Development conference confronts obstacles

Last month, I attended the 2nd annual White + Burke Vermont Development Conference in Burlington. As a Vermonter first and an architect second, I am glad we have this conference as a place to discuss, learn together and share best practices.

While Vermont is one of the most beautiful states in the country and a great place to live, it is often challenging for business. Yet we persist!

At the conference, Mat Barewicz, an state economist, reported on an optimistic economic picture in northern Vermont, including the perpetual engine of Chittenden County. Southern Vermont, however, was relatively flat economically, or retracting as compared to 2006, when expansion and growth were more balanced statewide.

Conference sessions highlighted three tracks that make it difficult to do business in the state; first, permitting; second, economics and finance; and third, design, construction and the environment. We learned from the keynote speaker, Kevin Bunker, a Maine-based developer, how Portland and Burlington really aren’t that different in regards to an aging infrastructure, greying population and fractious local permitting process. We’re not alone here in Vermont after all.

Joan Goldstein, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic Development moderated a session on “The urgency of growth – creating thoughtful, viable non-urban development in our unique state.” Goldstein cited our greying population, outward migration of young people and wide-ranging obstacles to growth, even at the most marginal level. She shared how soon we may face a Vermont whose future success will be stunted by its own good intentions if we don’t join together to do the hard work needed.

One of the key points Goldstein made was how important it is to send a broader message to the world about how diverse and innovative Vermont is to attract young and talented workers and their families to the state, rather than focusing mostly on tourism marketing.

Panelists Evan Langfeldt from ReArch Company and Adam Davis from J. Graham Goldsmith Architects presented two non-urban development projects on the suburban outskirts of Burlington’s downtown core, one in South Burlington paralleling I-89, the other in Shelburne, south of Shelburne Village.

Both used attractive, easier-to-develop greenfields, with ample parking, and access to public transportation. The developments were not necessarily walkable, except within themselves, being near sprawling suburban residential or semi-rural development. Audience members posed interesting questions about whether this kind of development, with its lack of mixed uses, low-density, and tendency toward sprawl were appropriate for Vermont?

The ReArch project, Technology Park, is a model of sustainable office park development with a commitment to implementing LEED green building standards throughout the site, buildings and in some cases building interiors. Their dedication to sustainable design is truly remarkable for office parks in general, and Vermont in particular.

Our challenge is it will take lots of hard work as a development community and industry working together with legislators, businesses, municipalities, and economic development agencies to change the story of Vermont. We need to slowly refine and rework our policies and land-use regulations with a shared vision for a sustainable Vermont.

Stephen Frey is principal architect and owner of Arocordis Design, which specializes in commercial, office and workplace design.