to assess and advise on possible solutions.  As of 2025, Leicester has submitted and been granted $25,000 to be used for this purpose.

Town Highways

Leicester has 11.1 miles of Class 2 Highways, 13.48 miles of Class 3 Highways, 1.88 miles of Class 4 Highways, and 0.15 miles of Legal Trail. The Class 2 Town Highways are meant to secure trunk lines of improved highways from town to town and to places that by their nature have more than normal amount of traffic. Class 2 Town Highways in Leicester include Leicester-Whiting Rd., Fern Lake Rd., Lake Dunmore Rd., Swinington Hill Rd., and Maple St. Average daily traffic on Class 2 Town Highways ranges from 1,382 vehicles on Fern Lake Rd. to 465 on Swinington Hill Rd.

 

Salt and Sand Shed[1] 

Equipment[2] 

Leicester annually sets aside appropriations of $20,000 per year for equipment maintenance, repair, and replacement. Leicester owns two pieces of equipment:

 

•      1989 Dresser Loader
•      1970 International Dump Truck

 

Both pieces of equipment have passed their scheduled replacement date. The Town should plan for replacement.  All other equipment used in road maintenance is rented on a by-the-hour basis.

Bridges and Short Structures

The Town of Leicester is responsible for two bridges: one on the Leicester-Whiting Rd. crossing   the Otter Creek, and one on Old Jerusalem Rd. crossing the Leicester River.  The Otter Creek Bridge was built in 2006 and the Leicester River Bridge was built in 2022. While no major investments should be needed in these bridges during the duration of this plan, regular inspections and proactive maintenance is essential to maintain the infrastructure. VTrans inspects bridges approximately every two years.

 

Short structures are spans between 6’ and 20’. Short structures are integral to the roadway network, but they are neither inspected nor prioritized by the state. Towns are responsible for the inspection of their own short structures. The Town of Leicester is responsible for five short structure:

 

•      A 20’ poured concrete slab bridge over the Leicester Whiting Swamp on the Leicester Whiting Rd.
•      A 108” squash culvert carrying Seymour Brook under Leicester-Whiting Rd.
•      An 84” squash culvert carrying Seymour Brook under Bullock Rd.
•      A 95” squash culvert carrying Seymour Brookunder Ferson Rd.
•      An 80” squash culvert carrying Seymour Brook under Ferson Rd.

 

The culverts were identified as being in Good condition after a 2024 inventory by Addison County Regional Planning. The bridge was not assessed.  Additionally, the Leicester Selectboard completes an annual assessment of town structures.

Road Erosion

Act 64 of 2019 requires all municipalities to seek coverage under the Municipal Roads General Permit. The Permit requires roads to be maintained so that they do not cause or contribute to water quality degradation. The permit requires a Road Erosion Inventory within the five year period of each permit. Leicester’s most recent Road Erosion Inventory took place in 2024. Leicester has 200 hydrologically connected road segments (as defined by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation). Each segment is approximately 100m long.  Three hydrologically connected segmenters were identified as partially meeting standards:

 

•      Segment 21392 on Fern Lake Rd. about 1,200’ west of the intersection with Shackett/Delorm Rd. - rill erosion in conveyance areas
•      Segment 16543 on Shackett Rd. about 1,500’ south of Mt. Pleasant Dr. - road needed to be crowned, berm removed, and header treatment on a drainage culvert improved
•      Segment 144116 on Old Jerusalem Rd. at the intersection of Bullock Rd. - grader berm needed to be removed.

 

Some of the issues may be addressed with routine maintenance, while Grants in Aid funds through the Vermont Agency of Transportation are available for more substantial issues.

Driveway Cuts and Private Roads[3] 

There are 40+ private roads in Leicester. Private roads may not have been built to the currently acceptable road standards, nor intended for year-round use. Emergency vehicle access to private roads, driveways and homes can be compromised by poor construction. The issue is particularly critical in the Lake Districts, where properties are close together, roads are narrow, and access by oversized emergency vehicles can be questionable.

 

Access to public highways is subject to the approval of the Leicester Selectboard on town roads and the Agency of Transportation on U.S. 7. The Selectboard may attach conditions with respect to design, construction, landscaping, or location of any new driveways in order to ensure safety, provide access by emergency vehicles, and minimize traffic difficulties.

 

With respect to variance requests, the Development Review Board considers adherence to safety standards and will request formal assessments when deemed necessary.

Bicycle and Pedestrian[4] 

Leicester is one of many rural Vermont villages offering its residents and visitors astounding views of landscape, mountain trails, various water sports, and lakeside relaxation. Many of these amenities are within walking and cycling distance from residences and summer camps. Although a number of residents and visitors do walk and bike on roads such as Hooker Road and Lake Dunmore Road/Route 53, speeding traffic, extensive driveway cuts, and blind corners raise numerous safety issues.

 

Community surveys conducted before the 2012 town plan implementation indicated there has been an  increase in walkers and cyclists on the Lake Districts roads; however there were mixed views on how to overcome the challenges associated with road-sharing. Participants called for  wider cycling shoulders on U.S. 7 and other town roads, and a biking/walking trail around Lake Dunmore and Fern Lake, but the road layout and Right of Way around the lake does not easily allow for extensive changes. 

 

Residents regularly voice concern regarding the Vermont Sun Triathalons which happen during the summer. Special attention needs to be given to such events in order to address safety issues and alleviate tensions between drivers, athletes, and spectators.

 

Partnerships with organizations such as the Green Mountain National Forest Service, Keewaydin Foundation, Middlebury Area Land Trust, Moosalamoo Association, and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corporation can be leveraged to increase future opportunities for cyclists and pedestrians. Potential funding sources include the Recreation Trails Program of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the Transportation Alternatives Program and Bike and Pedestrian Grants from the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and transportation planning funds from the Addison County Regional Planning Commission.

Public Transportation and Park & Ride

Access to public transportation allows residents to save on family transportation costs, cut down on energy and oil consumption, and provides access to services and amenities to the otherwise homebound. Public transportation is provided by the Rutland Connector bus service, a partnership between Tri-Valley Transit and Marble Valley Transportation. The Rutland Connector stops at the Leicester Park and Ride. There are three northbound and three southbound trips on weekdays and two on Saturdays.  In addition, Tri-Valley Transit provides vital transportation services to people in need through three programs: older adults and persons with disabilities, non-emergency medical transportation, and a recovery and job access program. These services rely heavily on volunteer drivers, and additional drivers are always appreciated.

 

Leicester owns and maintains a Park and Ride facility adjacent to the Town Clerk’s office.  The facility was constructed in 2006 and provides parking for 10 vehicles. There are no Electric Vehicle charging ports at the Park and Ride.

 

Goals[5] 

•      Provide residents and visitors with safe, well maintained roads that support vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic
•      Continue to support alternative transportation options for residents of all ages and abilities
•      Maintain and design public roads to reduce their impact on local wildlife populations, wildlife habitat, and water quality
•      New Roads

Recommended Actions

○     xxxx

•      Road Maintenance

○     Traffic calming on Route 7?

○     Xxxxx

•      Public Transportation

○     Support TriValley Transit and work with them to increase ridership opportunities for Leicester residents

○     Maintain the Town owned Park and Ride

Does the town want to include anything about moving or improving the salt and sand shed in the plan, either here or in the goals and recommended actions?

Does the town want to include planning for equipment replacement either here or in the recommended actions? The information here is from the 2018 Capital Improvement Plan and may need to be updated.

Any changes since 2017?

mostly taken directly from the 2017 plan. Lacks identification and prioritization of any particular projects.

unchanged from 2017 plan