Planning Commission

The Mount Holly Planning Commission is a five-member public body appointed by the Select Board under 24 V.S.A. § 4325. The Commission helps guide the town’s future through planning, public study, and the development and administration of land-use related regulations. 

What the Commission does

Under 24 V.S.A. § 4325, the Planning Commission’s responsibilities include:

  • preparing and amending the Town Plan;
  • preparing proposed bylaws;
  • administering bylaws where those functions are assigned to the Commission;
  • conducting studies and making recommendations on land use, transportation, housing, energy, historic and scenic preservation, and related matters;
  • developing recommended regulatory measures within its statutory scope, including building- and housing-related measures, enforcement procedures, and measures relating to streets and related public improvements; and
  • holding public meetings and hearings as required by law.

In Mount Holly, the Commission serves in more than one capacity. At times it acts in a planning and policy role, such as preparing the Town Plan, studying local issues, and recommending updates to local bylaws, regulations, and ordinances. At other times it acts in a quasi-judicial role, such as when conducting warned public hearings on subdivision matters or other proceedings assigned by law.

When acting in that quasi-judicial capacity, the Commission does not advocate for either side. Its role is to apply the governing standards impartially, maintain an orderly public process, hear relevant evidence and testimony, preserve the record, and issue a written decision based on the applicable law and the facts in the record.

Current members and staff

Members
Jon McCann, Chair
Jim Seward, Vice Chair
Andrew Schulz, Secretary
Stephen Michel
Ron Unterman

Ex officio members
Mark Turco
Diana Garrow
Jeff Chase

Under 24 V.S.A. § 4322(b), the Select Board serves as nonvoting ex officio members of the Planning Commission. This role provides a formal link between the Commission’s planning work and the Select Board’s broader responsibilities, supporting coordination, information-sharing, and consistent implementation of the Town Plan and bylaws.

Staff support
Faith Tempest, Planning Commission Clerk

Who to Contact

Administrative Officer
Start with the Administrative Officer for most permit, application, filing, fee, enforcement, and procedural questions. If you expect to submit an application that may come before the Planning Commission, the Administrative Officer should generally be your primary point of contact.
Email: [email protected]

Planning Commission
Contact the Planning Commission for questions about the Town Plan, regulations or bylaws, current planning work, studies, public hearings, adopted decisions, agendas, minutes, and other broader planning or policy matters.
Email: [email protected]

Applications before the Commission
If you have questions, materials, or comments relating to a pending or anticipated application, please send them to the Administrative Officer rather than to the Commission or individual commissioners.

Meetings

The Planning Commission generally meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office and by Zoom.

Meetings can be accessed remotely:
● By telephone: Dial +1 646 876 9923 (New York)
● By computer, smartphone, or tablet: Download Zoom meeting software. Join meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84448129939?pwd=zoA0yxIgUQO1K7LNI0wNCVPFHegUrp.1
● If prompted, enter Meeting ID: 844 4812 9939 Passcode: 122863

If you wish to make a public comment but do not have the ability to comment remotely during the meeting, please email your comment(s) to: [email protected]

Land Use Applications, Hearings, and Decisions

Find current land use applications, upcoming public hearings, and past Planning Commission decisions and related records.

View Land Use Applications, Hearings, and Decisions

Featured documents

Town Plan

Mount Holly’s Town Plan is the town’s adopted guide for future growth, land use, conservation, and community development. It sets out the policies, goals, and priorities that guide the town’s planning work. The Commission is expected not only to prepare and update the Plan, but also to help implement it through studies, recommendations, proposed bylaws and other regulatory measures, and supporting planning work consistent with the Plan.

Regulations and forms

Rules and procedures

Current projects and studies

Background and archived materials

Some older guidance documents may still be useful for background, but they should not be presented as equal in importance to the Town Plan, adopted regulations, current forms, or the Rules of Procedure. Older guidance should be moved to an archive or background section and clearly labeled as such.