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Staff outlines state 'centers' program and local opportunities for downtown
Summary
Planning staff explained a new state centers program that consolidates downtown and village designations into a laddered 'step' system; South Burlington's City Center is slotted as step 2 and could pursue step 3 (with historic-preservation rules) to access additional benefits such as Main Street America eligibility and tax-reallocation tools.
Planning staff gave an extended presentation on a new state centers program that restructures downtown and village designations into a single, laddered system of steps that communities can climb to access benefits.
Staff said the program replaces the older system of multiple independent designations and ties eligibility to the regional future land‑use map; City Center will be slotted as a step 2 area and Shelburne Road as step 1. Step 3 carries the most benefits—among them eligibility for National Main Street America accreditation and access to potential state tax‑reallocation funding—but requires demonstration of historic‑preservation regulations and other planning prerequisites. "One of the really big things a community can get out of being a step 3 is National Main Street America accreditation eligibility," staff said.
Staff noted the program is largely nonregulatory (benefit‑oriented) and that the city will continue to assess whether and how to pursue higher step designations over time; staff are collaborating with the local downtown group (referred to in the record as s b 3 c) and others to prepare necessary materials.
