§ 2791. Definitions [Repealed effective July 1, 2034]
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Community reinvestment agreement” means an agreement among municipal government officials,
business leaders, and community groups pursuant to subdivision 2793(b)(2) of this title.
(2) “Design review district” means a district created pursuant to subdivision 4414(1)(E) of this title.
(3) “Downtown” means the traditional central business district of a community that has
served as the focus of socio-economic interaction in the community, characterized
by a cohesive core of commercial and mixed use buildings, some of which may contain
mixed use spaces, often interspersed with civic, religious, residential, and industrial
buildings and public spaces, typically arranged along a main street and intersecting
side streets that are within walking distance for residents who live within and surrounding
the core and that are served by public infrastructure such as sidewalks and public
transit. Downtowns are typically larger in scale than village centers and are characterized
by a development pattern that is consistent with smart growth principles.
(4) “Downtown development district” or “downtown district” means a district delineated
by the municipality and designated by the Downtown Development Board under section 2793 of this title.
(5) “Local downtown organization” means either a nonprofit corporation, including a nonprofit
corporation established by the Vermont Economic Development Authority, or a board,
council, or commission created by the legislative body of the municipality, whose
primary purpose is to administer and implement the community reinvestment agreement
and other matters regarding the revitalization of the downtown district under subdivision 2793(b)(2) of this title.
(6) “Historic district” means a district created pursuant to subdivision 4414(1)(F) of this title.
(7) “Certified historic structure” means a certified historic structure as defined in
the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 47(c).
(8) “Special assessment” means a tax assessment pursuant to chapter 87 of this title or
a municipal charter, among all commercial owners, or a significant portion thereof,
within a downtown development district to impose an incremental tax assessment above
the amount otherwise assessed, for the purposes of supporting downtown interests.
(9) “Tax stabilization agreement” means a contract executed pursuant to either section 2741 of this title or 32 V.S.A. § 5404a to provide a stable and predictable tax rate or assessment on properties in a downtown
development district.
(10) “Village center” means the core of a traditional settlement, typically comprised of
a cohesive mix of residential, civic, religious, commercial, and mixed use buildings
arranged along a main street and intersecting streets that are within walking distance
for residents who live within and surrounding the core. Industrial uses may be found
within or immediately adjacent to these centers. Village centers are typically smaller
in scale than downtowns and are characterized by a development pattern that is consistent
with smart growth principles.
(11) “New town center” means the area planned for or developing as a community’s central
business district, composed of compact, pedestrian-friendly, multistory, and mixed
use development that is characteristic of a traditional downtown, supported by planned
or existing urban infrastructure, including curbed streets with sidewalks and on-street
parking, stormwater treatment, sanitary sewers, and public water supply.
(12) “Growth center” shall have the same meaning as under section 2793c of this title.
(13) “Smart growth principles” means growth that:
(A) Maintains the historic development pattern of compact village and urban centers separated
by rural countryside.
(B) Develops compact mixed-use centers at a scale appropriate for the community and the
region.
(C) Enables choice in modes of transportation.
(D) Protects the State’s important environmental, natural, and historic features, including
natural areas, water quality, scenic resources, and historic sites and districts.
(E) Serves to strengthen agricultural and forest industries and minimizes conflicts of
development with these industries.
(F) Balances growth with the availability of economic and efficient public utilities and
services.
(G) Supports a diversity of viable businesses in downtowns and villages.
(H) Provides for housing that meets the needs of a diversity of social and income groups
in each community.
(I) Reflects a settlement pattern that, at full build-out, is not characterized by:
(i) scattered development located outside compact urban and village centers that is excessively
land consumptive;
(ii) development that limits transportation options, especially for pedestrians;
(iii) the fragmentation of farmland and forestland;
(iv) development that is not serviced by municipal infrastructure or that requires the
extension of municipal infrastructure across undeveloped lands in a manner that would
extend service to lands located outside compact village and urban centers;
(v) linear development along well-traveled roads and highways that lacks depth, as measured
from the highway.
(14) “Important natural resources” means headwaters, streams, shorelines, floodways, rare
and irreplaceable natural areas, necessary wildlife habitat, wetlands, endangered
species, productive forestlands, and primary agricultural soils, all of which are
as defined in 10 V.S.A. chapter 151.
(15) [Repealed.]
(16) “Neighborhood planning area” shall have the same meaning as under section 2793e of this title.
(17) “Neighborhood development area” shall have the same meaning as under section 2793e of this title.
(18) “Department” means the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development.
(19) “District coordinator” means a district environmental coordinator attached to a District
Commission established under 10 V.S.A. chapter 151.
(20) “Infill” means the use of vacant land or property within a built-up area for further
construction or development. (Added 1997, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 114 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 28, 2002; 2003, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 78, eff. Jan. 31, 2005; 2005, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2007, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 28, 2008; 2009, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2013, No. 59, § 2; 2013, No. 146 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 27, 2014; repealed by 2023, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 65(a), eff. July 1, 2034.)