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Essex Junction council adopts ordinance requiring state corrective-action plan for Crescent Connector excavations
Summary
After a public hearing, councilors voted to adopt a municipal ordinance to require that any future excavations under the Crescent Connector meet the state-approved corrective action plan for contaminated soils.
Essex Junction — The City Council on Aug. 13 adopted a municipal ordinance (Chapter 22) requiring that any future work or excavations beneath the Crescent Connector right-of-way comply with the state-approved corrective action plan for contaminated soils.
Council opened a public hearing on the proposed ordinance and staff summarized its purpose: to ensure that any excavation work under the Crescent Connector meets the corrective action plan tied to the Crescent Connector project. "There are contaminated soils under the Crescent Connector roadway. So any excavations in that need to meet the state approved corrective action plan," Community Development Director Chris Ewing told the council during the hearing.
After brief public comment and no testimony in opposition, a councilor moved to adopt the proposed ordinance and another seconded the motion. The council approved the ordinance by voice vote.
Why it matters: the Crescent Connector corridor contains soils with documented contamination; the ordinance clarifies that any future utility, construction or other excavation activity within the corridor must follow the state-approved corrective action plan accompanying the Crescent Connector project. City staff and legal counsel confirmed the ordinance language fits within existing municipal code chapters and that the Community Development Director and city manager have appropriate authority under the adopted text.
Action taken: the council voted to adopt the new Essex Junction Municipal Ordinance Chapter 22 as presented; the approval was taken by voice vote at the council meeting.
Ending: Staff said the ordinance is meant to provide a clear regulatory step so contractors, utilities and city staff follow state and local requirements before disturbing soils in the Crescent Connector right-of-way. Councilors closed the public hearing on the item earlier in the meeting before returning to the business agenda and later moved to adopt the ordinance.
