[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6191631,"mediaKeyId","4581420-d8c96aa6f57466b4539d7ab9acd56fe4","parentId",4581420,"title","Planning commission readies pocket park work and hears update on mall demolition, Super Walmart concept","audioSeconds",483,"startMs",1664000,"endMs",2147000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4581420-d8c96aa6f57466b4539d7ab9acd56fe4&start=1664&end=2147","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4581420-d8c96aa6f57466b4539d7ab9acd56fe4/thumbnail_1664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6191631/Vermont/Planning-commission-readies-pocket-park-work-and-hears-update-on-mall-demolition-Super-Walmart-concept","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191631-f6db290f88b004aaed00a67a097f0483/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140571&Signature=BphzXK06eKlPWGyXPdT-qmilfUWboHXjreb2NYwPccrn7pyxQli9o5mCvE8Ez9FH21iMpImy5ICdQzPU-z7vxtNACZG-kwjAsFVNR9Z0fxeryTokaJL~E8dhs65xrkvxggvkmGSFdnPls2vkLABn2YieIZC5ofohGG4L4pDaOXJ1sUr6T1NxLnzQujNZh-XmETbxDr8NW5PcTmg6mP6o~eN8wS8jBORCE2vvoWhKMzaccgMfN7aFCcabqNUmQ68TII2L8X78w4pkcAKeXlPNA0RNuUaQcjspgQ0yTqlI8waX9T6U7qffAAOWMQJoDEilnmqsyyrluuQdeAI-G5HC5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Rutland, Vermont","date","2025-06-20T13:38:32Z","article","The Rutland Town Planning Commission discussed next steps for a proposed Pocket Park near the railroad bridge and received an update on demolition of the former mall and a conceptual Super Walmart plan during its June 19 meeting.

Commissioners said they will invite new Recreation Director Mike Rowe, whose full‑time role begins July 1, to the July 10 meeting (with July 31 as a backup) to plan phase one work on the Pocket Park. Phase one items described by commissioners include clearing brush, removing dead or invasive trees, replacing with native species, expanding parking on Simons Avenue, installing safety signs about flooding and combined sewer overflow, addressing exposed pipe ends at the shore, and removing leftover wiring. Barbara (Planning Commissioner) said the parcel is roughly half an acre and was given to the town by GMP; it is a proposed park that would be built in phases and has a budget but no final cost estimate. The commission said a previous grant application was unsuccessful but that local sponsorship and in‑kind donations are being pursued.

On the mall site, Bill (Staff member) reported that demolition work is moving through the Act 250 review process: reviewers expected to begin in about three weeks, followed by a public hearing window; work on demolition and stormwater remediation could start in August or September. Town staff described plans to reconfigure portions of the site to create a central stormwater “green” area and to remove parking to help meet stormwater requirements; demolition work will include fencing and staged access with Spartan Arena to remain accessible. The appearance of a Super Walmart on the southern portion of the site was described as a concept only; no building plans have been officially submitted to the commission.

Next steps: Commissioners will meet with Mike Rowe in July to set a timetable and identify funding needs and will look for opportunities for phased municipal funding and private sponsorship for the Pocket Park. On the mall, staff will monitor Act 250 filings and the public hearing schedule and return updates to the commission when formal applications are filed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 19th, 2025, Planning Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners set July meetings with the new recreation director to plan a phased Pocket Park project and heard that demolition of the former mall is advancing through Act 250 review, with public hearings expected in late summer.","taxTitle","Town of Rutland, Rutland County, Vermont","taxId",69140,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6191636,"Moonbrook stormwater ordinance to be updated; stormwater commission likely first reviewer if development proceeds",169,364000,533000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4581420-d8c96aa6f57466b4539d7ab9acd56fe4&start=364&end=533","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4581420-d8c96aa6f57466b4539d7ab9acd56fe4/thumbnail_364000.jpg","/articles/6191636/Vermont/Moonbrook-stormwater-ordinance-to-be-updated-stormwater-commission-likely-first-reviewer-if-development-proceeds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191636-91ee59d5173403e029eca65ad7832151/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140571&Signature=n1FIcXR6ghxBpu0mr8A8nKNAB8V4Au43aMhmVA3xXDpRSSo9ir5IYs1WZY34t~nDd-HYS1Bvhm54iqPyPamCUCJjbVyjrJL8vMMVb1BaFX4V6rCC0DtfPezbpleVFvbCTGeqJ29xVuWNIkrwuzBW9LstG8mZLYPbCRHUL~1zWzUtg-GUbHoTEvBtrwSGW5n35KXHZj1TjFU1sbKTZRpmh2HTewXcC0H-qybQv3~VwaOIIgn~pRuD3um-O8~6CzrUkT7Xa~wkl3529nEfiCXlaUqwPEsJAckmmPRjakFI4TDk7qBuBJPcQmiVxB99oH5Rf~7uR892Su~X0lEds6ASvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff and commissioners said on June 19 that a potential development near Moonbrook has prompted a review of the town’s stormwater ordinance and that the ordinance may be used for the first time.

Bill (Staff member) told the commission he had emailed Andres Tiriso, who “heads up our MS4 and our Moonbrook work,” about which parts of the town ordinance would apply to a proposed project. Andres told staff that several ordinance sections appear to be out of date with state requirements and that triggers in state law are lower in some cases; he will work on updating the ordinance language.

Why it matters: The town’s MS4 obligations and the stormwater ordinance determine whether small projects must provide on‑site stormwater treatment or meet other regulatory triggers. Commissioners noted that if the project moves forward its first stop at the local level would be the stormwater commission, which in practice is the planning commission.

Commissioners said the likely change is limited to one section of the ordinance and that updated language will go to the Select Board after staff completes the revision. There was no vote; staff will return with revised ordinance language and the stormwater map the commission uses to determine applicability.","Planning commissioners discussed a potential Moonbrook-area development and said Andres Tiriso will update the stormwater ordinance to reflect current MS4 triggers; the stormwater commission (the planning commission) would be the first local reviewer if a project is submitted.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6191641,"Rutland Town planning commission to ask Select Board for guidance on outdated subdivision ordinance",1062,559000,1621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4581420-d8c96aa6f57466b4539d7ab9acd56fe4&start=559&end=1621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4581420-d8c96aa6f57466b4539d7ab9acd56fe4/thumbnail_559000.jpg","/articles/6191641/Vermont/Rutland-Town-planning-commission-to-ask-Select-Board-for-guidance-on-outdated-subdivision-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191641-b5655fb2ab04955922559a60e07a27cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140571&Signature=l96waUzdBVd9bny3ho58VHEIcEF~v6ZG0SCIB9X8PffQsjIF8HAL5k9Ep09O~CiM6JPqVn5DgP74Ef1wapHsDdqSHnFq9hSGxoitVLJ2Q8Xp-d3AiSffbufy6ythhzfVHgT6ffmRDDNyuAsKg6mnF4RG840YxO~BPRgYjNvDL8572GVh2Ll58SHOgyrNgJsWTo75eKSXRJszVlHyeGWaxM1OSBo5cA4zw-cG3z44D~LC2SRAZr7eFLG-9o4XOVbj1HQz3yqj63-WkPNfXsGUoZY1ttUKj2LE00Xzg4987gZCRGC7Pk--50MRJwH1iTGkWX0cAs8AM5z1dvoXEtfSag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rutland Town Planning Commission will ask the Select Board for guidance after a June 19 discussion that found the town’s subdivision ordinance is outdated and likely does not meet current legal requirements, members said. Attorney Kevin Brown is scheduled to present an analysis to the Select Board at 5:30 p.m. on July 1.

Commissioners said the existing subdivision ordinance has provisions that predate modern enabling statutes and that portions ‘‘do not pass legal muster.’’ Barbara (Planning Commissioner) said the commission would prefer ‘‘to have a working ordinance’’ rather than continue using an obsolete document. The commission has spent about two years revising the ordinance and expects Kevin Brown to explain, section by section, where the ordinance falls short.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the town’s limited regulatory authority — the commission exercises review only over subdivisions because Rutland Town does not have zoning — leaves the town with fewer tools to shape development. Several commissioners noted that state land‑use law commonly referred to as Act 250 applies at different project sizes depending on whether a municipality has zoning; with zoning, an Act 250 threshold can shift from one acre to 10 acres, affecting review and approvals.

Commissioners described the revision process in detail: they spent roughly nine months drafting an updated ordinance before external review; Kevin returned a formal letter that analyzes the ordinance section by section (the commission said Kevin’s letter is about 18 pages). Commissioners estimated the full effort has run more than 21 months. The town attorney (as described in the meeting) and Kevin identified specific sections that are outdated, some inserted over the years that overlap with zoning language the town does not have authority to impose.

There was no formal vote on new regulations at the June 19 meeting. The planning commission’s next steps are to have Kevin present his analysis to the Select Board on July 1; commissioners expect the Select Board to ask questions and likely schedule further public discussion. Several commissioners said they do not want to invest more staff and commissioner time reworking ordinances without clear Select Board support. Barbara said the letter from Kevin, which analyzes the ordinance line by line, will help new members understand where the ordinance currently fails to comply with state requirements.

The commission discussed the idea of unified development bylaws that would combine subdivision rules and zoning into a single document; members said that approach may be raised again as a solution when Kevin briefs the Select Board. No action adopting zoning or bylaws was taken at the June 19 meeting.","Planning commissioners said at their June 19 meeting that the town’s 50-year-old subdivision ordinance is outdated and may not be legally enforceable; attorney Kevin Brown will present the findings to the Select Board on July 1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission readies pocket park work and hears update on mall demolition, Super Walmart concept

Moonbrook stormwater ordinance to be updated; stormwater commission likely first reviewer if development proceeds

Rutland Town planning commission to ask Select Board for guidance on outdated subdivision ordinance