Planning Commission

Meetings

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Mission

The Planning Commission is composed of seven members, the majority of which are residents of the town, who are appointed by the Selectboard for four year terms. The Commission is responsible for preparing, maintaining and amending the municipal plan, zoning regulations and subdivision regulations; undertaking reviews under these regulations; participating in the review of applications under Act 250; and conducting studies and making recommendations on the following:

  • Design
  • Energy conservation
  • Historic and scenic preservation
  • Land development and redevelopment
  • Natural resource protection
  • Transportation

State Municipal Code of Ethics

Commission Members

Joshua Knox, Chair
Georgia Lavigne, Vice Chair
Jonathan Schumacher, Clerk
Dustin Bruso
Ian Carroll
Paula Duke
Trefor Williams

Contact 

To contact members of the Planning Commission, please send your inquiry to:

Community Development Department
802-878-1343, community-development@essex.org
Mail or in person at the Town Offices, 81 Main Street, Essex Jct., VT 05452

All comments from the public must be received by 9:00 am the Friday before a meeting to be included in the Reading File of the PC Packet. In the case of a holiday/office closure on the Friday before a PC meeting, comments are due Thursday before 9:00 am. Any comments received after the deadline will be included in the Reading File for the next meeting. Meetings are open to the public, and we encourage you to attend in person if you have comments.

Planning Commission Documents

  1. Planning Commission Rules of Procedure and Conflict of Interest Policy (PDF)
  2. Welcome Packet For Planning Commission Members (presented by CCRPC 20230427) pdf)
  3. Roles and Responsibilities in Local Land Use (presented by CCRPC 20230427) pdf
  4. Public Participation Guide 5-1-25

Act 250 Information

Permits under Act 250 (The Vermont Land Use and Development Act) are reviewed by the State of Vermont Natural Resources Board. Act 250 applications submitted might have a hearing, depending on the scale and specifics of the project. Parties who can participate (other than the municipality and state agencies) are abutters and persons who have applied for party status to the District Commission orally or in writing citing specific interests under the Act 250 criteria. For questions regarding Act 250 in Essex, contact the District 4 Office of the Natural Resources Board.

Current Initiatives