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.
There is no project like this in Vermont and Stantec has worked on similar mixed-use projects out of state. For example, Stantec worked on a development in Stafford County, VA, where a master plan was developed for a 30+ acre site owned by the county to create a downtown that was lacking in the area. The master plan included infrastructure changes, public gathering spaces, and mixed uses.
This project also included the development of public-private partnerships. Stantec also helped the Concord, NH create a master plan for a large site with mixed uses, including open space amenities, residential and commercial uses. Their written response to the RFP included two examples of municipal structures recently designed, specifically a fire station and library complex. During their interview, they explained that they have architects that specialize in designing municipal facilities, including fire stations and libraries.
With their large team that has done work outside of Vermont, they bring a fresh perspective and different outreach methods to our project. Stantec has one of the two project leads operating out of the company’s South Burlington Office. Their proposal and interview showed their commitment to gaining public support in the development of the community’s vision for the site through a robust public engagement process. This part of the project is the foundation for how this site will be developed. Staff expects the site to become a cornerstone of the Town Center, and it will be crucial to allow residents to help create a Town Center that reflects the community’s vision. If the master plan and conceptual design processes are not conducted well, the Town will not have the support from the public we need moving forward with any stage of development on this site. We feel Stantec has a greater capacity to meet the goals of the RFP and associated timeline by dedicating a larger project staff with significant depth of staff knowledge. Stantec offers a more robust and detailed public engagement process that is interwoven throughout the project. They will lay out a Public Engagement Plan (PEP) after the first public meeting, a kick-off workshop. This PEP will include offering at least four in person meetings to develop and refine the master plan and conceptual design. Also included are interviews with stakeholders throughout the process, surveys, and other outreach activities to be determined by the Selectboard and project team.
The Selectboard approved Stantec's proposal for planning in the amount of $194,335. The funding for this project will come from the ARPA account, which has a balance of approximately $310,000.
"The Town of Essex is at a transitional moment in its evolution. Separated from the City of Essex Junction, with a reduced tax base but a renewed sense of direction, the Town has an opportunity to create a new pattern of walkable, mixed-use development. A new Town Center for Essex will set a new course for the future, one that is economically beneficial while improving quality of life for residents. In addition, the confluence of broader economic, demographic, political, technological, and environmental changes creates a unique moment for launching this critical project." - Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.