Upper Main Street Planning Project

The Town and our consultant team completed a 7-month planning process in March where a conceptual master plan and conceptual municipal buildings for the Town's 32-acre site at 80/90 Upper Main Street were completed. The Selectboard approved the project Final Report on March 7, 2025.  The final report may be viewed below.

Click image to view the final report
View the Report AppendixCover of ReportClick image to view Cost Estimates for Phases (pg. 63)

Upper Main Final Report 3-17-25 Cost Estimate


Presentation and discussion on March 17, 2025

Questions and Answers

Do you want to continue the project at Upper Main Street?

Click image to view the Phasing Plan (pg. 62) as referenced during the presentation on 3/17/25.  Phasing plan page 62 of Master Plan report

Open House - Public Meeting #3


We had a great turnout for the Open House on January 15, 2024. On display was the preferred master plan for our new town center as well as exhibits of the municipal fire station, library, town offices, and community center buildings planned for the site. These were all crafted from input we’ve received from community members and local stakeholders throughout the planning process.Open House Picture

The Municipal Buildings: The Library, Fire Station, Town Hall, Community Center 

Essex_Preferred Master Plan Openhouse Presentation Buildings
Fire Statation

Click on the photos to view in a separate screen

The Presentation shown at the Open House

Essex_Preferred Master Plan Openhouse Presentation Full

Click on the photo to view the presentation

Stantec plans on wrapping up the project by the end of January and will provide a written report, which will be posted here. 

Stantec attended the November 18 Selectboard meeting and presented a project update. 

Stantec Selectboard Meeting 2 Cover page

Public Workshop #2.


We had the first chance to look at the conceptual site plan alternatives for the site and provided feedback on the plans on October 3 at the Essex Middle School. The project’s consultant, Stantec, unveiled several options for the development and layout of the future municipal site at 80/90 Upper Main Street, in the Essex Town Center. Three different site layout plans and visuals of what the buildings could look like were discussed. The public’s feedback was incredibly valuable and will significantly influence the development of the preferred alternative. Stay tuned here where a survey will be posted allowing the community to share their feedback and continue to contribute to the design process. The plans and images are below.  

A survey is available to further give input on the Master Plan concepts that were discussed on October 3.

Take the Survey

Below are the Three Options presented and discussed during the workshop.  Click on the image to view them on a separate webpage.

A Classic Town Center

Option 1 Classic Town Square

A Green Spine

Opition 2 A Green Spine

Town Commons

Option 3 Town Commons

View the presentation from the Workshop

Picture of presentation worshop 2

View the Town Meeting TV recording of the WorkshopScreenshot 2024-11-05 150951

Stantec attended the August 19 Selectboard meeting and presented a project update. 

Essex_Selectboard_ Presentation 240819_Page_1

Click Image to view the presentation

Upper Main Street Planning Project Kick-off Meeting

On August 1, we met for the kick-off of the Upper Main Street planning project at the new Farmhouse Event Center at the Essex Resort and Spa. This was the first interactive public meeting to talk about the future of the Town of Essex municipal site at 80/90 Upper Main Street. The meeting began with a brief presentation to introduce the planning process and review past work. Small group discussions followed where attendees shared ideas that will help inform the team on what will be on the site and what it will look like.

Upper Main Street Kick Off Meeting

View the meeting presentation that started off the meeting. Town Meeting TV was there to record the meeting. An online survey was also available for the community, who weren't able to attend the Kick-off meeting, to provide their input.

A bit more about the project consultant, Stantec

Following the purchase of 80/90 Upper Main Street in November 2023, the Selectboard was presented with the next steps and timeline for the future development of the parcels in January 2024. While it is anticipated that the 32-acre site will include municipal offices and a fire station, it still needs to be determined what other uses should be on the site, the timing of development, project costs and funding, utilities needed, and site layout. In order to determine these elements, an extensive planning process needs to occur. It is important to involve the public to make this a community-wide process and to gain the support for the development that Essex residents want to see at the center of their town. 

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was widely distributed on February 2, 2024 and the Selectboard approved the bid from Stantec Consulting Services. Stantec has a team of multiple planners, urban designers, and architects dedicated to this very important task of engaging the public in the development of the master plan for the whole site and conceptual design for the municipal facilities.

The Town is also partnering with Gail Henderson-King from Henderson-King Consulting to help with project management and to explore financing option for the build out of the site.

View the Project Scope of Work (pdf)

Projects & Initiatives Feedback

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