CHESTER, Vt. – The Chester Selectboard continued their ongoing discussion of Class 4 roads at their Wednesday, Nov. 19, meeting, beginning by reviewing the process for discontinuance and reclassification of roads.
The process is encompassed, according to Board Chair Lee Gustafson, by an 11-page document, which outlines in detail all of the requirements for discontinuing a Class 4 road. Town manager Julie Hance explained to the board that the motivation for this overview was to make clear that road discontinuance and reclassification are not quick or easy matters, in response to some of the conversations at the previous meeting about requests for Class 4 roads to be discontinued. “If you’re going to have requests for discontinuance and reclassification, I want the board to understand this is a very, very lengthy process,” Hance said. “It’s a legal process that has a lot of steps.”
Board member Peter Hudkins aditionally noted that, should a Class 4 road continue beyond the borders of Chester and into another town, that town must be notified, and must also hold a public hearing before the road can be discontinued.
The board then continued on to discuss the town’s pending Class 4 road policy, which had generated significant controversy at the previous meeting. Hudkins recused himself, as he had also done at the previous meeting.
Gustafson summed up the sentiments which the board had heard in its previous discussions, saying, “I think part of what we’ve heard is that the Class 4 roads are a valuable asset to the town, and how do we use them appropriately and keep them so that we as a town can enjoy town property, but also not come into instances where we’re annoying people or causing difficulties because these roads are being used inappropriately?”
Much of the conversation centered on the distinction between Class 4 roads which dead-end in private driveways, and those which connect back with other, Class 3 or higher roads. At the time of the selectboard meeting, the draft policy included provisions which would require permits from the town for all maintenance. After some discussion about carveouts for specific roads, Hance suggested that the board only require permits for “alteration,” as opposed to “maintenance,” and to define those terms specifically in a future draft. Examples given of maintenance included grading, plowing, and filling in potholes, whereas alteration would encompass activities such as widening the road or removing trees along its edges.
There was also discussion surrounding whether or not the town can legally restrict motorized vehicle traffic on Class 4 roads, something which had been suggested at the previous meeting, and was included in the draft policy. There was confusion among the board members as to whether state statute would allow for such a restriction, and whether or not the policy had been reviewed by the town’s attorney. Hance clarified that the attorney for the Town of Chester, Jim Caroll, had not reviewed the draft Class 4 road policy, but that the outline for the document, including the provision about limiting certain kinds of traffic, had been received from the Vermont Leage of Cities and Towns (VLCT), which has its own lawyers review any such outlines. Hance said that the town typically does not feel it necessary to have its own attorney review VLCT-provided documents, but that she would double check with VLCT about that particular provision.
The board also emphasized that each Class 4 road would be taken on its own merits, and that the policy would not create a blanket, one-size-fits-all approach to every Class 4 road, and its future use and development.
As before, several citizens voiced their opinions both in favor of, and in opposition to, aspects of the policy. Chester resident Gary King spoke in favor of the policy, saying that he has helped in building out several trails in Chester, and that the town’s trails and Class 4 roads are “an incredible resource” for outdoor exploration opportunities. Conversely, Doug Adams, who operates a farm in Chester, told the board he has seen traffic on a Class 4 road which bisects his parcel, and had recently had a vehicle drive over his land and “ruin a good track on a new seeded piece.” Class 4 road abutter Damon Tyler stated that he has also seen increased traffic on the road he lives on, apparently as a result of the board’s recent discussions.
The Chester Selectboard will hold their next meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m., in the Chester Town Hall.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article identified a Chester resident and farm operator as Mike Adams. The man was, in fact, Doug Adams. We apologize for this error.