letter to GOVERNOR

Governor James Douglas
Governor’s office
Montpelier,
Vermont

June 10, 2007

Dear Governor:

Re: Opportunity for Vermont to lead the nation in sustainable communities.

The following is a logic path that I have devised with other Vermonters over that past 5 years as a result of participating in planning, teaching and developing strategies nationwide for sensible growth options within the State of Vermont.

These ideas have not been publicly presented as yet.
I want your office to see and comment on these ideas and visions in advance of pubic presentations.

I am an Architect and Planner practicing in Vermont since 1970. (see attached resume).




Current situation:
1. Vermont has not been strangled by overwhelming suburban sprawl.
2. There is a significant need for affordable housing in Vermont.
3. The agriculture character of Vermont is threatened by high land prices and poor growth controls. (controlled by local zoning).
4. There is a need for additional jobs throughout the state.
5. The cost of energy per capita in Vermont is among the highest in the nation due to high fuel costs and the need for frequent inefficient private transportation.
6. There is an emerging interest and investment in locally grown agriculture products
7. Vermont has been a birthing room for numerous businesses and products that sustain the environment (I founded Northern Power, Vermont Castings and others and see the creative and energetic nature of Vermonters.
8. There are more Artists per capita in Vermont than any other state ( I was a trustee of the Vermont Council on the Arts for 4 years and saw it first hand).

Add to this the following:
1. Vermont has a rail infrastructure unparalleled in any other state. Each major city and most towns are on existing rail lines and most have been planned and laid out for a rail based urban/town center. From Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, and Brattleboro to Essex Junction, St. J, even Waterbury and south Royalton. (and all the rest).
2. National interest in Passenger light rail is emerging in numerous parts of the US (Japan, England, Europe, and most of the developed world are basing their growth on efficient and convenient passenger rail). “RAILVOLUTION’ conferences in the US are expanding exponentially.
3. It is well documented that The US auto manufacturers and oil companies destroyed the rail in the US. From Trollies to commuter rail.

Proposal for reducing dependence on oil, adding affordable housing in efficient new villages, preserving and activating thousands of acres of agriculture land, providing thousands of good paying jobs, activating an efficient passenger rail system on existing rail lines in Vermont.

The strategy is based on the following:

1. Development of 6 new pedestrian oriented villages along the existing rail line from Burlington to Rutland.
2. Each will have 1000 housing units in various configurations
3. Each village will secure substantial agriculture land in immediate proximity to control the farming business, open space and Vermont traditions. Between 500 and 2000 acres per village. Sustainable yield forest land will be requied as well for wood chip power generation.
4. Each village will be organized similar to the historic and traditional villages in America; however the basis of connection will be new.
A: The traditional villages were based on power, (hydro-plants), ports or transportation hubs.
B. The village of the future (note: there is an international search for lasting configurations of settlement) will be based on a limit to size. Not only in physical boundary, but social optimization.
C. Small family size, need for healthy living with regular exercise, art and community based social exchange, locally and individual gardens,
D. Pedestrian domenance with small streets, back alleys, dense commercial space
E. The town center will be connected to the rail stop, and indoor station where the trains enter (similar to the Disney hotels) the interior of the spaces.