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Past Newsletters:
Winter 2008
Fall 2007 Summer
2007 Spring 2007
Winter 2007 |
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Issues & Information Links
Burlington Zoning Rewrite
The City has spent close to six years rewriting its zoning ordinance. In April of 2007 the Planning Commission finalized its draft, sought public input, and then passed the draft ordinance and the public's comments on to the City Council for their review and action to finalize the ordinance. On June 20, 2007, the City Council published a draft with changes agreed to by their Ordinance Committee. In addition, individual Councilors proposed 55 amendments to the Council's June 20th draft. The BBA Board sent a communication to the City Council in June asking for an extended period of review for public education and comment, including a request for a change document that would clarify the changes from the current zoning ordinance.
The City Council increased the number of public meetings for comment and slowed the approval process somewhat, while still aiming for action on a new ordinance by the end of September 2007. A fourth draft of the ordinance was complete on October 29, 2007, which was available for public review and comment for 30 days. A final public hearing draft will be prepared based on the comments received, and a formal public hearing notice will be warned (anticipated on December 10). The Council is expected to take final action on the adoption of a new ordinance on January 7, 2008.
The City Council's draft ordinance, the amendments, side by side comparisons and frequently updated information about the process can be found on the Burlington Planning Commission website at www.ci.burlington.vt.us/planning/cdo/draft_ordinance_toc.html
We encourage everyone to read the sections of the ordinance that may pertain to your business activities and location, or to plans you may have for the future such as expanding a building, adding signs, etc., and to contact the City Council with your concerns.
Transportation & Parking
Transportation and parking issues are top priorities for BBA. See the Summer BBA Newsletter for a description of the BBA Board's resolution urging the City to provide for new and replacement parking before the removal of existing spaces or redevelopment of municipal parking lots like Browns Court.
BBA supports the City's decision to move ahead with the portion of the Southern Connector that will connect Interstate 189 through the South End of Burlington to Lakeside Avenue. During 2005 our Downtown Action Committee (DAG), chaired by Sparky Millikin of Truex Cullins & Partners, worked closely with the Department of Public Works on improved maintenance in the parking garages. During 2006 and 2007 the focus of DAG, chaired by Jeff Nick of J.L.Davis Realty, has been to review and make recommendations for the Waterfront/Marketplace/ Downtown - Transportation Improvement Projects (WDM-TIP) to be funded through the 2005 Federal Transportation bill that included earmarks for several projects in Burlington including the Waterfront, Church Street Marketplace and several east-west streets. The DAG is also studying the possible formation of a Downtown Transportation Management Association (TMA), and issues related to the development of the Transportation Plan that will be adopted in Fall 2007 as part of the City's revised Municipal Development Plan. See the Fall 2007 Newsletter for more information about the TMA study.
- Health Care: The Catamount Health Plan Affects ALL Employers as of April 1, 2007. Health Care has been one of the top issues for BBA members on our annual Fall Surveys, and was the primary focus of the Vermont Legislature during 2006, resulting in the Catamount Health Plan. This plan will provide coverage for uninsured Vermonters, and will be supported by a fee levied on employers.
Click Here if you would like to know more about health care legislation in general.
Contact your Legislator! Directory of legislators with e-mail addresses and phone numbers on the Vermont State Legislature website.
Burlington City Budget & Taxes
Click here for a summary by BBA of Business Taxes in Burlington
Background:
The City of Burlington continues to face serious financial challenges. During the Fall of 2005 a "super committee" of the Council and Mayor developed recommendations presented to the City Council in January 2006. On the spending side these recommendations included strong policy statements about reducing the rate of growth of spending, controlling wages, benefits and the number of employees, looking for efficiencies in service delivery through consolidation, and encouraging reasonable development that will increase the property tax base. These principles were endorsed by the City Council, and have guided the City's budget development for FY2007 and FY2008.On the revenue side, there was a recommendation to put the Local Option Sales Tax on the City Ballot in March 2006. This was passed by the voters, approved by the Legislature and went into effect on July 1, 2006. This tax generated revenues of $1.6 million or more during its first year.Mayor Bob Kiss formed a new, expanded budget study committee in 2007 to review City budget proposals for FY 2008 and to provide him with recommendations. The committee was made up of twenty-five people, including the seven people that served on his 2006 committee plus residents from all wards of the city. It was co-chaired by Jonathan Leopold and Lindol Atkins. BBA was represented on this budget committee by Nancy Wood.
Archive Information: Burlington Property Tax Rates & Reappraisal
Property Tax Rates for FY 2006 and Effects of Citywide Reappraisal
Other Issues:
Moran Plant - Current Status of Public Process for Redevelopment
Burlington's Zoning Rewrite Project
Background Information on Burlington Property Taxes & the Impact of Act 68 (2004):
Updated December 15, 2007
