Right now we are near the beginning of a very long planning process that will play itself out both here in Essex Town and in Montpelier. Current town zoning regulations prohibit the construction of any correctional facility in the places where the state wants to build. The State has requested zoning regulations be ammended in order to accommodate the facility, and this proposal has been discussed in several in-person and virtual meetings held by the Planning Commission and the Essex Community Justice Center.
Community pushback has been considerable, people have a lot of questions that remain unanswered, including the Planning Commission. During the Planning Commission meeting on 11.14.24, board consensus was that they do not have enough information to proceed with any zoning changes without more information from the DOC, BGS, as well as other communities that host prisons in Vermont. This is essentially where we are, in an information gathering phase. No progress will likely occur until January.
Note regarding Development Review Board / Planning Commission restructure:
The zoning ammendment request will continue to work its way through the Planning Commission in 2025. If the ammendment passes, the new Development Review Board will then take responsibility for reviewing the State of VT's site plan.