CCRPC approves comment letters for three Act 250/Section 248 applications in Charlotte, Williston and Bolton

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission's Joint Executive and Finance Committee approved comment letters on three separate Act 250 and Section 248 filings at its June 14 meeting.

Taylor Newton, planning manager, presented a 45-day notice for GMG Farms, LLC (#23-1438-AN), a proposed 35-kW solar array at 700 Greenbush Road in Charlotte. Newton said the CCRPC finds the project consistent with the 2018 ECOS Plan Energy Goal #17 but flagged potential constraints including Class 1 and 2 wetlands, agricultural and hydric soils, and protected lands. The committee recommended the applicant coordinate with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; it also suggested consulting the Vermont Land Trust where easement restrictions may apply. Chris Shaw moved to approve the Section 248 45-day notice letter as presented; the motion carried unanimously.

Newton then reviewed an Act 250 application for The Annex in Williston (#4C1110-4), a proposed neighborhood on 54.2 acres with 276 homes and a future 65-unit senior living facility. CCRPC staff said the project conforms to the CCRPC's Planning Areas and reviewed a traffic impact assessment by Trudell Consulting Engineers. The committee recommended creating bus stops aligned with a proposed raised crosswalk and adding another raised crosswalk to facilitate safe pedestrian crossings; the committee approved the Act 250 application letter as presented.

Finally, Newton presented Green Mountain Power's advance review for upgrades at an existing Bolton substation (#23-1548-AN) at 150 Green Mountain Road, near Smilie Elementary School. Staff found the project meets Energy Goal #17 but noted field-verified constraints including a Class 2 wetland on site and potential impacts to steep slopes and surface water setbacks. Members requested an amendment to the CCRPC letter asking for more information about impacts to slopes and for a full aesthetic analysis; Mike O'Brien moved, and Bard Hill seconded, approval of the 45-day notice letter with those edits. The motion carried unanimously.

The CCRPC noted that its comments are based on information currently available and that additional comments may follow as project details are refined.

Next steps: the CCRPC will submit the agreed-upon letters to the appropriate district coordinators and agencies, and may provide supplemental comments if further constraints or easement restrictions are identified.