Smart Growth Summit on 6/16 in Burlington

Vermont Smart Growth Summit 

Friday, June 16, 2017 8:30am – 12:30 pm Champlain College, Burlington VT

Registration:  http://aarp.cvent.com/events/aarp-vt-and-vnrc-smart-growth-summit-burlington-vt-6-16-17/event-summary-29ec0dfb21274c2ea5e0931933275af2.aspx

8:30am – 9:00am    l  Registration and Networking Breakfast

9:00am – 9:15am    l Welcome Remarks – Governor Phil Scott (invited)

9:15am – 10:00am  l Taking Stock - Where We Have Been & Where We Are Going Towns across Vermont are facing a wide range of intricate challenges and opportunities – from housing and transportation needs of a changing demographic to financing development while avoiding sprawl and valuing our natural resources.  Presenters will frame Smart Growth principles and benefits, highlighting Vermont’s accomplishments, the changing rural economy and the new reality for development.      Presenters:  Kate McCarthy, Sustainable Communities Program Director, VNRC Noelle MacKay, Director, Community & Economic Development Office, City of Burlington Peter Nelson, Professor of Geography, Middlebury College

10:00am – 11:00am   l Keynote – John Anderson from Incremental Development Alliance IDA’s focus is on a real estate model where local people can invest in their own neighborhoods and in that process, create new life and value that benefits their communities. We need more neighborhood-based small developers creating buildings that can adapt in times of trouble. Scale makes all the difference, and Anderson will provide insights about how to make small scale development work.

Break

11:15am – 12:15pm l Small Group Discussions - Experts Explore Smart Growth Solutions How do VT communities apply smart growth to meet their needs? Experts who have been involved with smart growth development in Vermont share the ‘why’ about being drawn downtown, and ‘how’ their vision has been executed. Each expert will address key smart growth issues like transportation, community support, zoning, business competition, public health, sprawl, and issues of equity.

   12:15pm – 12:30pm I Closing Remarks – Envisioning Smart Growth in a New Way   Brian Shupe, VNRC