Select board agrees to advance phased North Village flood‑mitigation application

The Londonderry Select Board voted to advance a phased Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application for a North Village flood‑mitigation project after a presentation by River project staff.

Alyssa, a River project presenter, told the board the Cobble Ridge bridge alternative had been dropped after landowner opposition and that the North Village option best fit River’s goals for village‑center flood risk reduction. "So we will advance the application," Alyssa said, noting applications are due to Vermont Emergency Management by April 30 and that, if selected at the state level, projects typically move to FEMA review the following year.

Megan, who led the technical explanation, described submitting a phased application with phase 1 funding for additional analysis and preliminary engineering and a phase 2 request for final design and construction. She said phase 1 work would include benefit‑cost analysis and landowner coordination for parcels downstream of the dam and along Utley Brook. "An application for a phased project, where you initially start off with additional analysis and engineering during phase 1 of a project," Megan said, explaining the rationale for a two‑stage approach.

Board members debated outreach timing. Some argued for contacting landowners before advancing technical work to avoid the Cobble Ridge outcome; others said preliminary plans would give property owners clearer information. River staff recommended developing application materials and including outreach as part of the phase‑1 scope to balance technical readiness and community engagement.

Next steps: River staff will assemble application materials with town inputs; the board may be asked to sign application paperwork and assist with landowner coordination as part of phase 1 work.