Infrastructure Standards Committee

Milton Infrastructure Standards Project

The Infrastructure Standards Project aims to cure inconsistencies among Milton's land development ordinances, such as: the Public Works Specifications, the Zoning Regulations and the Subdivision Regulations by establishing coordinated, clear, and context-specific standards for future transportation infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, recreation paths) to ensure that new infrastructure:

• Is economically scaled and built according to its use and context
• Calms traffic by aligning design with intended speed limits and modes
• Expands transportation choice
• Protects water quality
• Mitigates stormwater permitting and permit compliance costs

You can reach out to committee members at meetings or by contacting the Planning Department. Staff can include written submissions in committee meeting packets.

Project Introduction

Incremental amendments have, over time, made Milton's Zoning Regulations, Subdivision Regulations and Public Works Specifications inconsistent with each other - and unable to deliver on the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. The current standards are sometimes difficult for staff, developers and designers to interpret and apply. This confusion results in conflict, inconsistent application of the rules and discordant outcomes.

Milton's Town Plan prioritizes compact, connected and walkable urban development in its "Town Core" surrounded by low-impact development in rural areas. Today's infrastructure standards tend to favor a one-size-fits-all approach for Milton. This sometimes results in infrastructure that can be out of scale with its setting. The status quo is a regulatory program that diminishes the confidence of both participants and observers.

Municipal Planning Grant

To address this situation, the Selectboard, in October 2016, authorized the submission of a Municipal Planning Grant application to fund a solution. Milton was awarded the grant, receiving half of the eligible funding for Chittenden County. The Board began project implementation in March 2017 by authorizing the issuance of a Request for Qualifications from consultants and the creation of a temporary Infrastructure Standards Committee to steer the project. The work is underway with consulting services provided by PlaceSense and VHB.

Project Goals & Objectives

The project aims to cure inconsistencies among Milton's land development ordinances, such as: the Public Works Specifications, the Zoning Regulations and the Subdivision Regulations - and with the Town Plan - by establishing coordinated, clear, and context-specific standards for private and public transportation infrastructure to ensure that new infrastructure:

• Is economically scaled and built according to its use and context
• Calms traffic by aligning design with intended speed limits and modes
• Expands transportation choice
• Protects water quality
• Mitigates stormwater permitting and permit compliance costs

Process

To achieve these goals, the project will:

• Create clear standards and processes that can be consistently and efficiently administered
• Develop hierarchical development standards and design specifications for:
  • Streets and roads
  • Sidewalks
  • Pathways and trails
  • Driveways and highway accesses
  • Internal circulation and parking
  • Streetscape features (such as signage, lighting and plantings)
  • Related low-impact development/green stormwater infrastructure

Standards

The standards developed must factor in the infrastructure's:

• Land use / zoning context (village, downtown, transitional, suburban / rural)
• Traffic volume / congestion/safety
• Modality: transit, vehicular, bike, pedestrian

Project Deliverable

The project will result in hearing-ready amendments to the applicable land development ordinances. The amendments must undergo hearings by the Planning Commission and Selectboard prior to adoption. These are planned for summer 2018.

Project Work Plan

• Consultant Selection | Town Staff and Committee
• Review Project Plan and Develop Summary Findings of Issues and Opportunities | Town Staff and Committee
• Review Summary Findings | Committee and Consultant
• Technical Review and Survey Preparation | Consultant
• Survey Ranking of Preferred Alternatives | Consultant, Committee and Public
• Open House on Rankings | Consultant, Committee and Public
• Committee Finalizes Preferred Alternatives | Consultant and Committee
• Consultant Drafts Amendments | Consultant
• Committee Reviews Amendments | Consultant and Committee
• Committee Hosts Public Forum | Consultant and Committee
• Committee Reviews and Consultant Finalizes Draft Amendments | Committee and Consultant

Public Outreach & Advisory Support

Public outreach is an important part of this project. In addition to committee facilitation, the consultant will develop an online survey and host an open house (inviting public rankings of preferred alternatives) and host a public forum on the final report. The consultant will collaborate with staff to coordinate outreach content, such as periodic email updates to interested parties, project web page updates, press releases at project milestones, and periodic updates through existing Town communication channels: social media, newsletters, message boards, etc.

The Committee will also receive support and actively solicit advice from Town staff in charge of administering the ordinances.

Project Press

• April 2017 - Ad Hoc Group Will Identify Inconsistencies in the Regs - Milton Independent