By Amy Todisco and Jack Sharry
The Community Vitality Project (CVP) team is a passionate and diverse working group launched by the Mad River Valley Planning District to carry on the work of Community Economic Development Committee, the Vision and Vitality Series and other efforts dating back to 1980.
This is not just another committee that will produce yet another study to put on the shelf. We are in the early stages of creating actionable recommendations for the benefit of The Valley community at each of The Valley Town Meetings in March.
Our definition of “vitality” is based on a three-legged platform that includes (1) preserving our natural resources; (2) enhancing our economic health; and (3) maintaining a strong and supportive community by facilitating collaboration and open communication (good schools, access to health care, cooperative governance; a respectful, connected community). Each leg is essential in support of a vital and sustainable community. The following is a link for a video produced by the CVP using local talent shares our vision of what’s possible: http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T04907&video=293654. And, this is a link to the script used in the video: Vitality Video Script.
Our members: Bob Ackland, Mad River valley Planning District and CVP Chair, Warren Select Board vice chair, Warren; Catherine Benham, legislative analyst, Warren; Andrew Cunningham, business owner, Warren Select Board chair, Warren; AnneMarie DeFreest, hospitality consultant, Waitsfield; Patricia Floyd, business consultant, Warren; Darryl Forrest, Waitsfield Select Board, Waitsfield; Lori Klein, retail, Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Warren; Chuck Martel, Fayston Select Board, Fayston; Melissa Roberts, Sugarbush CFO, Fayston; Jack Sharry, second-home owner, Warren; Steve Shea, business owner; Waitsfield Planning Commission chair, Waitsfield; Amy Todisco, business owner, chair Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Waitsfield; Bill Parker, business owner, Waitsfield; Kinny Perot, chair, Friends of the Mad River, Warren; Margo Wade, director of planning, Sugarbush, Warren.
We divided ourselves into three subgroups to examine ways that The Valley’s resources can be used to create a balanced, healthy community:
Land/Environment Sustainability
Our land and environment is ultimately what drew us all here and is our most valuable resource. The Land/Environment group is looking at how best to sustain working lands, open space, forests, rivers, and agricultural and recreational lands. The group is working on the following: how to support large tract property owners and farmers around succession planning; how much working land and open spaces are vulnerable to or possibly appropriate for development; how to keep our existing recreation providers and lands healthy, vibrant and sustainable; and how to expand nonmotorized connections between town and recreation centers.
The overarching concern is how to sustain and leverage our resources in a changing climate and economy with a focus on smart growth, compact centers, and prudent development while protecting our critical wildlife habitats, mountains, and river corridors. All these challenges will be reviewed in a data-driven way, which includes reviewing town plans and zoning regulations as the basis for encouraging wise development patterns.
Business Vitality
The business work group’s focus is on increasing visitors to The Valley, particularly in stick and mud seasons, and attracting new “anchor” businesses that share our values and would contribute to our community’s vitality. Some of their ideas include creating packages with lodging, recreation, wellness and food by working with the Chamber of Commerce and the Wellness Alliance; supporting existing and creating new public water and wastewater systems and renewable energy projects that support existing and attract new businesses; supporting Open Hearth in creating an intergenerational community center; enhancing Irasville as a walkable town center with affordable housing and new businesses. Our intent is to develop one-, three- and five-year goals that produce a return on investment and are consistent with the values of The Valley.
Community Collaboration
The Community Collaboration group is developing ideas that include incentives to keep our businesses healthy and attract new businesses; simpler, faster, clearer permitting process improvements that provide assistance, not challenges; small lot zoning to encourage low-cost and rental housing; Valleywide resource allocation and planning to minimize redundancy and maximize resources to achieve our common goals. Additional issues we will examine are ways The Valley towns can coordinate efforts to secure federal, state and regional funding and leverage available resources; infrastructure spending like paving, water and renewable energy; road/fire department equipment sharing to reduce redundancy; a Waitsfield and Fayston water/septic agreement that would help Irasville as a growth center; ongoing support for the MRVPD and Chamber of Commerce, The Valley’s own planning and marketing experts.
At the recent Mad River Valley Town Leadership meeting the CVP presented an introduction of our plans. We asked the elected and appointed leaders of the Mad River Valley to engage with us and provide their perspective, guidance and encouragement in determining high-priority, actionable outcomes. We will be keeping them apprised as we conduct research, test ideas and formulate recommendations. We committed to approach our work in a similar way to crafting a smart, prudent business plan for The Valley with the objective of creating a viable, thriving, caring and supportive community for all residents.
The CVP working group is committed to developing a thoughtful, resilient, actionable plan that is adaptable and agile given the uncontrollable change we face. In a changing climate and economy, we are clear “business as usual” will be insufficient to meet the challenges ahead. We recognize and embrace this will mean making smart investments in our future.
We invite you to share your ideas with members of our CVP working group to help us in creating a community that deals with the realities staring us all in the face. Please engage with us to create constructive change that ensures the viability and vitality of this community we all love so much.
Amy Todisco is a business owner, member of the CVP and chairs the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce. Jack Sharry is a business owner, second-home owner, member of the CVP and board member of the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce.
