City of Vergennes, VT

Representatives from the State of Vermont met with representatives from the city and community on Wednesday, May 1 at Vergennes City Hall, to provide an update on the juvenile facility proposed to be cited in Vergennes.  

During the meeting, representatives from the State said that they had identified Vergennes as their first choice for the location for the proposed facility.   

·   Buildings & General Services (BGS) staff explained the process they’ve undertaken over the past few years, including how they've reviewed possible locations across the state and the selection process used for this site.   
·   Department for Children and Families (DCF) provided more details about the facility’s location, size and interior and how it would be managed.   
·   City and community representatives in attendance asked questions and shared concerns they are hearing from community members.   

The Thursday, May 2nd edition of the Addison Independent will feature a story about the State of Vermont choosing Vergennes as its location for the facility.   BGS and DCF intend to begin what they have described as a thorough public education and community engagement process.   

The state will be required to apply for a Zoning Permit.  The city has a robust planning and zoning process and there are many milestones the State will need to reach before receiving a permit.  Before and during the permitting process, there will be numerous opportunities for our residents to express their concerns and share their needs directly with the state. 
  
The City intends to aggressively protect and promote the interest of our citizens, and ensure the State supports Vergennes in meeting potential increases in demand for public services and emergency services.  

May 1, 2024 from Mayor Chris Bearor, City of Vergennes

The State of Vermont is exploring the possibility of establishing a state-of-the-art, secure, therapeutic campus in Vergennes for youth.

We want to assure our residents that their economic well-being and safety will be a top priority as the state engages the city in this process.  The City intends to vigorously protect and promote the interest of our citizens, and ensure the State supports Vergennes in meeting any potential increase in demand for public and emergency services.  

The state began identifying potential locations for this facility In 2023.  At that time, the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) sought proposals from builders to design and construct this facility, considering both private land in South Burlington and state-owned land in Vergennes.  During that phase, representatives from BGS and the Department of Children and Families engaged in constructive discussions with our city leaders, including the city manager, city council members, zoning administrator, planning commission chair, a representative from the Vergennes Partnership, and our police chief. The purpose was to share details about the project and to understand the community's potential needs and concerns should Vergennes be selected as the site.

The proposed 14-bed campus would be situated on an eight-acre site off of Comfort Hill Road, north of the existing solar array. It is designed specifically to support youth in the justice system and  is expected to have a staff of 30.  The State of Vermont is now in the process of finalizing the location of the facility. 

There are two things to keep in mind as this process unfolds:
1. Any proposed facility will require a zoning permit. If the state chooses Vergennes as the location for the facility, the city has a robust zoning process in place to ensure that the interests of abutting property owners and the community are protected.
2. The state has also communicated to us that they intend to hold a thorough public education and community engagement process, once a decision about the location has been made. There will be many opportunities for our residents to express their concerns and share their needs directly with the state as the project evolves.

While we recognize the need for facilities in our state like the one being proposed, the City of Vergennes is actively participating in these discussions with a commitment to safeguarding the safety and interests of all our residents.   Your voices matter to us, and we will continue to prioritize transparency and community involvement as this project moves forward.