Commentary: VPR Sparks Debate and Solar Farm Proposal, December 15, page 2-3.....

Census Show on VPR Sparks Debate Among Charlotters

Vermont Public Radio (VPR) recently broadcast a show called “Counting Vermont: A Look at the 2010 Census.” Narrated by Steve Delaney, it discussed demographic shifts in Vermont, including comparisons between Charlotte and Hardwick. Charlotte was described by Delaney as a small “town that’s firmly anchored to the Greater Burlington economy and is in transition from agriculture to suburb. It has gained 185 residents in the past decade, to more than 3,700. Charlotte …now ranks 41st among Vermont towns. The farms that remain here tend to be home to horses. More and more of the people who live in Charlotte think of it as a bedroom community. They drive to Burlington or other towns for work and recreation.”
In contrast, Hardwick was described as being “on the other end of the spectrum.” Delaney said, “Charlotte and Hardwick don’t share much except an agricultural past – and a changing population and landscape. For a while, it was considered, even by its residents, as a place where not much happened. That’s not true any more, even though the town has lost 164 people in the past decade, and at just over 3,000, ranks 56th in Vermont. Hardwick is the informal capital of the state’s ‘Eat Local’ movement.”
It was said of State Archivist, Gregory Sanford, that he “thinks that now, Hardwick has more positivity, a firmer sense of direction than Charlotte has. Sanford said, “Charlotte, for instance, it’s relatively, at least on the west side of town, flat agricultural land that’s now being turned into residential, often well-to-do residential. It has lake frontage. It has those particular economic advantages. So it’s interesting to note, like many towns, there was a traditional break, even in Charlotte. So now the dividing line is comparable to where Route 7 is between east and west Charlotte – two different sets of world views if you will, based on what their economic base population, density, etc... was.” He goes on to say about Hardwick, “…a new group of people have moved in. They are trying to create a different economic engine based on a variety of alternative agricultural approaches.”
Delaney added, “Hardwick and Charlotte are both trying to redefine themselves. One town has new energy based on rethinking its agriculture and another has new prosperity based on converting farmland to comfortable suburban homes.”
Here are comments posted from several Charlotte residents on Front Porch Forum in response to the VPR broadcast, reprinted with their permission.
Nancy Wood, Editor

VPR Census Show on Charlotte vs. Hardwick

by Katherine Verman

Recently I heard a show on VPR that spoke about our town. I thought it was cast in a negative and antiquated light. I wrote to them the following:
“Dear VPR - On Saturday, November 19th, while driving from my home in Charlotte, I tuned into VPR and happened to hear a piece where the commentator compared the town of Charlotte to the town of Hardwick. Charlotte was depicted as a wealthy suburb of Burlington that has taken farmland and used it to build large expensive homes. It also suggested that there was a demographic, philosophical and economic split between West and East Charlotte. Hardwick, on the other hand, was described as an up and coming town that has used its agricultural land wisely and as a result has received a lot of positive publicity and improved its overall standard of living.
“As a long standing Charlotte resident I was offended by your depiction of our town and also thought it was terribly outdated. Charlotte currently has one of the largest percentages of conserved lands in Vermont. To date, Charlotte can be proud that more than 4,000 acres of resource-rich lands in the town are conserved with conservation easements. Charlotte is also the home of a growing network of gardeners, bakers, farmers and cooks. Yourfarmstand.com allows Charlotters to purchase, on a weekly basis, many of the local goods grown, raised or prepared in Charlotte. This Internet concept is now spreading to other areas across the country. As well, Stony Loam, a successful CSA, has its land and members in Charlotte and neighboring towns. Charlotte has a vibrant Sustainable Living Network and offers local workshops on raising livestock, growing food, power alternatives, etc., to its local community members. Charlotte is also the home of two co-housing communities that foster and support farming on their premises.
“Please let your listeners know that Charlotte is living in the present and has its sights on the future. We care for one-another and hope to live in a sustainable, thriving community.
Warmly, your neighbor, Katherine Verman”
I received many letters from my neighbors regarding my letter, when I posted it on Front Porch Forum. They were very supportive. One letter I received from a neighbor talked about how negative it is to stereotype. I appreciated that the most. I do think the issue is about stereotyping and making sweeping assumptions regarding real people who live in real communities.

VPR Census Show on Charlotte

by Ruah Swennerfelt

I too listened to that show and was concerned about the negative description of Charlotte. One real difference in the two towns is that Hardwick has a watering hole and Charlotte doesn’t. I would love to see a community “pub” come to Charlotte. I love to see a place where people can meet for breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks. I love for the building to have some rooms for groups to meet. I love for it to be a family and community space where we can have fun together. Maybe a sports room with a TV? I’ve been talking about this with Charlotters I meet, and so far I’ve had a 100% positive response. I’m part of Transition Charlotte (transitioncharlottevt.org) and hope that one transition we can make in our town is to develop such a place. I think it will help strengthen our community. Who’s interested? If you are, please contact me at 425-3377 or ruahswennerfelt@gmail.com.

More on VPR Census Show

by Robin Simpson

Charlotte vs. Hardwick... I unfortunately did not hear the broadcast. What another writer said about Charlotte is true - perhaps several facts they missed. However, Charlotte “is” a wealthy suburb of Burlington where farmland has been replaced by large expensive homes in many areas (one can argue my own home as well), a fact that is happening in many parts of the state and the country. I’m curious why any Charlotter would be offended, however. I don’t think it was VPR’s intent to slander our town. With that said, Hardwick is indeed on the cutting edge and an agricultural mecca. It has received national and international attention. Check it out. I’ve lived here since 1967 and think Charlotte is more akin to rural suburbia than the real farm town my parents moved to in the ‘60’s.  

How others see us

An article in the July issue of the North Carolina-based magazine, Charlotte, compared five Charlottes in the U.S., ranging in population from 436 (Iowa) to 731,424 (North Carolina). Our town was described as “the Prius-loving, tractor-parade-holding, strawberry-picking hamlet of Charlotte, Vermont. In March, the biweekly Charlotte News had a headline crowing about two feet ‘Epic Snow’, enough for cutesy front-page pictures there but potential Armageddon here.”

Massive Commercial Solar Farm
Proposed for Charlotte

All Charlotte residents are encouraged to attend a very important meeting on Tuesday, December 20, at 6 p.m., where the Charlotte Planning Commission will discuss, hear opinions, and ultimately decide whether or not to support and endorse a proposal to the Vermont Public Service Board to build a massive, industrial, commercial solar farm consisting of 345 solar arrays in close proximity to 15 Charlotte residences near Hinesburg Road and Sheehan Green. There is also a public forum at the Selectboard meeting Monday, December 19, at 6 p.m.
Unfortunately, a project of this type does not require a local zoning permit, but Vermont State law specifically allows local planning board input to be considered by the Vermont Public Service Board. Therefore, all Charlotte residents are highly encouraged to attend this meeting and offer their opinions to the local planning commission.
While the use of renewable energy is certainly a laudable goal of our evolving society, the placement of large solar-array farms needs to be consistent with the history of effective land-use planning and its roots in local oversight.
The following facts support a finding that the Charlotte Solar project is in conflict with our land-use planning:
The Charlotte land-use plan has one primary goal in the preservation of the rural nature and character of the town.
The land being proposed for this use is in the Charlotte Rural Zone. The minimum lot size for a residence in this zone is five acres. The land being proposed for the use is active farmland.
The land immediately adjacent to the proposed facility to the east and south is in the East Charlotte Residential Zone. Residential single family homes are built along these east and south boundaries. The minimum lot size in this zone is five acres.
To the west of the track proposed for this development is conservation land that is proposed for development of walking trails, etc., and is to be linked up with the residential property to the east.
The goal of maintaining open spaces characteristic of rural farmland is consistent with the minimum lot sizes in the zoning ordinance, and it provides protection for individual home owners who have invested considerable sums of money in their homes expecting to be reasonably protected by zoning regulations.
The proposed project, while not requiring zoning permits, is an industrial development inconsistent for permitted uses within both residential and rural zones.
The planning document currently used by the Town of Charlotte contains the following statement relative to electric utilities: “The Town supports improvements to the power grid to adequately support existing uses and planned future growth. Such improvements must be compatible with other goals of this town.”
It would be certain that if such a large and intrusive project were proposed for an industrial facility so close to existing residential homes, it would be immediately rejected.
And, in fact, the state anticipated that projects such as this might be immediately rejected, since they have included a “reasonable man” standard in the statute. This standard asks whether the project will offend the sensibilities of the average person. Passing down the road at 50 miles an hour may not offend the sensibilities of such a person; but, if such a person were placed in a home adjacent to the project to gaze out upon 345 solar arrays every time he or she looked out the window, it most certainly would offend their sensibilities, as it would yours if you were in that position.
Additionally, upon reading the proposed petition, the development company states it has no obligation to consider mitigation measures, such as alternative locations. However, the guidelines for preparing a petition clearly state that screening, landscaping and alternative locations are to be considered in order to improve the aesthetics of the project. Surely, with as much open land as there is in the Town of Charlotte, the development company can find an alternate location that will not adversely impact any existing residents.
It is our hope that our objections, coupled with those of other interested citizens, will be heard by the Planning Commission in order that it forwards a letter to the Vermont Public Service Board that this project cannot be supported in its current proposed site.
Stephen Colvin