Re-Use of FEMA Buy-Out Property within the City of Barre
The City of Barre, since 2015, has been acquiring flood damaged or landslide damaged properties through a long process with FEMA HMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Assistance) commonly referred to as the Buyout process. The purpose of acquiring these properties is to create open space, and the City must adhere to many regulations to ensure compliance with 44 CFR Part 80 (Code of Federal Regulations) and associated grant requirements, as well as the deed restrictions placed on these properties. Many of these properties were formerly residential, and some were industrial, therefore, environmental requirements may also be attributed to some of the properties.
The City must maintain these properties in perpetuity, and a 3-year inspection and certification is completed and submitted for approval, along with scheduled inspections by VEM (Vermont Emergency Management) and FEMA to ensure we are maintaining compliance with the rules.
The City is the subrecipient of the acquired parcel from FEMA, therefore any approved re-use of the property is given to the City. Specific activities that constitute a change in use or development and require a written determination of compatibility from the FEMA Regional Administrator before work begins includes an extensive list of items to be followed.
Any new activity on one of these properties - even small or temporary ones - may require FEMA to confirm that it:
- Fits any open space rules
- Does NOT increase flood risk
- Meets environmental and historic preservation laws
- Matches the intent of the original FEMA project
For these reasons, no changes or new uses should move forward until FEMA has reviewed and provided written approval to the City.
Allowable vs. Prohibited Land Uses
| Generally Allowable Uses | Generally Prohibited Uses |
| Parks for outdoor recreation and athletic fields | Walled buildings or manufactured homes |
| Nature reserves and wildlife refuges | Flood control structures like levees, dikes, or floodwalls |
| Agricultural cultivation and grazing | Paved roads, highways, or paved parking areas |
| Unpaved trails, bike paths, and walking paths | Storage of commercial inventory or hazardous materials |
| Public Restrooms (appropriately elevated and floodproofed) and open-sided pavilions (appropriately anchored) | Cemeteries and landfills |
| Small boat ramps, docks and piers | Placement of fill materials (with limited exceptions) |
| Walls, fences, signs, commercial activities |
When an interested party, including the City itself, wants to re-use one of these properties, even if it is for a city park, garden, or for flood mitigation by lowering the elevation of the ground so that flood waters can store on the property, an application for approval from FEMA for the intended reuse is completed and submitted. Note: because these are city owned properties, and mostly all within the Special Flood Hazard Area, or the Floodway, local and state permits for re-use must be obtained first. It is important that any interested person who wants to re-use the property understand that permits will be granted to the City and so any additional subrecipient must adhere to any special conditions noted on the permits.
It is important that any re-use plan must be integrated into the City's existing regulatory zoning and planning framework and the following:
- it will require approval from the City's Floodplain Administrator to be sure that any re-use conforms to local standards and the communitys broader floodplain manaement policies
- consistent with the City's Hazard Mitigation Plan and the State of Vermont Mitigation Strategy
- Any proposed use is consistent with State and local land-use regulations - the City's Unified Development Ordinance as well as the City Municipal Plan
- The application to FEMA receives some form of community input and/or stakeholder process
- The application receives signature of approval from a City official (currently being determined)
VEM (Vermont Emergency Management) in concert with FEMA and the Code of Federal Regulations, has compiled a Guidance Document and application for re-use of these properties.
Lastly, any and all local and other state permits are required to be obtained if needed (i.e., zoning permit, building permit, stream alteration permit, water supply permit, etc.) prior to final application to FEMA. FEMA has the final say, and is the final arbiter of approval, therefore there is no appeal ability.
| - VEM Open Space Reuse Application | - VEM Guidance Document |
As of October 28, 2026, this is a listing of City-owned FEMA purchased properties that have had all structures completely demolished from and returned to greenspace:
| 15 Hilltop Avenue | 21 Hilltop Avenue | 14 Reid Street | 17 Harrington Avenue |
| 19 Harrington Avenue | 85 Brook Street | 87 Brook Street | 25 Oswald Street |
| 36 Pike Street | 44 Pike Street | 106 Currier Street | 5 Portland Street |
| 5 Scampini Square | 15 Scampini Square | 25 Scampini Square | 23 River Street |
| 19 Vine Street | 23 Vine Street |
As future properties become owned by the City and demolished, this table and map will be updated as needed.
