Arlington Planning Commission
Minutes – 10/23/2025
Attendees:
Michael Murno
Jenna Tait
Sebastian Massey
Garret Siegel Joan
Mary Anne Holmes
Jon Murray (Zoom)
Sunjit Shawla (Zoom)
Joan Nash, LUA
Commenced: 7:02 pm
Warned items: None
A Motion was made by Jenna Tait to accept the minutes from the last APC meeting. Seconded by Michael Murno. Passed unanimously.
Camping on Battenkill, Update:
Following up on the site map provided by Battenkill RV LLC which was reviewed and accepted as conforming with the APC’s requirements for approval in September 2024: there were 15 sites, rather than 11, updated on the new site plan. None of these sites are in the floodway. The Commission confirmed that this fact does not change the previous month’s dispositions that Bettenkill RV LLC had met the contingencies for approval of their site plan and permit. There was some conversation again about that the fact that the majority if not all of the camping sites are either in the floodway or the flood fringe (SFHA). The corrected information was actually the number of sites presented by Battenkill RV LLC in their original presentation to the Planning Commission.
General updates:
- Recent Select Board minutes noted that the interim Town Administrator, Cynthia Browning, has been appointed an alternate member of the ZBA and APC. There are now two alternate members to the Planning Commission: Joan Nash and Cynthia Browning.
- Garret noted that he signed a grant application for the BCRC to assist the APC with a revision of the Town Plan at the October 20th Select Board meeting. The application was approved by the Select Board as per the Planning Commission’s recommendation.
- No updates on the Red Mountain Project.
Enforcement:
The people who had erected an unpermitted pavilion in the floodway in West Arlington were expected to receive an official summons to the Environmental Court from the town lawyers.
Joan noted that she had questions for the town lawyers regarding enforcement of the town junk ordinance. Town admin, Cynthia Browning, said that she can only enforce what she can see from the road. It was agreed that we will need to reinforce the junk ordinance when we re-do the Town Bylaws. Could language be added allowing for drone use in enforcement?
There was a small discussion of how the public right of way to rivers is managed by the State. It was questioned how the state is supposed to review changes/variances to the public right of way made on a municipal level? Are they supposed to be informed of such proceedings? And to whom would this information need to be sent?
Tier 1B Expansion:
The Commission discussed the possibility of applying for a Tier 1B designation in Arlington. The BCRC has presented amended maps to the APC twice over the last three months on this subject (and the most recent map is presented in last month’s minutes). It was agreed that it was a positive that the expanded designation would add the schools into our Act 250 exempt town center. The general benefit of the designation is that it better represents the center/downtown of Arlington and might help facilitate the development of wastewater needed for housing and businesses. Possible downsides noted might be increased traffic resulting from concentration and water/flooding due on contiguous lands due to development. Members of the Commission also noted that it might be advantageous if bicycle and footpaths could be required.
A Motion was put forth by Jon Murray that the Arlington Planning Commission recommend to the Select Board that it should apply for a Tier 1B expansion. Seconded by Jenna Tait. Passed unanimously.
BCRC Municipal Consultation meeting:
The BCRC would like to be put on the agenda of the next APC meeting for a “municipal consultation” meeting, which is required every four years by the state. The purpose of the meeting will be to review both the Town Plan and Town Bylaws as well as the town’s needs, wants and general direction for both documents. The APC plans to invite the BCRC to our next meeting for such a purpose.
Schools:
Following up on a strand of conversation from the last meeting, the APC discussed the possible ramifications of Act 73 on the town’s schools. It was agreed that it was important to have an understanding on this issue, which is developing, as there are significant questions particularly towards the development of the next Town Plan. Act 73 sets in motion a plan to consolidate the state’s school districts in hopes of reducing administrative and insurance costs. School closures are likely, particularly in those schools that cannot maintain newly accepted minimum class sizes. A State task force has until December 1st to come up with a plan to present to the legislature, and then a separate committee will look at school closures. The Commission agreed that we would ask either Nicol Whalen and/or Todd Wilkins of the Arlington School Board to update us on how the Act might affect the town at our January meeting.
Town Plan Revision:
Nick Zaiac of the BCRC listed many possible considerations for the upcoming revision of the Town Plan in his presentation regarding updated mapping at the last meeting of the APC. As they had not been discussed, Garret wanted to present them again for future thought. Nick noted that possible objectives could be:
- simplification of the plan
- incorporation of the Water Department (which was acquired in 2018 and thus after the last iteration of the Town Plan)
- school question (including planning for contingencies)
- speculative trail projects/bicycle projects
Board of Civil Authority:
Garret noted that in perusing the Select Board minutes from 10/8/25 he noticed reference to an Arlington committee called the Board of Civil Authority. This committee, which has oversight over elections and for maintaining the voter checklist among other things, is not referred to in the Town Plan nor in the Town Bylaws. The BCA also is responsible for hearing property tax assessment appeals, serves on the Board of Abatement and participates in state district reapportionment. It is made up of the Town Clerk, the Select Board and the Town Justices of the Peace. Garret noted that, according to the SB minutes, one of the political parties in Arlington had requested that three members from their party be appointed to the BCA. The Planning Commission agreed that the Board of Civil Authority, its makeup and function, should be mentioned somewhere in the Town Plan.
Next meeting:
Thursday, December 11, 2025
A Motion was made to end the meeting by Michael Murno. Seconded by Sebastian Massey. Passed unanimously