PAC recommends regional approval of Buel’s Gore plan and Bolton’s 2025 Town Plan; Bolton receives energy determination

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s Planning Advisory Committee recommended March 12 that the CCRPC Board forward Buel’s Gore’s full plan revision and Bolton’s 2025 Town Plan to the regional board for approval after each municipality completes its local adoption process.

CCRPC staff told the PAC that a warning error required Buel’s Gore’s formal review this month and that staff recommended approval after evaluating statutory compliance. Aaron DeNamur moved that the PAC find Buel’s Gore’s plan and planning process meet statutory requirements; the committee opened and closed a public hearing with no public comments and passed the motion unanimously. Paul Conner, who called the meeting to order, presided over the item.

On Bolton’s plan, Senior Planner Sarah Muskin introduced Steve Barner, chair of the Bolton Planning Commission. CCRPC staff (including Maya Balassa and Taylor Newton) said the draft 2025 Bolton Town Plan largely updated data and addressed recent statutory changes. The PAC found the Bolton draft meets statutory requirements and the enhanced energy planning standards under 24 V.S.A. § 4352; the motion passed with one abstention from Joss Besse. The PAC recommended that, upon Bolton’s local adoption, the plan and the municipal process be forwarded to the CCRPC Board for regional approval and an affirmative determination of energy compliance.

Members discussed how Bolton’s plan addresses the state’s recent requirements on equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens and the HOME Act’s duplex/ADU provisions. Taylor Newton said Bolton added an objective addressing environmental benefits and burdens and that CCRPC staff are developing a methodology to analyze distribution of benefits and burdens in relation to the regional future land use map. Darren Schibler noted Bolton’s enhanced energy plan includes an equity assessment element. Steve Barner and Joss Besse described local concerns such as flooding, road washouts and recent master planning at Bolton Valley Resort; Newton noted Bolton had applied for a UPWP scoping study for a Bolton Valley Access Road as evidence of implementation activity.

Both formal reviews had no public comments during the hearings. The PAC’s recommendation now moves the items to the CCRPC Board’s docket once the towns notify CCRPC of formal local adoption.

The PAC also approved the February 12, 2025 minutes earlier in the meeting.