UVM presents 2022–2032 campus plan update, flags South Burlington land banks and lot‑coverage limits

The University of Vermont presented a high‑level update to its 2022–2032 campus plan, emphasizing vision and land‑use guidance rather than specific building designs or capital commitments. Lisa Kingsbury, associate director of planning at UVM, told the commission the campus plan "gives us a vision and a framework to intentionally guide the long term development of the campus" and that it is meant to guide decision‑making over a decade.

Claire Forbes, UVM associate planner, explained the plan’s structure and the concept of "land banks" — broad areas identified as appropriate for future development but not as building footprints. Forbes said several land banks fall within UVM parcels located in South Burlington and noted municipal lot‑coverage rules limit development there: "on the left hand side within Burlington, the lot coverage is 60%. But in South Burlington, parcels are limited to 40% lot coverage," she said, adding that the difference can complicate development across municipal boundaries. Forbes also described campus districts and design guidelines intended to preserve views and landscape character while supporting research and housing needs.

Why it matters: UVM says the plan is an update to guide projects and partnerships over the next decade and is not a funding or capital plan; however, commissioners signaled that differing lot‑coverage rules across the Burlington–South Burlington boundary could affect how, where and when UVM pursues housing or research projects on land near Spear Street. The university asked the commission to consider coordination on regulatory flexibility and stormwater investments that affect campus sites.