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Council sets public hearing on Crescent Connector earthwork ordinance to manage contaminated soils
Summary
The council scheduled an Aug. 13 public hearing on a new ordinance that will require excavation in the Crescent Connector right-of-way to comply with the corrective action plan for contaminated soils; staff clarified delegation language to allow timely approvals by the zoning administrator or designee.
The Essex Junction City Council voted to set a public hearing for Aug. 13 to take public comment on a proposed new ordinance regulating earthwork within the Crescent Connector right-of-way. The ordinance implements corrective-action-plan (CAP) procedures to manage soils contaminated by historic railroad use and requires contractors and property owners to follow the CAP when excavating in the corridor.
Regina, the city manager, and Community Development staff explained the ordinance flags excavation permits in the defined right-of-way so that required CAP processes are followed. Because work in that corridor may require prompt permitting, staff and councilors agreed that the ordinance language should allow the zoning administrator or their designee to administer and enforce the CAP processes rather than require city-council or manager-level actions that would delay routine permits.
A councilor moved and seconded the motion to schedule the public hearing for Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m., and the council voted in favor.
What the ordinance would do: it would require any excavation within the Crescent Connector right-of-way to be performed consistent with a corrective action plan, tie permitting to CAP compliance, and name a city official (zoning administrator or designee) as the administrator for CAP-related permit review. Because the ordinance is new, the council acted only to warn the public hearing so residents may comment at the August hearing.
Next steps: staff will publish the proposed ordinance and supporting materials and hold the Aug. 13 hearing; any modifications after public comment would return to council for action.
