LETTER: Housing and resilience must go hand-in-hand

October 5, 2025 

To the Community:

Thank you to the Waterbury Selectboard for taking the time to listen and reconsider residents’ concerns about the proposed Stanley-Wasson site housing project. As an abutter, I support the need for more housing in our community. I also believe it must be done in a way that is safe, resilient, and aligned with our Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The Stanley-Wasson site lies within a Special Flood Hazard Area and has historically flooded in 2011, 2023, and 2024.  While the current RFQ mentions “experience building in a floodplain,” it does not reference the stricter standards that apply under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources rules, and Act 250 criterion 1(D). Without those protections, development risks displacing water onto neighboring homes, undermining our flood insurance eligibility, and placing new residents directly in harm’s way.

We can and should pursue housing that meets urgent needs while honoring the town’s commitment to reduce — not increase — flood risk. My request is simple: that developers and the town address Special Flood Hazard Area requirements openly, commission the necessary flood studies, and provide space for public input before decisions are finalized.

Waterbury deserves housing solutions that strengthen our resilience, protect existing neighborhoods, and keep every family safe.

Carrie MacMillan
Waterbury