Gateway to Historic Chelsea, Vermont
Shire Town of Orange County
Generations of residents and visitors have enjoyed traveling along Route 110 as it follows the First Branch River from South Royalton to its headwaters in Washington, VT. Among many wonderful sights, is the view you encounter as you approach Chelsea Village from the the south. Rounding the bend in the road, the valley widens and you are aware that the village is nestled in a bowl. Immediately to your right is the Heath Recreation Field, named for Gordon Heath, whose farm originally included land on both sides of 110 at Chelsea's southern entrance.
Gordon was community-minded and generously offered part of his property to the Town of Chelsea when it needed land adjacent to the river to construct a sewage treatment plant. Later as its operator, Gordon's thoughtful and careful management set an example for how to be a good steward of the river. In 1998 the Town paid tribute to his service and named the recreation field in his honor.
History of the Sand Pile
When the Selectboard first put a pile of sand on the Heath property it was placed where the Heath Field sign is currently, and was only meant to be temporary (Selectman's report - 1992 Chelsea Town Report).
The current sand pile was moved to its current location after the water system was installed. When the water system was installed there was a significant amount of leftover fill and debris. Some of it was put at the Heath property, immediately west of the waste water treatment plant. The materials were spread and leveled and it became the base of the current sand pile.
Because the Heath property is in the floodplain, anything you put there is at risk of flooding. In the statement of purpose section of Chelsea' flood by-laws, the town's voters agreed that the rules should promote health and safety and minimize losses due to flooding.
Although base of the sand pile, the sand pile, the salt shed, salt brine tank and diesel tanks are ALL subject to Chelsea's Flood Hazard Bylaws, the Town did not apply for any permits as required.
As the sand pile grew, citizens repeatedly expressed concerns in 2010 and 2011 to the Selectboard and the Zoning Administrator, and in late 2011 the Zoning Administrator ordered the Town to apply for permits. The application was heard over three hearings by the Chelsea Development Review Board, whose decision in June 2012 was appealed to the State Superior Court, Environmental Division. The appeal is still under consideration by the Court.
Building a Garage at the Heath Field
On four separate occasions (March 2003, May 2004, March 2010, March 2011), Chelsea voters have rejected proposals to develop the Heath Field site for a town garage. Voters have raised a number of concerns including:
The current Selectboard members are again proposing to explore building a town garage at the Heath Property. There will be an informational vote on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 with balloting from 9 am - 7 pm.
Any proposed building at the Heath Field location is subject to Chelsea zoning and flood hazard bylaws. A conditional use permit would be required from the Development Review Board whose decision could be appealed to the Environmental Court as in the present case.
This site provides information about these issues and includes photographs which show local flooding. Before voting Tuesday, please consider the issues raised here.
Gordon was community-minded and generously offered part of his property to the Town of Chelsea when it needed land adjacent to the river to construct a sewage treatment plant. Later as its operator, Gordon's thoughtful and careful management set an example for how to be a good steward of the river. In 1998 the Town paid tribute to his service and named the recreation field in his honor.
History of the Sand Pile
When the Selectboard first put a pile of sand on the Heath property it was placed where the Heath Field sign is currently, and was only meant to be temporary (Selectman's report - 1992 Chelsea Town Report).
The current sand pile was moved to its current location after the water system was installed. When the water system was installed there was a significant amount of leftover fill and debris. Some of it was put at the Heath property, immediately west of the waste water treatment plant. The materials were spread and leveled and it became the base of the current sand pile.
Because the Heath property is in the floodplain, anything you put there is at risk of flooding. In the statement of purpose section of Chelsea' flood by-laws, the town's voters agreed that the rules should promote health and safety and minimize losses due to flooding.
Although base of the sand pile, the sand pile, the salt shed, salt brine tank and diesel tanks are ALL subject to Chelsea's Flood Hazard Bylaws, the Town did not apply for any permits as required.
As the sand pile grew, citizens repeatedly expressed concerns in 2010 and 2011 to the Selectboard and the Zoning Administrator, and in late 2011 the Zoning Administrator ordered the Town to apply for permits. The application was heard over three hearings by the Chelsea Development Review Board, whose decision in June 2012 was appealed to the State Superior Court, Environmental Division. The appeal is still under consideration by the Court.
Building a Garage at the Heath Field
On four separate occasions (March 2003, May 2004, March 2010, March 2011), Chelsea voters have rejected proposals to develop the Heath Field site for a town garage. Voters have raised a number of concerns including:
- Cost
- Safety
- Scenic
- Flooding
- Regulatory
The current Selectboard members are again proposing to explore building a town garage at the Heath Property. There will be an informational vote on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 with balloting from 9 am - 7 pm.
Any proposed building at the Heath Field location is subject to Chelsea zoning and flood hazard bylaws. A conditional use permit would be required from the Development Review Board whose decision could be appealed to the Environmental Court as in the present case.
This site provides information about these issues and includes photographs which show local flooding. Before voting Tuesday, please consider the issues raised here.