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Essex Junction City Council - 7/22/2026
Published: Jul 22, 2026
Public Works Brief Highlights Snow Removal Success, Equipment Challenges, and Salt Reduction Strategies
The Public Works Department Head provided a brief to the City Council, covering snow removal, equipment, ongoing projects, and department operations. Key points included: * **Snow Removal:** Despite a large amount of snow last year, the department managed road safety and salt supply challenges. Snow removal is considered a strong point for the department. * **Equipment:** Challenges with equipment repairs were noted. Two new dump trucks are expected soon, with two more anticipated in two years. Loaders are also aging and causing issues. A sidewalk machine is out for bid. * **Ongoing Projects:** The Crescent Connector project is nearly complete. The water meter change-out program has over 300 meters remaining, with challenges in accessing properties. The Railroad Avenue water line is wrapped up, and the Main Street sidewalk replacement is nearing completion with positive feedback. * **Department Operations:** The department has 5.5 employees and is responsible for maintaining city infrastructure, including water, wastewater, roads, and sidewalks, in all weather conditions. * **Salt Usage:** Reduced salt application last winter was discussed positively by council members for environmental and financial benefits. The department plans to explore further strategies to reduce salt usage, and a new public works facility will add two bays to the salt shed, increasing on-site storage capacity by 800 tons. * **Salt Shortage:** The department managed the salt shortage effectively last year, a challenge faced by many municipalities. * **Machinery Breakdown:** This remains a struggle, but new equipment is expected to help. Two new dump trucks are arriving this fall, but two others have a two-year wait, and loader issues are emerging. * **Fun Fact:** A worker's personal green Ford Mustang is available for ride-alongs (not a city vehicle).
City Council Introduced to Form-Based Code Amendments Aiming to Guide Future Development
The City Council received an introduction to proposed amendments to the Land Development Code (LDC), focusing on form-based code and zoning changes, particularly for the village center and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) districts. The amendments stem from the Connect the Junction plan, aiming to guide future development and potentially increase housing capacity. Key aspects of the form-based code include: * **Building Height Limits:** Based on the Connect the Junction plan, height limits are proposed to increase, with options ranging from 4+1 stories (village center) to 7+1 and 9+1 stories (Pearl Street corridor and corner near Lincoln Inn), with the '+' denoting an extra story for affordable housing. * **Street Room Ratio:** New rules will govern the relationship between building height and street width to ensure harmonious development. Buildings may need stepbacks to comply. * **Residential Adjacency:** Additional setbacks will be required for new developments adjacent to existing residential districts. * **Frontage Types:** Prescribed rules for how buildings interact with streets and sidewalks, including requirements for active retail uses, pedestrian amenities, and setbacks. * **Facade Composition and Materials:** Standards for building facades, prohibiting blank walls over 20 feet and specifying primary materials (wood, fiber cement, brick, stone, stucco, metal), while limiting vinyl siding. * **Parking:** Requirements for liner buildings for parking structures in the village center, ensuring ground-level uses are not solely parking. * **Landscaping:** A shift from a cost-based to a performance-based (point) system for landscaping requirements. The amendments also address historic resource overlays (remaining protected) and design review overlays (modified to avoid overlap with form-based code). Council members raised concerns about the impact of increased density on parking (particularly residential winter parking), the need for a municipal parking plan, the implementation challenges for city staff, and the potential costs associated with enforcement. They also inquired about amenity requirements and third spaces in new buildings, with the response indicating a focus on unit mix (25% of units as two bedrooms or more for buildings over 20 units) rather than specific amenities. The planning commission is in the final review phase, and public hearings are anticipated in September. Visualizations and further public outreach are planned.
Comprehensive Plan Update Progress: Focus on Housing, Climate, and Business Development
Darren from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) provided an update on the comprehensive plan update project, which is about one-third complete. This is the first comprehensive plan for Essex Junction as a new city. The CCRPC was hired as a consultant. The project involves reviewing existing plans, mapping, data analysis, and extensive public engagement. Key themes for community engagement focused on Housing and Urban Design, Energy and Climate/Sustainability, and Business and Economic Development, as other areas like transportation and public engagement were deemed sufficiently covered by other city initiatives. Public engagement methods included online surveys and, more significantly, focus groups to gather specific, actionable feedback using the SMARTT framework (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-based). Door-to-door outreach was conducted with businesses. Key feedback received: * **Housing:** General support for housing development, with a desire for controlled growth, affordability, diversity of housing types, and more green spaces. A call for a stronger city role in landlord-tenant relations and code compliance was noted. * **Energy and Climate:** A focus on balancing regulatory vs. incentive-based approaches, with a need for tailored strategies for new construction versus retrofits in existing homes. Oversight of large buildings during construction was also mentioned. * **Business and Economic Development:** Businesses appreciate walkability but need adequate parking. Visibility through signage is a concern, with some conflict over ordinances. Businesses desire more partnership and support from the city, especially with potential growth. The plan drafting process is underway with the planning commission, with a target adoption timeline between March and August next year. The council will have opportunities to review drafts and provide input. The CCRPC is coordinating with various department heads and advisory committees to ensure comprehensive input.
FY27 Tax Rate Proposed to Decrease by 40% Following Significant Grand List Increase
The City Council discussed and considered setting the FY27 tax rate based on a preliminary grand list due to the ongoing reappraisal process. The preliminary grand list shows a 75% increase, from $11.3 million last year to $19.8 million this year. The budget passed at the annual meeting requires raising $11,891,682 for property tax revenue in FY27. The current proposed tax rate, considering the preliminary grand list and revenue needs, is set at 0.6007 cents per $100 of assessed value, representing a 40% decrease from last year. This decrease is largely attributed to the significant increase in the grand list's total value. Other factors influencing the tax rate include tax stabilization agreements (currently one with Wickham Farm property) and additional veteran exemptions beyond state requirements, for which the city covers the education tax portion. The 'penny for economic development' and 'penny for social services' approved at the annual meeting are also factored in. The average value of a residential property has increased from $280,000 to $470,000. The total city tax assessment for a property valued at $470,000 would be just over $2,900 annually, excluding education rates or state credits. Tax bills are due to be mailed by August 15th, with the first installment due September 15th, as required by city charter. Information inserts will be included with tax bills to explain the preliminary rate setting and reappraisal process. The council also discussed the process for re-evaluating the tax rate if the final grand list, after grievances and appeals, changes materially. This may involve revised bills. Grievance requests total approximately 400, with a breakdown between city and town not yet available. The city may request an extension for filing the next grand list deadline (currently July 29th) to properly manage grievances. A motion was made and unanimously approved to set the FY27 general tax rate at 0.6007 cents and the tax agreement rate at 0.007 cents, and to cancel a special meeting previously scheduled for August 3rd, 2026.
Applicant Interviewed for Police Community Advisory Board Position
The City Council conducted an interview with an applicant, Tim, for a position on the Police Community Advisory Board. Tim, a retired public safety professional with 34 years in law enforcement (24 years with the city of Burlington, retiring as a lieutenant, and nearly 11 years with Vermont DMV enforcement), expressed a desire to give back to the community and help foster trust and relationships with the Essex Police Department. He believes his law enforcement experience will be valuable. He confirmed that there was nothing further to add to his application and that he is primarily interested in the Police Community Advisory Board, not other committees at this time. The council thanked him for stepping up. A decision on appointments will be made at the next meeting.
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