Zoning

Community Emergency Planning in Action

 in Community / Emergency Operations Plans / Uncategorized / Zoning  tagged Emergency Preparedness / Flood Resiliency / Hazard Mitigation / Neighbor to Neighbor

Following the 2023 flooding, Neighbor to Neighbor, the Town of Hardwick, OSSU, and the Civic Standard teamed up to improve our community’s emergency preparedness. With support from two consultants—Karen Horn and Cynthia Stuart—and funding from an MTAP grant through the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), a draft addendum to Hardwick’s Local Emergency Management Plan (LEMP) has been created.

🗓️ The draft was presented as part of a class in the Hardwick State framework on Saturday, April 12.
📌 Next steps include recruiting volunteers, integrating the plan with Town systems, and developing online resources.
📣 Your input matters! The draft is available for review, and we encourage community members to share their thoughts via the survey linked below.
🗳️ A final submission will be presented to the Select Board in late May.

🔗 Review the Draft Addendums:
View the Emergency Preparedness Addendum (PDF)

📝 Share Your Feedback:
Complete the Survey

🙏 Thank you to the volunteers who’ve dedicated nearly two years to this effort—and to Karen Horn and Cynthia Stuart for helping turn a community vision into a working plan.

Public Notice

 in Uncategorized / Zoning

Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), as well as, Federal Emergency
Management Agency’s (FEMA) implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal
Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides final notice of its decision to provide Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program funding for actions located in floodplains. Funding would be provided
through Vermont Emergency Management to the Town of Hardwick for the demolition and
acquisition of two (2) residential properties on VT Route-15.
Eligible actions are within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Work would include the
demolition and removal of structures, associated impervious surfaces, outbuildings, and
facilities. Demolition would involve minor ground disturbances; site preparations and/or
restorations; and the use of fill for minor grading and/or filling subsurface facilities where fill
would meet existing grade. All construction equipment and materials would be staged within the
parcels on pre-disturbed areas or driveways.
Demolition work and associated site restorations would have limited temporary effects and no
permanent adverse effects on the natural and beneficial values served by floodplains. Long-term,
the values of the floodplain would be restored and natural flood storage capacity at the sites
would improve.
Alternatives considered include relocation, elevation, and “no action.” The relocation and
elevation alternatives were deemed technically impracticable and not cost effective. The “no
action” alternative would leave the community at risk. Demolition is the preferred alternative as
it is cost effective, eliminates flood risk to homeowners to the maximum extent, promotes open
space use, and restores natural floodplain values.
Grant conditions will require compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, including
coordination with the local floodplain administrator and proper removal of demolition debris,
where applicable.
Map requests and comments about this project and potential floodplain impacts should be
submitted within 15 days of the date of this publication to:

Pamela Sparks, Senior Environmental Specialist
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cambridge, MA

pamela.sparks@fema.dhs.gov; (346) 314-8506

Proposed East Hardwick Zoning District

 in Zoning

After comparing HOME Act proposals with preliminary findings of the Better Connections process, the Hardwick Planning Commission (HPC) concluded that the East Hardwick Village was more aligned with a new single Village Center zoning district. The proposed Village Center District (VC) has the following purpose:

“To support a central mixed use area in East Hardwick. The Village Center District is intended to provide a place of civic pride and a focal point for development in the community. The Village Center District enables a variety of housing opportunities with a mix of small-scale commercial in a pedestrian-friendly setting.”

The Hardwick Planning Commission will be hosting a listening session at their meeting on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 6:30 pm. The session will occur on the third floor of the Memorial Building and on Zoom.

Please bring your questions, concerns, and suggestions. You may also send these items by email to zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov.

Additional information about the Village Center zoning district:

https://hardwickvt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Village-Center-Zoning-District-Associated-information.pdf