VCE Weekly Update

Bennington Town Plan / Rezoning the Power Plant Site

by Annette Smith (Executive Director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, Inc.)

On May 23, the Bennington Selectboard held their final hearing on changes to the Town Plan. They voted unanimously to delay acceptance of the Town Plan after hearing concerns from Bennington area residents that one of the changes being made to the Town Plan would make it easier to site polluting industrial facilities near the region's schools.

Vermonters for a Clean Environment provided information [Weekly Update, May 29, 2000] showing that the request to change the zoning of 18 acres of the "Jard Site" from Village Residential to Industrial was made by power plant promoter Vermont Energy Park Holdings. In response to questioning, residents learned that no other party has requested this zoning change. The citizens present at the meeting expressed concerns that the area surrounding the proposed power plant site has become a central location for the area's children, with schools and recreational facilities in close proximity.

One selectboard member suggested that the "Jard Site" could be changed to Industrial in the Town Plan and that specifications limiting the use of the site to exclude polluting industries such as power plants could be dealt with through zoning. Another selectboard member questioned what difference it would make in the process of siting a power plant if the site was zoned Industrial in the Town Plan, and whether the concerns of the citizens could be dealt with through zoning.

Since May 23, VCE has attempted to find answers to the questions raised:

Does the Public Service Board respect Town Plans?
Does the Public Service Board respect Local Zoning?

Answers were received from

We forwarded this information to the Bennington Selectboard along with our assessment of the responses [See letter] for their consideration at the Bennington Selectboard meeting Tuesday, June 13.

On June 13, at 7:15 p.m., the Bennington Selectboard will once again take up the Town Plan. At their previous meeting, they closed public discussion, and it is uncertain whether or not more public comment will be allowed. It is possible that the Selectboard may request input from other town officials, which would open up the discussion. Or they may discuss the questions raised at the previous meeting without taking any more input from the public. Or they may just vote.

Citizens of Bennington who are interested in making sure that their Town Plan accurately reflects the wishes of the community are urged to attend Tuesday night's meeting. We have learned that the Public Service Board does take into consideration the wishes of the community. Although they have the authority to override Town Plans, they are required to give "due consideration" to Town Plans. However, local Zoning plays no role in siting power plants.

If the "Jard Site" is changed to Industrial in the Town Plan, that sends the message to the Public Service Board that the people of Bennington find that it is acceptable to locate a power plant at that site.

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