Waitsfield Planning Commission (3rd Tuesday)
2023-05-16 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-06-20 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-07-18 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Waitsfield Town Offices, 4144 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT, 05673
Duties
The Waitsfield Planning Commission transitioned from a 9-member board to a 7-member board in 2006 to coincide with the formation of a Development Review Board. The DRB has taken on the development review duties that were carried out by the 9-member Planning Commission, which will allow the new Planning Commission to focus solely on its long-range planning, legislative, and other duties. The 9-member board will dissolve when it completes it development review caseload.
The Planning Commission is authorized to carry out the following duties (see 24 V.S.A. Section 4325):
(1) Prepare a plan and amendments thereof for consideration by the legislative body and to review any amendments thereof initiated by others as set forth in subchapter 5 of 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117;
(2) Prepare and present to the legislative body proposed bylaws and make recommendations to the legislative body on proposed amendments to such bylaws as set forth in subchapter 6 of 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117;
(3) Administer bylaws adopted under this chapter, except to the extent that those functions are performed by a development review board;
(4) Undertake capacity studies and make recommendations on matters of land development, urban renewal, transportation, economic and social development, urban beautification and design improvements, historic and scenic preservation, the conservation of energy and the development of renewable energy resources and wetland protection. Data gathered by the planning commission that is relevant to the geographic information system established under 3 V.S.A. § 20 shall be compatible with, useful to, and shared with that system;
(5) Prepare and present to the legislative body recommended building, plumbing, fire, electrical, housing, and related codes and enforcement procedures, and construction specifications for streets and related public improvements;
(6) Prepare and present a recommended capital budget and program for a period of five years, as set forth in 24 V.S.A. 4440, for action by the legislative body, as set forth under 24 V.S.A. 4443;
(7) Hold public meetings;
(8) Require from other departments and agencies of the municipality such available information as relates to the work of the planning commission;
(9) In the performance of its functions, enter upon land to make examinations and surveys;
(10) Participate in a regional planning program;
(11) Retain staff and consultant assistance in carrying out its duties and powers;
(12) Undertake comprehensive planning, including related preliminary planning and engineering studies;
(13) Perform such other acts or functions as it may deem necessary or appropriate to fulfill the duties and obligations imposed by, and the intent and purposes of, this chapter.

Members and Terms
Planning Commission members are appointed for four-year terms. The initial terms were staggered so that no more than three positions will expire at any one time.

Members
When
Appointed
Term
Expires

Robert Cook
2017
Mar. 2025

Alice Peal
2019
Mar. 2026

Kevin Anderson
2020
Mar. 2024

Brian Voigt
2014
Mar. 2026

Steve Shea
2015
Mar. 2023

Emma Hanson
2021
Mar. 2026

AnnMarie Harmon
2018
Mar. 2024

Meetings
The Planning Commission meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month, 7:00 PM, at the Waitsfield Town Office. Members are urged to let staff know as early as possible if they will be unable to attend a scheduled meeting so arrangements can be made to ensure a quorum.

Waitsfield Select Board (4th Monday)
2023-05-22 18:30 - 22:00, 2023-06-26 18:30 - 22:00, 2023-07-24 18:30 - 22:00
The Select Board’s regular meetings are generally held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, at the Waitsfield Town Office (4144 Main Street), and start at 6:30 p.m. Please check the meeting schedule to confirm dates and times; the Board may change or add dates and times as needed.
Questions for the Select Board may be directed to Town Administrator Annie Decker-Dell’Isola (townadmin@gmavt.net)
Current Meeting Agenda
Select Board 2022 Meeting Calendar (March 2022 – February 2023)
Interested in watching Waitsfield Select Board meeting videos from MRVTV? Click here.

Waitsfield Development Review Board (4th Tuesday)
2023-05-23 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-06-27 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-07-25 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-09-26 19:00
MEETINGS

The DRB meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, 7:00 PM, at the Waitsfield Town Office. Members are urged to let staff know as early as possible if they will be unable to attend a scheduled meeting so arrangements can be made to ensure a quorum.
Agendas and Minutes
Meeting Calendar (2023)

DUTIES

The Waitsfield Development Review Board was established in 2007 by a resolution that transferred the development review functions of both the Planning Commission and the former Zoning Board of Adjustment to the new DRB. The DRB’s responsibilities are laid out in both the Vermont State Statutes, the Waitsfield Zoning Bylaws, and the Waitsfield Subdivision Regulations.
The DRB performs an important and difficult job, which is carried out by volunteers appointed by the Selectboard. It is through this review of individual applications that the community’s vision, goals, policies, and priorities–as expressed in the Waitsfield Town Plan and codified in our development regulations–are implemented. At the same time, DRB members and others participating in the process must respect due process, the rights of applicants, and the rights of the public to participate.
The DRB has the following duties (see 24 V.S.A. Section 4460):
(1) Review of right-of-way or easement for land development without frontage as authorized in 24 V.S.A. 4412(3); (2) Review of land development or use within an historic district or with respect to historic landmarks as authorized in 24 V.S.A. 4414(1)(F)
(3) Review of land development or use within a design control district as authorized in 24 V.S. A. 4414(1)(E);
(4) Review of proposed conditional uses as authorized in 24 V.S. A. 4414(3);
(5) Review of planned unit developments as authorized in 24 V.S.A. 4417;
(6) Review of requests for waivers as authorized in 24 V.S.A. 4414(9);
(7) Site plan review as authorized in 24 V.S.A. 4416;
(8) Review of proposed subdivisions as authorized in 24 V.S.A. 4418;
(9) Review of wireless telecommunications facilities as authorized in 24 V.S.A. 4414(12);
(10) Appeals from a decision of the administrative officer pursuant to 24 V.S.A. 4465;
(11) Review of requests for variances pursuant to 24 V.S.A. 4469; and
(12) Any other reviews required by the bylaws.

Waitsfield Planning Commission (1st Tuesday)
2023-06-06 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-07-04 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-08-01 19:00 - 22:00

Waitsfield Select Board – (2nd Monday)
2023-06-12 18:30 - 22:00, 2023-07-10 18:30 - 22:00

Waitsfield Development Review Board (2nd Tuesday)
2023-06-13 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-07-11 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-09-12 19:00

Waitsfield Conservation Commission
2023-06-19 18:30 - 22:00, 2023-07-17 18:30 - 22:00
Duties
The Waitsfield Conservation Commission was formed in 2003 by an affirmative vote on Article 9 at the 2003 Annual Meeting. Originally comprised of five members, an affirmative vote on Article 11 at the 2007 Annual Meeting increased the number to nine. According to 24 V.S.A. Section 4505, the Waitsfield Conservation Commission is authorized to undertake the following:
(1) make an inventory and conduct continuing studies of the natural resources of the municipality including but not limited to:

air, surface and ground waters, and pollution thereof;
soils and their capabilities;
mineral and other earth resources;
streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and floodplains;
unique or fragile biologic sites;
scenic and recreational resources;
plant and animal life, especially the rare and endangered species;
prime agricultural and forest land, and other open lands;

(2) make and maintain an inventory of lands within the municipality which have historic, educational, cultural, scientific, architectural, or archaeological values in which the public has an interest;
(3) recommend to the legislative body of the municipality the purchase or the receipt of gifts of land or rights thereto, or other property, for the purposes of this chapter;
(4) receive appropriations for operating expenses including clerical help by appropriation through the budget of the legislative body;
(5) receive money, grants or private gifts from any source, for the purposes of this chapter. Grants and gifts received by the trustee of public funds shall be carried in a conservation fund from year to year to be expended only for purposes of this chapter;
(6) receive gifts of land or other property for the purposes of this chapter, by consent of the legislative body or by the affirmative vote of the municipality;
(7) administer the lands, properties and other rights which have been acquired by the municipality for the purposes of this chapter;
(8) assist the local planning commission or zoning board of adjustment or the district environmental commission, by providing advisory environmental evaluations where pertinent to applications made to those bodies, for permits for development;
(9) cooperate with the local legislative body, planning commission, zoning board of adjustment, road committee or other municipal or private organizations on matters affecting the local environment or the natural resources of the municipality;
(10) prepare, collect, publish, advertise and distribute relevant books, maps and other documents and maintain communication with similar organizations; and encourage through educational activities the public understanding of local natural resources and conservation needs;
(11) make a brief annual report to the municipality of its finances and transactions for the year just passed, and its plans and prospects for the ensuing year.
In addition, the Town outlined the following specific duties:

To work closely with the Mad River Valley Planning District, the Mad River Watershed Conservation Partnership, and the Vermont Land Trust and other organizations with land conservation goals and objectives consistent with those of the Conservation Commission and the Waitsfield Town Plan;
To be guided first by the goals and objectives in the Waitsfield Town Plan in the course of making recommendations on land conservation projects;
To use the Mad River Valley Rural Resource Protection Plan and analytical models where appropriate;
To be responsible for stewarding land owned by the Town for conservation or preservation purposes; and
To oversee conservation easements that have been granted to the Town.

Waitsfield Select Board – (2nd Monday)
2023-09-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2023-10-09 18:30 - 20:30
The Select Board’s regular meetings are generally held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, at the Waitsfield Town Office (4144 Main Street), and start at 6:30 p.m. Please check the meeting schedule to confirm dates and times; the Board may change or add dates and times as needed.
Questions for the Select Board may be directed to Town Administrator Annie Decker-Dell’Isola (townadmin@gmavt.net)
Current Meeting Agenda
Select Board 2023 Meeting Calendar (March 2023 – February 2024)
Interested in watching Waitsfield Select Board meeting videos from MRVTV? Click here.

Waitsfield Select Board – (4th Monday)
2023-09-25 18:30 - 20:30
