OFFICE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION / ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES – DRAFT
May 12, 2026
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Tom Fox (TF) called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM. Other board members present were Nancy McCrea (NM), Matt Gancz (MG), Bill Pusey (BP) <6:05>, and Elijah Summers (ES) <6:57 PM>. Jessica Cooney-PCZBA Secretary, Edee Edwards, Randy Pike, Karen Christofferson, Mary Horne, Rhonda Ashcraft, Lori Marchegiani, Stephan Chait, Matt Bachler-WRC were also in attendance. Attending online was Bradon Cunington and William Smith.
CHANGES AND/OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:
TF spoke about community input about the Town Plan and a recent article in Deerfield Valley News. The Board received an email from David Jones speaking of Halifax’s population and aging statistics. TF will respond and forward to Board. Another email was received from Laurel Copeland who spoke about DarkSky (organization educating about light pollution). The Board would like to follow up with Laurel Copeland at the June regular meeting about DarkSky’s ideas along with a Cemetery Commission discussion.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES:
The Board approved the Planning Commission minutes from April 14, 2026 without corrections. (MG made the motion, 2nd by NM – all ayes).
The Board approved the Zoning Board of Adjustment minutes from April 14, 2026 without corrections. (TF made the motion, 2nd by NM – all ayes).
OLD BUSINESS:
TF is working on the Housing section of the Town Plan including statistics while NM updated the Cellphone/Internet section.
MG reviewed what he changed in the Education/Educational Facilities in the Town Plan. Edee Edwards requested homeschool numbers. Stephan Chait stated that the State regulates homeschooling and perhaps a policy/recommendation needs to be put in place for homeschooling land use.
***A Zoom disruption stopped the meeting and recording at 6:23 PM. Meeting resumed at 6:30 PM.***
MG will make tweaks on the Education/Educational Facilities section. Also, MG spoke about the Recreation section of the Town Plan and how he would like to speak with the Conservation Commission about their input on the subject.
NM requested that the gravel pits on the Town Map be revised with their wording. Gravel pits are classified as “active” or “inactive” on the current map but perhaps the “inactive” category can be subdivided into “reclaimed” or “closed”.
NM suggested that the agriculture in Town have more attention and support. She will rewrite the section for the next meeting in June.
TF spoke with Jessica Cooney-PCZBA Secretary about meeting together and reviewing the first draft of the Town Plan with new graphs and recent updates.
NEW BUSINESS:
Matt Bachler from Windham Regional Commission presentation of “Town Meetings for Windham Regional Plan Update”. (Slideshow starts at the 29:16 time stamp on Part 2 of the YouTube recording.) Matt Bachler spoke about regional issues including Act 181 and Act 250. He also spoke about the ‘Regional and Municipal Housing Targets’ for Windham County and the Town of Halifax for years 2030 and 2050.
Discussion about the new Town map and the new markups especially of “Village Center” differences. Map sections sanctioned as ‘Rural – Conservation’ were clarified with its definition.
Halifax’s Tier 1 (split into Tier 1A & Tier 1B) Eligibility for tax exemptions per Act 250 were reviewed.
Matt Bachler, Senior Planner, can be reached at mbachler@windhamregional.org or (802) 257-4547, ext.112.
Windham Regional Commission will be having a public informational meeting on Wednesday, May 20th at 6:00 PM.
HEARING OF VISITORS:
Karen Christofferson brought up the question if the Town have an easement for the school building if it was up for sell. The Board will look further into the deed and its wording or perhaps having a Selectboard policy in place.
Stephan Chait asked for similar support for forests, wildlife, and habitat connectors as NM asked for agriculture. Board suggested addressing this at the next Conservation Commission meeting on May 28th at 6:30PM.
Karen Christofferson asks if the Town needed specific aggressive language for defense in the Town Plan. Matt Bachler stated that stronger wording such as “shall” or “must” in the Town Plan may help along with Zoning bylaws.
Edee Edwards commented that the Town is required to repair certain roads/bridges due to reclassifications and would like that represented on the new Town map.
Edee Edwards mentioned a new funding program called “CHIP” (Community and Housing Infrastructure Program) to help towns build such things as sewers and roads
Edee Edwards asked who the Act 250 notices go to in Town. Matt Bachler suggesting contacting the Act 250 District Coordinator to verify who the contact is in Town.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 8:19 PM. (MG made motion to adjourn – 2nd by NM – all ayes)
YOUTUBE recording link Part 1: https://youtu.be/jntEl6RjX54
YOUTUBE recording link Part 2: https://youtu.be/JldJ_jjMOjw&t=208
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessica Cooney, Secretary to the PCZBA
