Jericho Commercial District - Will Residents Name it or Lose it?

JERICHO, VT – Ancient lost Jericho district discovered after nearly 200-year-old town map uncovered amongst a tangle of artifacts in the Town Hall attic.

Up until now, Jericho has long been broken up into three village districts. One is the Jericho Center home of the picturesque village green surrounded by historic buildings such as the Jericho Town Library and a picturesque church steeple and the Jericho Country Store- the oldest continuously running country store. Another is Riverside (half of the Underhill flats area – Thank You Underhill for the land-loan) home of the new Jericho Market, and the Deborah Rawson Library. In addition, there is the Jericho Corners, home of the famous Joe’s Snack bar and a roller coaster curve in the road-easier on horses than on automobiles.

The town select board and development board members were overjoyed with finding a new district within Jericho upon reviewing a Jericho map dated 1763. The map lay beneath antiquities, brittle yellowed newspapers, and no small amount of critter deposits and home-making materials.

It seems the fore-founders of Jericho had in mind to encompass Jericho into four districts, three of which we have now, and the newly discovered district. The reason the fourth district became lost in obscurity is that the founders of Jericho could not decide what to name the fourth district.

The town charter issued on June 7, 1763 by Benning Wentworth reads in part, “… all tract or Parcel of Land situate, lying and being within our said Province of New-Hampshire [From the New Hampshire Grants], containing by Admeasurement, 23040 Acres…”. It goes on to make allowances for roads, mountains, and rivers (don’t anyone try an hide, desecrate, or otherwise withhold from the residents of Jericho, their beloved view of Mount Mansfield).

Of note, also lost was the charter requirement that every Grantee, and their Heirs or Assigns, shall plant and cultivate a portion of their land and continue to improve the land on penalty of the forfeiture of his grant or share in the said township. That is another story for another time.

 A small portion of land along where route 15 is now between Raceway and Browns Trace was allotted for a future market once the town consisted of fifty families. This plot of land (“A tract of land near the center of the said Township”) was unnamed because the requisite number of families could not come to an agreement on what to name it.

 Over time, many more families moved into Jericho, however, given this jut of land inside Jericho had never been named; it was lost and not documented upon maps that are more modern.  It was said as each new generation came along the youngest upon reaching the age of agility would climb the tallest tree in Jericho and set sight on Lake Champlain upon which lay a shimmering setting sun, Lee River, Browns River, and Mill Brook and the Winooski River. The youth was tasked with seeking the now only rumored, long lost tract of land. The unnamed tract of land had long ago lost its whereabouts because  – a district unnamed is a district lost.

Given the density of the old-growth forest the small area within the township of Jericho remained lost for many a year. Still each year, as tradition called for, a representative of the latest generation, an agile youth, would take the search duty with the eternal hope of a gold miner. Whereupon, in the midst of massive clear-cutting (for sheep grazing) in the late 1800s, a sighting caused great excitement for one family member high atop a very tall and old withered, pecker-chiseled white pine. 

Much of the land cleared of trees allowed for a view of formerly unseen tracts and vistas, in the middle of which lay the lost unnamed Jericho tract. As the youngster counted out the district names and overlaid the map in his mind to what was in view, the joy of discovery overwhelmed the poor gent; head over heels toppling down the tree, he went.

Needless to say, the only word of the discovery went unheard in the whispering pines, which to this day when felled, either by man or storm, always fall pointing in the direction of Jericho's fourth district!

Therefore, for many more years, the unnamed land remained lost to all but the birds, squirrels, deer, and mice. By the time the next generation came along, and the respective tree climber set sight again, the forest had re-grown, all the sheep now being mutton and lamb chops, and the land once again unseen all but for a name.

Early in the year 2019, the original 1763 Jericho map came to light after over 200 years of hiding both itself and some of the Jericho land it represented on parchment.

The long lost map extends the coordinate points of Jericho from the latitude of 44.5000 to 44.5039 and longitude from 72.9900 to 72.9976.  The formal boundaries for the village (assuming Underhill does not call in its land-loan and retrieve the half of Underhill flats that Jericho currently holds title to) encompass a land area of 1.378 square miles. The new map makes it 1.40 sq miles. Given the current very low density of street trees in Jericho, the lost land is in plain view if one is patient enough to drive through it at a reasonable speed or better yet, to bike on the bikeways or walk along the someday installed sidewalks.

 This is HUGE, one property developer was heard to say. “That is more area than Burlington’s hole in the ground – way better than a pit and it is right here in the middle of Jericho. Why, we could fill that hole, oops sorry, that new commercial district with miles of concrete high up into the sky with a couple of obligatory trees upfront of course – after all, this is Jericho, not Burlington –geezeem-crow.”

The Planning Commission set out to conduct a survey on what to name the new commercial district. Name proposals such as “The land between Majestic Mount Mansfield  and Dollar General”, and “Raceway Browns -Fastest Way to BTV” were considered however they seemed too obvious for such a treasured newly discovered part of the township.  

Sampling of Survey questions and responses:

Q: What do you feel are the appropriate size of buildings for the Commercial District?

A: Of the residents and one dog that responded to this survey question: Twenty-seven felt that the size of a breadbox up to the size of a two-story home was an appropriate sized building for the commercial district. Sixteen felt buildings slightly smaller than the Empire state building were appropriate as long as they could still see the antennae atop Mt. Mansfield. While twenty-three felt that was too tall and might cause Jericho affectively a warming microclimate inside the valleys of all that concrete and steel. The dog was oblivious to the size of the buildings as long as they each included a fire hydrant.

Q: Would a Mountain Resort and mini ski Slope (think Jay Peak 4 season waterpark) fit into the district plan?

A: Twenty three - Yes, if I get a life-long free entry pass. Sixteen responded no unless the resort mountains were no bigger than the speed humps on Skunk Hollow road.

Q:  What uses do you want allowed in the commercial district?

A:  Agriculture  25 yes, 17 no. Are cows commercial, what about turnips?

A:  Forestry 18 yes, 25 no. 3 could not see the forest from the trees and 3 could not see the trees from the forest. One recent new resident from NJ had never seen a forest, therefore abstained from answering.

A: Green roofs - lest we forget the delicious color of VERD MONT in spring. 

     And Artscape on building walls and roofs, doors, or even drive tops

A: Stable-boarding/riding  24 yes, 18 no. We might need some bigger poo scoopers.

A: Nursing Home: 30 yes, 12 no. The yes folks perhaps figured the elderly were less likely cognizant (hearing wise anyway) of the urban like noise from increased traffic.

A: Community Maker and Incubator Space for the likes of Jericho Settlers Farm Fried Photovoltaic Chicken and Electro Syrup.  A zealous applause of YES from all.

A: Repair Cafe / Sharing Center.  Again, much applause and a resounding YES from all.

A: Food Hub (Food Processing Center). All YES, let's eat local and support our farmers.

     Combine with a local seed collection and preservation center.

A: Hug space. One square meter to stand upon and give or receive free hugs. All voted Yes - who doesn't like if not need a hug from time to time.

A: Outdoor Ice rink. Yes's around concluded ice storms are becoming more common, might as well skate.

Q: Will the town install a monument in the Commercial District recognizing the last snowflake to fall in Jericho? 

A: Alas, many respondents sighed in responding to the inevitable of climate warming. While others offered hope in suggesting the monument read

 "Save Our Snowflakes - Jericho, Vermont".

Q: Pet Parade road striping

A:  6,243 Yes, 6 no. The six were all pets – they did not want to be restricted to anything less than the whole road.

A: Related suggestion: Stone walls instead of curbs along the road.

Q: Will the Valentine’s Phantom be allowed to plaster the Commercial District with heart, love, and kindness messages, poems, paper hearts, and other Valentine materials?

A:  20,302 yes, Jericho Believes in Love.  

It may be interesting to note that a similar survey asking similar questions about fencing their neighbors wished to put up, realized about 300% more respondents than the commercial district survey. A survey about a possible quiet zone in Jericho and a proposal to unpave Browns Trace created the highest most vehement responses. 

Organic Jericho Satire thought there might be some more creative uses so why not ask the folks of Jericho, What do you want to build in the newly found land in Jericho? Read Seven Days article regarding BTV’s development ideas for their ‘commercial district pit’, to get your creative juices flowing.  

 Will Jericho residents agree on a name for the heretofore unknown district, quickly enough, to save this important part of Jericho’s history?

 NAME IT OR LOSE IT –
  YOUR VOICED OPINION COUNTS!

Take the REAL Jericho Town Development Review Board Survey at https://jerichovt.org/planning-commission

Locally sourced, Organic Jericho Satire for fun with a hint of serious thought for consideration.

Why Does the Commercial District Need a New Name?

SUSAN BRESEE, SABRESEE@GMAIL.COM, BIRCH LANE, JERICHO

DISCUSSION

A new name is just one part of the story.
Here's what's done - new vision, new master plan, and Town Plan updates
What's needed now - new name, updated zoning
What's next - new map with possible new streets, paths, sidewalks, infrastructure options

Where is the Commercial District?
Along both sides of Route 15, where Jeri-Hill Hardware, Clarks Truck Center, and Dollar General are. Also, some of Jericho East and many houses are located in the "commercial district." In fact, about half the development is residential, not commercial. And much of the area is still open undeveloped rural land.

Many Jericho businesses are located outside the "commercial district." Jericho Market, Synergy Dance Studio, JCAT, Joe's Snack Bar, Old Mill Craft store, Jericho General Store, Jericho Center Country Store, - are all businesses located in the Village Centers, which are different than the "commercial district." The Village Centers have always been the designated hubs for the community.

Why does the Commercial District need a new name?
Because it's not the only area in town where you can have a business. And because this area is not, and has never been, purely commercial. It's always been a mix of neighborhoods, farms, and small businesses. The area was named the "commercial district" over 50 years ago when Route 2 and Route 7 were developing as commercial highway corridors. Fortunately, development on Route 15 in Jericho didn't follow that pattern. Yet.

The Planning Commission spent more than a year talking to residents about how they want to see this part of Jericho grow and develop. More Industrial uses typical of "commercial" areas were not high on the list. Strip development wasn't wanted. What was high on the list? Locally-owned businesses, services for residents, (a brewery!), walkable neighborhoods, affordable housing, senior housing, recreation (pool and ice rink!), green spaces, small scale farming, bus access, river paths, broadband internet, renewable energy generation, and smart growth, were the most frequent requests.

This area could offer good locations for some of these to happen in Jericho. The topography is suitable, the location is central, some of the landowners are interested in development. We translated these ideas into a vision for the area and updated the Town Plan. The Town can't make these things happen. The Town doesn't own the land and typically doesn't invest in land development. But we can try to make them possible, by working to align private interests with community priorities. The Town Plan and zoning regulations are the Town's tools, to provide a framework of incentives and requirements for developers.

A new name will help communicate this new vision. The Selectboard recently adopted Town Plan updates to better reflect the district's role in our community. The Planning Commission will spend the next few months updating the zoning regulations to ensure that this area continues to be mixed-use, but with better assurances that any future development would be small scale, locally oriented, livable, walkable, sustainable, and will help connect the community and preserve the mountain views, and not be a disjointed place we drive through faster to get somewhere else.

Please help find a new name that's a better fit for this area by filling out the survey on the town website (LINK below). Survey: https://jerichovt.org/planning-commission
Town Plan updates info: https://jerichovt.org/2019-Town-Plan-Amendments

Thank you,
Susan Bresee
Jericho Planning Commission member