Zoning & Floodplain Administrator
Kristen Leahy
802-472-1686
zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov
Summer 2026 Office Hours
| Monday – 11 am to 1 pm Tuesday – 8:30 am to 2 pm Wednesday – 9:30 am to 2 pm Thursday – 8:30 am to 2 pm Friday – By Appointment Saturday – By Appointment | |
| Outside of daily stated hours, by appointment. |
NEWS
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Request for Proposals (RFP)
Owner’s Representative / Construction Manager
Utility Elevation Assistance Program
The Town of Hardwick is seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals to provide Owner’s Representative/Construction Management services for the Town’s Utility Elevation Assistance Program.
This project is funded through the State of Vermont Community Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Fund (CRDMF) and will assist approximately eleven residential properties by elevating or relocating critical building utilities above the Base Flood Elevation. The selected consultant will serve as the Town’s representative during construction, providing oversight and coordination to help ensure the project is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with applicable project requirements.
Important Dates
- RFP Issued: July 16, 2026
- Proposal Deadline: Monday, August 10, 2026, at 3:00 PM
- Consultant Selection: August 2026
- Anticipated Contract Execution: August/September 2026
Proposal Submission
Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format no later than 3:00 PM on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Questions regarding this solicitation may be directed to:
Kristen Leahy
Resilience & Adaptation Coordinator
Town of Hardwick
zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov
(802) 472-1686Request for Proposals
The complete Request for Proposals may be downloaded below:
Owner’s Representative / Construction Manager – Utility Elevation Assistance Program (PDF)
Map of Impacted properties – Pdf
The Town of Hardwick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages proposals from qualified small businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and disadvantaged business enterprises.
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Coming Up Next: Flood Insurance
Join us on Monday, July 20, at 6:00 p.m. at the Atkins Field Pavilion, 140 Granite Street, Hardwick, for a conversation about flood insurance. We’ll share practical information about understanding flood insurance, navigating the claims process, and answer your questions.
A free community meal begins at 5:00 p.m., followed by the presentation at 6:00 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
The Atkins Neighborhood Conversations series is hosted by the Town of Hardwick in partnership with the Center for an Agricultural Economy.
Questions? Please contact Kristen Leahy, Resilience & Adaptation Coordinator, at 802-472-1686.
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Atkins Neighborhood Conversations Welcome Vermont Emergency Management
The Atkins Neighborhood Conversations are built around a simple idea: give people the opportunity to ask the questions that matter most to them.
For the third conversation in the series, Emily Harris from Vermont Emergency Management joined community members during the Center for an Agricultural Economy’s Community Meal to talk about emergency preparedness.
Rather than offering a formal presentation, Emily was available throughout the meal for individual and small-group conversations. Community members could stop by for a few minutes or stay longer, depending on the questions they wanted to discuss.
People stopped by with practical questions. What should be in a “go bag”? Which important documents should they keep together? How much food, water, or medication should households have on hand? What should families do before an extended power outage or a flood? Emily was able to tailor each conversation to the questions people brought with them, making the information immediately relevant and useful.
This “choose your own adventure” format allowed each conversation to reflect the needs and concerns of the individual or family. There was no set agenda – just practical discussions about the steps people can take before an emergency happens.
Thank you to Emily Harris and Vermont Emergency Management for sharing your expertise in such an approachable way, and to the Center for an Agricultural Economy for once again providing a welcoming setting for the Atkins Neighborhood Conversations.
The response has been so positive that planning is already underway to bring this format back next year.
Coming Up Next: Flood Insurance
The Atkins Neighborhood Conversations continue on Monday, July 20, at 6:00 p.m. with a presentation on flood insurance. The July 20 program will be a more structured presentation covering how flood insurance works, what it covers, who should consider purchasing a policy, recent changes affecting property owners, and an opportunity to ask questions.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
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Join local and state experts for a community conversation about invasive plants in our area. Learn what makes a plant invasive, how invasive species are managed, and which species to watch for in our region. Wednesday, July 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Greensboro United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall in Greensboro. Presented by the Greensboro Conservation Commission.
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How prepared is your household for an emergency?
Join us on Monday, July 13, at 6 p.m. at the Atkins Field Pavilion, 140 Granite St., Hardwick, for a conversation about building emergency go bags for households, families, and pets. We’ll share practical tips on what to include, how to get started, and why being prepared can make a difference during an emergency.
The free community meal begins at 5 p.m., followed by the presentation at 6 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
The Atkins Neighborhood Conversations series is hosted by the Town of Hardwick in partnership with the Center for an Agricultural Economy.
Questions? Please contact Kristen Leahy, Resilience & Adaptation Coordinator at 802-472-1686.
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The Town of Hardwick and the Caledonia County Natural Resource Conservation District are seeking letters of interest from Hardwick community members interested in serving on the Jackson Dam Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee will provide a structure for community engagement, project communication, and coordination as the Jackson Dam project moves from feasibility analysis into future design and planning phases. The committee will serve in an advisory capacity and will help support public outreach, identify community questions and concerns, and facilitate communication among project partners, Hardwick Electric Department, municipal officials, businesses, and residents.
The committee is expected to meet approximately once per month, although meeting frequency may vary depending on project activity. The initial meeting will be in August 2026.
The Town is seeking individuals who are interested in helping support community conversations and ensuring that residents have meaningful opportunities to learn about the project and provide feedback throughout the process. Residents, business owners, and other community stakeholders are encouraged to apply.
Interested individuals should submit a brief letter of interest describing their interest in serving on the committee and any relevant experience, interests, or perspectives they would bring to the role.
Letters of interest should be submitted by Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
Letters may be submitted to:
Town of Hardwick
P.O. Box 523
Hardwick, VT 05843Or by email to zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov.
Additional information about the Jackson Dam project is available through the Town of Hardwick.
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The Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District (CCNRCD) has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking an engineering team to assist with the next phase of technical evaluation and conceptual design work related to Jackson Dam and the Hardwick Lake area.
The project builds on the feasibility analysis completed earlier this year and will provide additional information about the site’s conditions, opportunities, and constraints. Work will include field investigations, hydraulic and hydrologic analysis, sediment evaluation, environmental review, FEMA benefit-cost analysis, conceptual design development, permitting coordination, and public engagement activities.
The purpose of this phase is to develop the technical information needed to evaluate potential future options for the site and support informed decision-making by project partners, community members, and local officials.
The selected engineering team will work with CCNRCD, regulatory agencies, and a local steering committee throughout the process. Community engagement will remain an important component of the project as additional information is gathered and alternatives are explored.
The Request for Proposals is available through the Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District website:
Engineering firms interested in submitting proposals should review the full RFP for project details, scope of work, and submission requirements.
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*Comments Accepted Through July 2The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released draft updates to Vermont’s wetland maps, including many communities in Caledonia, Lamoille, and Orleans Counties (and the entired Lamoille Basin).
The updated maps show the approximate location and shape of wetlands where previous mapping was incomplete or inaccurate. DEC is asking property owners, municipalities, and interested residents to review the maps and provide feedback before the maps are finalized.
Wetlands help improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat, and can help absorb and slow floodwaters. As Vermont communities continue to invest in flood resilience and watershed health, accurate wetland mapping is an important planning tool.
Residents are encouraged to review the maps and submit comments or corrections if they identify potential inaccuracies.
View the draft maps here:
Location-Specific Comments: Wetland Program
Comments on the draft maps will be accepted through July 2, 2026.
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One of the best moments for me at this week’s Community Meals happened around a stream table.
As part of the Atkins Neighborhood Conversations series, Alison Spasyk from Lake Champlain Sea Grant joined us at the Atkins Field Community Meal with a stream table that quickly became a focal point for conversations about watersheds, flooding, rivers, and resilience.
Community members of all ages gathered around the table, asking questions, experimenting with water flow, and connecting what they were seeing to local conversations about flooding, rivers, and resilience.
As residents explored the stream table, conversations ranged from local flooding and Jackson Dam to the broader watershed. One of the things many people forget is that Hardwick is part of the Lake Champlain Basin. The water that falls here eventually makes its way to Lake Champlain, connecting our community to a much larger watershed.
The highlight of the evening came when a resident from the Granite Street neighborhood told me that the stream table helped her better understand concepts that had previously been discussed during a recent public meeting. The presentations had been clear, but as a visual learner, seeing the water move through the model brought those ideas into focus.
Several conversations also turned to Jackson Dam. While the stream table was not intended to model Jackson Dam specifically, residents began using it to think through questions about water movement, storage, flooding, and watershed dynamics. Watching those connections happen in real time was awesome.
Moments like these are exactly why the Atkins Neighborhood Conversations were created. Not everyone can attend a formal presentation or public meeting, but many people are interested in learning more about the issues affecting our community. By partnering with existing community events and gathering spaces, the goal is to create opportunities for conversation, questions, and learning in places where people are already spending time together.
Our next Atkins Neighborhood Conversation is:
DREDGING 101
Dredging is a topic that comes up frequently in Hardwick, especially after flooding events.We’ll be joined by Shayne Jacquith, who brings years of experience with dredging and river work. If you’ve ever had questions about dredging, river management, sediment, or flood resilience, this is an opportunity to ask them.
Monday, June 22, 2026 at 6 pm to 7 pm, Atkins Field Community Meals in the Pavillion at 140 Granite Street
We hope you’ll join us.
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The Town of Hardwick and the Center for an Agricultural Economy are hosting Atkins Neighborhood Conversations, a summer community discussion series held alongside the Monday Community Meals at the Atkins Field Pavilion.
These informal conversations are intended to bring neighbors together, share practical information, and create space for questions about flooding, preparedness, recovery, and community resilience.
Location: Atkins Field Pavilion, 140 Granite Street
Community Meal: Mondays, 5:00–6:30 PM
Conversation Begins: 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Free and open to the public. No registration required.Conversation Schedule
June 15 — Lake Champlain Sea Grant Stream Table Demonstration
Explore river dynamics with an interactive stream table. Test scenarios like dredging, dams, armoring, and road crossings to see how rivers respond during storms. Hands-on and open to all ages.June 22 — Dredging 101
An informal conversation with Shayne Jaquith, River Scientist with The Nature Conservancy, about dredging and river dynamics. Open discussion and questions encouraged.July 13 — Go Bags
Emergency preparedness for households, families, and animals.July 20 — Flood Insurance
Understanding insurance, claims, and community questions.July 27 — Update from the Hardwick Resilience & Adaptation Office
An update on flood recovery progress, resilience projects, and what’s next for our community.Pull up a chair. Share a meal. Join the conversation.
PLANS & STUDIES
TOWN PLANS & STUDIES
Town Forest Recreation Plan – 2018
Hardwick Municipal Plan – 2019
Hardwick Municipal Plan Maps – 2019
Ecological Inventory – 2024
Enabling Better Places – A Zoning Guide for Vermont Neighborhoods – 2020 (State of Vermont)
Designated Downtown Map – 2023
South Main Street, Hardwick Audit – 2024
Original LVRT Loop Proposal Recommendations – Spring 2023
LVRT Loop Recommendations – 2024
Hardwick – LVRT Connector Loop Proposal by Local Motion – 2022
Updated Recommendations to the original Summer 2020 list – 2024
Landslide Inventory of Caledonia County Vermont (Includes Hardwick) – 2021
AARP WALKABILITY STUDIES (SIDEWALK REVIEWS)
South Main Street, Hardwick Walkability Audit from the Hardwick Planning Commission – 2024
Wolcott Street, Hardwick Walkability Audit from the Hardwick Planning Commission – 2024
Mill Street, Hardwick Walkability Audit from the Hardwick Planning Commission – 2021
Main Street, Hardwick Walkability Audit from the Hardwick Planning Commission – 2021
West Church Street, Hardwick Walkability Audit from the Hardwick Planning Commission – 2021
VHB – MILL STREET & MAIN STREET SCOPING STUDY – SUMMER/WINTER 2025
Local Concerns Meeting Flyer – Mill Street and Main Street – August 13, 2025
Concepts Presentation Invitation – Mill Street and Main Street – November 5, 2025
Presentation Slides for the November 5, 2025 Mill Street and Main Street Draft Concepts meeting
Overview of Concepts for November 5, 2025 Mill Street and Main Street scoping study presentation
HCTV recording link – 11-5-25
Overview of final plan from the January 7, 2026 Mill Street and Main Street scoping study
*Final Plan – Mill Street to Main Street Scoping – Adopted by the Hardwick Select Board on 4-9-26
COMMUNITY PLANNING FORUM (Bylaw Modernization Grant Process)
November 14, 2023 Community Planning Forum Slides
September 28, 2023 Community Planning Forum slides
WETLANDS
Lauren Sopher, MS., District Wetlands Ecologist in the Department of Environmental Conservation of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources ~ 802-798-6634 ~ Lauren.Sopher@Vermont.gov
Lauren Sopher is our contact for the Wetlands Program for Caledonia and Essex Counties. The Zoning Office has business cards for Lauren but we encourage you to request a site visit or a site review online. The existing project inquiry form is found here: Wetland Inquiry Form. The new project inquiry form is found here: New Wetland Inquiry. Additionally, here is a helpful snippet from Lauren about wetlands:
Understanding Vermont Wetlands
Wetlands are where land and water meet. They are commonly called marshes, swamps, and bogs. Class II wetlands and their 50-foot buffer zones are regulated in Vermont because of the functions they provide, like flood water storage, water quality protection, and wildlife habitat. The location of wetlands is hard to identify because their hydrology and vegetation can change
throughout the seasons. While the State has been working to update the Vermont Significant Wetlands Inventory (VSWI), many protected wetlands
remain unmapped.
Activity in a state-protected wetland or its associated 50-foot buffer zone is prohibited unless the activity is considered exempt, is an allowed use under the Vermont Wetland Rules, or is authorized by a wetland permit.
However, not all projects can receive a state wetland permit. Before you start planning, check for wetlands on or near your property.
- Check to identify if there is a wetland on property you are looking to purchase and develop. There are several ways that you can check for wetlands:
- Wetland Screening Tool: use this tool for the easiest and recommended way to see if a property has wetlands or to know if your plan may be affected by wetland laws.
- Identify wetlands on the ground: refer to our What is a Wetland? page with information on how to identify a wetland. Our Landowner’s Guide to Wetlands is a handy guide that includes a checklist to help spot a potential wetland or buffer zone on the ground.
- Check for Wetlands Before You Buy or Build educational campaign.
Visit the Wetlands Program website. Read frequently asked questions about wetlands.
Please note: by Vermont law, landowners and/or contractors are not allowed to disturb ground within 50 feet of an identified wetland without a wetland permit.
EMERGENCY PLANNING
Basic Emergency Operation Plans – Ongoing – external page
The Hardwick Plan – 2026 (Newest version of the Local Emergency Management Plan or the Basic Emergency Operations Plan)
The Volunteer Amendment to the Hardwick Plan – 2025
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2023
EAP for East Long Pond/Nichols Pond/Mackville Pond – 2012
EAP for Mackville Pond Dam – 2016
EAST HARDWICK
East Hardwick Walk and Bike Safety Improvement concepts from Local Motion – 2022
East Hardwick Walkability Audit from the Hardwick Planning Commission – 2022
East Hardwick LVRT Trailhead Scoping Study – 2022
East Hardwick Designated Village Center Map – 2018
East Hardwick Fire District #1 – 2024 Source Protection Plan Update – 2024
Better Connections Final Report – 4-30-25 ~ Adopted in June 2025 by the Hardwick Select Board as an Addendum to the Hardwick Municipal Plan
Better Connections: Appendix 1 – List of Funding Sources
Better Connections: Appendix 2 – Market Study
Better Connections: Appendix 3 – Report on Community Outreach
Better Connections: Appendix 4 – Scoping Study for the LVRT Trailhead
Better Connections: Appendix 5 – Final Stormwater Treatment Report
Unified Development Bylaws – Also Known as the Zoning Regulations
Flood Safety Act Presentation on June 18, 2025 for the Community
Link to hearing recording: https://hctv.us/public-hearing-on-east-hardwick-zoning-bylaws-december-9-2025/
FAQs for the River Corridor Overlay
APPLICATIONS
HELPFUL REFERENCES
2025 Local Wastewater and Potable Water Designers
2025 Local Surveyors and Wetland Professionals
Factsheet about Renovations and Demolitions
Demolition and Renovation Activities information sheet
Low Risk Site Handbook for Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control – 2020
Vermont Residential Building Energy Code Handbook – 2024
Absorb the Storm: Create a Rain-friendly Yard and Neighborhood – 2010
The wetland screening tool was developed to help you navigate all the mapping layers which indicate a property may have wetlands on it. In addition to the Vermont Wetland Inventory Maps, the tool also screens for nearby hydric soils, wetland projects, wetland permits, wetland natural community types, and wetland advisory layers. To get started, all you need is the 911 address or the SPAN number for an undeveloped property. It is the best means of gaining a comprehensive view of potential wetlands on a property short of a site visit by a wetland professional, and understanding the layers you are looking at.
To request a site visit or a project review, please fill out this form. The form will be automatically emailed to your District Wetlands Ecologist for their processing. Please be patient for a response as they are typically in the field two days a week during the growing season.
ZONING APPLICATIONS
Hardwick Zoning Application for Permitted Use
For any permitted use outside of the Flood Hazard Area Overlay. This permit covers new construction, additions, or any other item which is permitted in your zoning district.
Hardwick Zoning Application for Subdivision
For any Subdivision Review Request. If you wish to subdivide your land, then this permit is for you.
Hardwick Agricultural Structural Exemption Notification
For Agricultural Exemptions Requests. Per Section 7.2 B; accepted agricultural and best management practices, including farm structures, are exempted from the permit requirements. However, written notification including a sketch plan of the structure showing setback distances from road rights-of-way, property lines, and surface waters shall be made to the Zoning Administrator prior to any construction. This document can be used to notify the ZA. Filing fee for this notification is $15 (recording fee). Please note that this exemption does not cover employee housing on a farm.
Hardwick Zoning Application for Signs
Specifically for a sign request. Calculation of Sign Area
Hardwick Demolition of Structures Notification
Notify us when you plan to demolish a structure. This notification has a $15 recording fee.
State of Vermont Asbestos Regulations – Demolition Requirements
Per Section 9.1 of the Vermont Regulations for Asbestos Control:
1. Inspection Requirement
- Before any demolition (full or partial) in Vermont, an inspection for asbestos-containing materials must be performed by a Vermont-licensed Asbestos Consulting Company.
- If asbestos is found, it must be removed by a Vermont-licensed Asbestos Abatement Company.
2. Demolition Notification Requirement
- Regardless of whether asbestos is found, a Notification of Demolition must be filed with the Vermont Department of Health at least 10 days prior to demolition.
- The notification must include the asbestos inspection results.
- These requirements apply to all buildings, regardless of age, type of construction, or demolition method.
3. Unsafe Structure Protocol
- If a building is unsafe to inspect or abate prior to demolition, the entire structure is presumed to contain asbestos.
- It must be demolished and disposed of as a permitted asbestos abatement project.
Resources
- Vermont Asbestos and Lead Licensing Portal
- Search for Vermont-licensed asbestos inspectors and abatement companies.
- Search by:
- Type: Company or RRPM Firm
- License Type: Asbestos Consulting Company
- Vermont Asbestos and Lead Licensing Portal
- Or https://vtalrp.imagetrendlicense.com/lms/public/portal#/lookup
- Vermont Building Demolition Notification Form
- Submit your required 10-day demolition notification online.
- You must attach your asbestos inspection results to the form.
- Vermont Building Demolition Notification Form
- Or https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7079735/Vermont-Demolition-Notification
*DEC has created an online Permit Navigator to help answer state environmental permit questions. Permit Navigator | Department of Environmental Conservation (vermont.gov)
CONDITIONAL USE OR VARIANCE APPLICATIONS
Hardwick Zoning Application for Conditional Use
Specifically for Conditional Use or Variance. If you will need to visit the Development Review Board, then this permit is for you.
Hardwick Special Event – Conditional Use Application
DRIVEWAY PERMIT
Driveway Construction Approval Application
FLOOD HAZARD AREA OVERLAY DISTRICT APPLICATIONS
DEC has created an online Permit Navigator to help answer state environmental permit questions. Permit Navigator | Department of Environmental Conservation (vermont.gov)
Hardwick Zoning Application for Flood Hazard Administrative Permit
Specifically created for development in the Flood Hazard Area Overlay which would not require a zoning permit in other Zoning Districts. Examples include exterior and interior improvements, new parking areas, new or replacement fuel storage tanks for existing structures.
Hardwick Zoning Application for Flood Hazard Permitted Use
This application can be used for accessory structures (under 500 feet) in the Flood Hazard Area.
Hardwick Zoning Application for Conditional Use
Most activities in the Flood Hazard Area require a review from the Vermont Floodplain Manager and a Conditional Use review with the Development Review Board. Examples include new structures (even accessory structures over 500 square feet), substantial improvements to existing structures, grading, excavation, and road improvements.