Vergennes subdivision design protects more than the building pad
Vergennes’s June 2022 bylaw identifies critical habitat, slopes greater than 15 percent, scenic features and prominent knolls among the resources subdivision design must protect. A proposed clearing should follow the accepted subdivision drawing, not simply the open area the carrier can reach. Have the designer mark the retained resources before a contractor prices machine coverage.
For an illustrative Vergennes slope comparison, a 16-foot rise over 100 horizontal feet is greater than 15 percent. A proposed finished grade of one vertical foot to two horizontal feet is 50 percent. These calculations address different provisions in the cited book; they do not make the steeper finished slope an acceptable place to clear a protected resource.
Vergennes clearing quantities and the accepted finish
The Vergennes board can phase construction and require temporary and permanent stabilization on a schedule. If the clearing contractor finishes before the later earthwork starts, specify who keeps exposed soil stable during the gap. A phased price should identify each disturbed area and the party responsible for maintaining the required cover.
Keep the Vergennes clearing quantities with the resource map, the approved road or building envelope and the stabilization schedule. Separate retained vegetation, stump treatment and final grading in the quote. Where an access route would cut a protected knoll or habitat connection, resolve that route with the Town before accepting a lower price based on direct machine travel.