Vermont Preservation Plan

Number of Pages:  81
Approval Date:   September 3, 1997
Planning Cycle:  10 years

Contact Information:
     Giovanna Peebles
     State Archaeologist
     Division for Historic Preservation
     National Life Building, Drawer 20
     Montpelier, Vermont 05620-0501
     (802) 828-3050; fax (802) 828-3206
     E-mail giovanna.peebles@state.vt.us

Mission/Vision Statement:
Vermonters live and work in a landscape described as "world-class," a perfect union of the historical built environment, the state's natural beauty, and a working landscape clearly shaped by past generations. Historic resources are integral elements of this union that distinguish Vermont from other places and ensures its future socioeconomic and cultural well-being. Vermont's historic villages and cities, rural farmsteads and landscapes, and archeological sites create an unparalleled sense of community. These resources provide an integrity of place; they are the State's number one asset. Vermont's historic communities attract intensive capital investment and reinvestment, both public and private. Historic Preservation is the stewardship of the resources. Stewardship brings individuals and communities together; it is stewardship that keeps Vermont special.

Table of Contents:

SHPO Letter
Vision Statement
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Getting There From Here: Developing the Plan
Chapter 3: Vermont's Historic and Archeological Resources
Chapter 4: Challenges and Opportunities
Chapter 5: Goals, Strategies, and Priority Actions for Historic Preservation
Chapter 6: A Strategy for Implementing the Plan
Bibliography
Appendix 1: Vermont Heritage Series Videos
Appendix 2: Vermont Historic Preservation Plan Themes, Historic Contexts and Currently Available Information.
Appendix 3: National Register Districts in Vermont
Appendix 4: Criteria for Listing in the State Register of Appendix 5: Multiple Property Documentation Forms
Appendix 6: Potential Sources of Funding and Financial Incentives for Historic Preservation
Appendix 7: Selected List of World Wide Web Sites
Appendix 8: Downtown Resource Library
Appendix 9: Key Sources of Historic and Archeological Information for Vermont
Appendix 10: Vermont State Historic Preservation Office

• Creation of Plan Steering Committee;
• Eight public meetings;
• Draft Plan availability announced in four statewide newsletters;
• All cooperating/partnering organizations mailed a copy;
• Public comment incorporated into final draft;
• Vermont Advisory Council reviewed and approved draft plan;
• Development of Historic Contexts.

• Incorporates major findings from Lake Champlain Basin Program planning efforts, Cultural Heritage Tourism Task Force Reports, and Vermont Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development Programs;
• Vermont Heritage Video series on the themes of Vermont history.

ISSUES, THREATS, & OPPORTUNITIES

• Lack of awareness of historic and archeological resources;
• Need for easier access to preservation information, especially about archeology;
• Strong respect for community traditions;
• Heritage education becoming an important part of school curricula;
• Increased use of electronic information systems;
• Growing sprawl;
• Increasing demise of family farms;
• Environmental reviews burden developers;
• Increase in workload with fewer resources;
• Widespread support for downtown revitalization;
• More preservation partners in local government;
• Growing interest and effort in heritage tourism promotion;
• Renovations and demolition remove historic character;
• Archeological sites threatened;
• Zebra mussels threaten historic shipwrecks;
• Insufficient funding for preservation;
• Need for more public and private support for archeology;
• Agency of Commerce and Community Development is a leader in preservation;
• State owned historic sites system provides opportunities for public education.

1. Vermont's citizens and communities will know about and value the state's historic and archeological resources.
2. Statewide and community policies and actions will recognize historic and archeological resources as important community assets and community development and encourage reinvestment and reuse of existing building and infrastructure.
3. Defensible and sustainable historic preservation regulatory review programs will work to minimize conflict between resource protection and community planning, will promote and protect significant historic and archeological resources, and will involve develops as preservation partners.

1. Educate Vermont's citizens.
   • Produce programs which promote historic and archeological preservation;
   • Survey resources and release results to public;
   • Encourage stewardship of resources;
   • Promote downtowns;
   • Support heritage research and resource centers;
   • Use state properties to promote preservation education;
   • Create new ways of interpreting archeological sites;
   • Integrate databases and make use of information technology.
2. Re-investment and reuse of existing infrastructure.
   • Integrate preservation into local and regional plans;
   • Improve and protect downtowns;
   • Increase community-based preservation leadership;
   • Promote traditional growth patterns;
   • Develop, adopt, and implement economic incentives;
   • Create government policy which recognizes resources as community assets;
   • Promote tax credits;
   • Develop heritage tourism;
   • Reuse existing buildings for housing;
   • Encourage the sue of upper commercial floors as residences.
3. Minimize conflict between preservation needs and planning goals.
   • Increase compliance with all preservation regulation;
   • Make review processes responsive to community concerns;
   • Redefine the role of environmental review archeology;
   • Promote the continued development of existing community centers;
   • Improve early stages of environmental reviews of downtown development.

Cooperating/Partnering Organizations:
American Institute of Architects, Abenaki Resource Management, Inc., Certified Local Governments, Center for Research on Vermont, Vermont Chapter of Civilian Conservation Corps, Connecticut River Joint Commission, Federal Highway Administration, Governor's Commission on Native American Affairs, Lake Champlain Basin Program, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, League of Local Historical Societies, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Trust on Historic Preservation, Northern Vermont Home Builders Association, Preservation Institute for Building Crafts, Preservation Trust of Vermont, Small Business Development Center, U.S. Forest Service, University of Vermont, Vermont Archeological Society, Vermont Attractions Association, Vermont Bankers Association, Vermont Downtown Association, Vermont Economic Development Authority, Vermont Farm Bureau, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Vermont Housing and Finance Agency, Vermont Historical Society, Vermont Historic Records Advisory Board, Vermont Local Roads Program, Vermont Land Trust, Vermont League of Cities and Towns, Vermont Museum and Gallery Alliance, Vermont Planners Association, Vermont Realtors Association, Vermont State Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Travel Information Council, Vermont Advisory Council on Preservation, Vermont Department of Agriculture, Vermont Agency of National Resources, Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont Arts Council, Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services, Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Vermont Department of Libraries, Vermont Department of Education, Vermont Department of Economic Development, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, Vermont Department of Labor and Industry, Vermont State Archives, Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.