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Now Virtual ONLY - Spring Planning and Zoning Forum
June 10, 2026
Join Us to Learn About
- Highlights from the 2026 legislative session that will affect planning and zoning
- Best practices and legal fundamentals for Development Review Boards and Zoning Boards of Adjustment
- Municipal Planning Grant funding opportunities
See below for full session details.
This event will now be held as a fully virtual event (due to far fewer in-person registrations than we anticipated). If you have already paid, you will receive a full refund. If you have not yet paid, your balance will be voided and no payment is required. The 9 AM-12 PM agenda, speakers, and content remain unchanged. We look forward to seeing you virtually.
If you have questions or need assistance obtaining your Zoom link, please email training@vlct.org.
9:00 AM-9:10 AM
Welcome and VLCT Overview
9:10 AM-10:10 AM
2026 Legislative Session
VLCT’s Municipal Policy Specialist will share planning and zoning highlights from the legislative session, including Act 181, agriculture and more.
Presenter: Samantha Sheehan, VLCT Municipal Policy Specialist
10:20 AM-11:20 AM
Effective Development Review Boards
This session will describe the legal roles and responsibilities of the DRB or ZBA and the legal requirements for governing their hearings, as well as share best practices for running effective hearings and issuing effective decisions.
Presenter: Kail Romanoff, VLCT MAC Staff Attorney II
11:20 AM-12:00 PM
Municipal Planning Grants – Funding to Support Local Planning Initiatives
Discover funding opportunities through the Municipal Planning Grant (MPG) program and learn how to successfully apply for grants that support your municipality’s planning initiatives. Since 1998, the MPG program has awarded over $17 million in grants to 243 cities and towns across Vermont. Jacob Hemmerick and Jenni Lavoie from the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will share an overview of the program and describe success stories from past grant recipients.
Presenters:
Jacob Hemmerick, Planning and Policy Manager, Community Planning & Revitalization, DHCD
Jenni Lavoie, Administrative Services Manager, Community Planning & Revitalization, DHCD
Agenda
Speakers
| Name | Organization | Speaking At |
|---|---|---|
| Abigail Friedman | Vermont League of Cities and Towns | - |
|
Jacob Hemmerick
<p><strong>Jacob Hemmerick </strong>is a senior community planning + policy manager at the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development in the Division of Community Planning + Revitalization – a team that uses a place-based approach to land-use planning and community development to empower state and local leaders to plan for and build vibrant, inclusive, and resilient downtowns, villages, community centers and neighborhoods. Jacob’s work focuses on the Vermont Municipal and Regional Planning Act and the Community Investment Program, administration of regional and municipal planning grants, administration of the State designated centers & neighborhoods, and special projects. Jacob holds a Master of Public Administration, is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and his prior work includes service as a park ranger, ICMA management fellow, local planning and economic development director, development review planner, planning commissioner, city councilor, and mayor.</p>
|
VT Dept of Housing and Community Development | - |
| Jenni Lavoie | VT Dept of Housing and Community Development | - |
|
Kail Romanoff
<p>Kail Romanoff currently advises as well as develops and implements trainings on municipal law for municipal officials throughout Vermont. A member of the Underhill, Vermont planning commission, he worked previously as Underhill’s zoning administrator and in private practice handling real estate matters. Prior to law school, Kail gained 10 years of experience in land development as a land surveyor working in Vermont, New York, and Wyoming. His educational background is in law, geography, geology, environmental studies, and climate science. </p>
|
Vermont League of Cities and Towns | - |
| Samantha Sheehan | Vermont League of Cities and Towns | - |