Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 1-13-2026
Castleton Planning Commission Minutes for January 13, 2026
The Castleton Planning Commission met on January 13, 2026, at the Recreation Center on Mechanic Street in Castleton, Vermont. The meeting was called to order by Frank Johnson at 6:32 PM.
The Planning Commission members in attendance were Mike Scovner, Frank Johnson, Tom Murphy and Liz MacKay. The members of the public that were in attendance at the meeting or via Zoom were Mike Jones, Bob Woodward, Matt Brown, Eric Splatt, Lauren Splatt, Janis Reinke, and Dick Combs.
Mike Scovner moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Tom Murphy and the motion passed.
A town plan serves as a comprehensive, long-term vision and guide for a town's development. The Planning Commission will be submitting an updated town plan this year to be approved by the Rutland Regional Planning Commission. The opportunity for a discussion with local businesses to contribute thoughts, ideas and goals for Castleton’s new Town Plan was the focus of the meeting. Many business members in Castleton were asked to attend via a personal invitation, e-mail, and word-of-mouth. There was a Front Porch Forum posting that invited the public to come to the meeting to give input on the town plan.
Summary of the input from Castleton business owners and others during the meeting:
• Affordable housing for young families is needed.
• Three phase power (instead of one phase) is preferred for businesses.
• Sewer access is extremely important and needed,
• Road plowing for late night and early morning deliveries is important.
• Public water being available is the most important and biggest obstacle to a business's success in Castleton.
• Streetlights need to be improved and added to areas where there are businesses.
• Signage is important to be able to advertise your business.
• Promoting businesses on the town website and any other physical or digital methods would help.
• Let college students use their meal plan vouchers at area businesses.
• Marketing idea: "Take the Old Road" to get to Castleton and encourage travelers to drive on 4A instead of the highway.
• Revive the Community Development & Economic Revitalization Advisory Committee (CDERAC committee).
• Explore having college students as marketing interns.
• Include information about the new recreation building in the plan.
• Important to look for grants to help with housing and other areas that may help the town to encourage economic growth.
No minutes were approved from previous meetings and there were no reports.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:40 PM.
Respectfully Submitted, Liz MacKay Planning Commission member