§ 182. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Capitol Complex” means all of the land and buildings in the City of Montpelier, excluding
so much of State Street as lies within the boundaries thereof, enclosed within the
following described bounds: commencing at the juncture of Taylor Street, so-called,
and north line of the Winooski River, thence northerly along the westerly line of
Taylor Street, crossing State Street and continuing northerly along the westerly line
of Governor Davis Avenue, crossing Court Street at an angle to the westerly line of
Greenwood Terrace, thence continuing northerly along the westerly line of Greenwood
Terrace to a point on a line extension of the southerly line of Mather Terrace, thence
westerly along the aforesaid line extension to Mather Terrace, thence westerly along
the southerly line of Mather Terrace and Terrace Street to the intersection of Terrace
Street and the easterly line of Bailey Avenue, thence southerly along the easterly
line of Bailey Avenue crossing State Street and continuing along the easterly line
of Bailey Avenue extension to the Winooski River, thence easterly along the northerly
line of the Winooski River to the point of the beginning.
(2) “Capitol Complex Commission” means a commission consisting of seven members.
(A) Four members shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the
Senate, for a term of three years. One member shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House, and one member shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees,
each for a term of two years. The seventh member shall be appointed by the Montpelier
City Council for a term of two years.
(B) The Chair of the Capitol Complex Commission shall be designated by the Governor.
(C) Not fewer than two members of the Commission shall be residents of the City of Montpelier,
and a member shall not be an exempt employee of the State of Vermont or a State legislator.
(D) The Commissioner of Buildings and General Services shall be the executive secretary
of the Commission and shall have no vote.
(3) “Developer” means any person owning or undertaking construction of any structure of
any nature on any plot or parcel within the Capitol Complex.
(4) “Plan” means all overall designs, including blueprints of floor plans, site plans,
elevation drawings, and front left and right and detailed perspectives. (Added 1973, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. April 16, 1974; amended 1979, No. 87 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 20, 1980; 1983, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(b), eff. April 11, 1984; 1995, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(c)(1), eff. May 6, 1996; 2001, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 30, eff. June 27, 2002; 2019, No. 61, § 18; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 433, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 335, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 183. Review of plans
(1) No person shall commence construction on any structure on any plot or parcel within
the Capitol Complex prior to approval of plans for such structure by the Capitol Complex
Commission. For the purposes of this section “person” shall include the State of Vermont.
(2) Within 60 days after submission of tentative plans relating to the construction of
any structure on any plot or parcel within the Capitol Complex, the Capitol Complex
Commission shall approve such plans or suggest alterations or modifications relating
to overall bulk, size, height, setback, parking requirements, landscaping, design
continuity with other structures in the Capitol Complex, both private and public,
and maintenance of the character of the Capitol Complex as a unique and historic district.
(3) In the event the Capitol Complex Commission suggests alterations or modifications
in plans which will result in additional construction costs, the Commission may recommend
to the Legislature, or to the Emergency Board if the Legislature is not then in session,
payment to the developer of a sum of money in an amount not to exceed such additional
costs. The amount and manner of such recommendation shall be matters within the sole
discretion of the Commission, except that no such amount shall be recommended because
of a claim of a reduction in the profitability or fair market value of a parcel structure
or improvement arising out of an alteration or modification in design. The amount
and manner of actual payment shall be matters within the discretion of the Legislature
or Emergency Board. For purposes of this chapter, the Emergency Board may deem payments
hereunder to be “unforeseen emergencies” within the meaning of 32 V.S.A. § 133.
(4) Acceptance of a modified plan or design by a developer shall constitute an undertaking
that such altered or modified plan shall be faithfully carried out.
(5) The Capitol Complex Commission may adopt such rules and regulations to interpret and
carry out the provisions of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall be filed
in accordance with the provisions of 3 V.S.A. § 847. (Added 1973, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 17.)