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City reports three flood buyouts approved; three building elevations funded with $900,000 in state money
Summary
Planning staff told the commission the city has three FEMA buyouts in closing and is funding elevations on three buildings with state money allocated from a $3 million request.
City planning staff told the Planning Commission the city has three properties approved for FEMA buyouts and three separate building elevation projects funded with state money from a larger $3 million request.
"The initial request that went into the legislature last year was for $3,000,000 with 1 and a half of that, 1 and a half million to go to the city, and 1 and a half to go to Barre City... So we got 900,000," a planning staff member said, summarizing recent state funding allocations and the city's share.
The staff member said the city will elevate three buildings and has buyout agreements for three other buildings that are "in process of getting to closing." The buyout properties will be demolished and made permanent no‑build parcels consistent with FEMA buyout program requirements, the staff member said.
Staff described the current schedule for elevations as design work underway and engineers and architects under contract, with the aim of completing at least two of the elevation projects before winter. One elevation could be delayed until next spring if schedules slip. Design work is being run by city staff and assigned project leads after prior staff left the office.
Commissioners asked whether the state has a plan for other vacant or shuttered state‑owned buildings in town; the planning staff said they were not aware of finalized state plans and that some state discussions were ongoing but not finalized.
The staff member said locations for the buyouts include one property on Elm Street and two on Lower State Street. Commissioners asked how properties were selected for elevation; staff said projects were scored by how far below base flood elevation a building sat, with deeper or more flood‑exposed structures ranked higher.
No formal action was taken by the commission on the buyouts or elevation projects during the meeting; staff said they would continue design work and monitor closing timelines.
