"Vernon is a celebrated place to live and work. From its beautiful parks and lakes, to its vast trails and historic homes and buildings, Vernon has it all. With its easy access to several state routes as well as Interstate 84, Vernon is a diversified community. Because of its locale, Vernon provides homeowners the opportunity to enjoy suburbia, while enjoying a short commute to either Hartford or Springfield business districts." - Town of Vernon website

Vernon Citizens For Responsible Development (VCRD) is committed to protect and preserve the things that are special in our town, such as our quiet and open spaces, our scenic areas, and our parks, with a special focus on the preservation of the pristine Tankerhoosen River and its watershed lands. We will encourage and assist, when possible, business development that is introduced in a productive and respectful way that complements our community.

Our first project was to address the concert venue proposed at exit 66, which we did not feel fits this model. In this effort we were successful as the Planning and Zoning Commission rejected TicketNetwork's application on March 11, 2010.

We are currently exploring how we might protect, preserve and develop recreation in the Tankerhoosen Watershed. We will work and partner with other organizations working toward similar goals.

Going Forward

VCRD was hastily created in January to oppose TicketNetwork's application for concerts at Exit 66. With the success of that project we had to ask ourselves if we wanted to continue and what our purpose might be. Those active in the organization enjoyed working together and felt that working together there might be a number of things we could do for Vernon and our neighbors. Consequently a Steering Committee was selected and began meeting in May to explore options.

Ideas were generated of a range of possibilities. The initial focus will cover two areas: keeping an eye on what is going on in town and preserving and protecting the Tankerhoosen Watershed.

We have not yet defined in detail how the organization will function or what constitutes membership. This will be determined as we better define where we can best contribute to the town.

Ideas

A list of ideas was generated as possibilities for projects for VCRD. We welcome suggestions from the public.

» Go to Ideas

Tankerhoosen Watershed

This section defines and describes the Tankerhoosen Watershed and includes links to relevant web pages and resources. In the future we hope to include a pictorial journey of the Watershed from the sources to where it joins the Hockanum River in Talcottville.

Other Organizations

There are many other organizations in town or in the region working to preserve and protect our waterways and way of life. We hope to partner with them and help to make them more visible to you. There are many areas and opportunities to volunteer and get involved.

» Go to Organizations

Reference Documents

Here you'll find links to maps, state and town regulations and ordinances, and long range town plans that relate to our interests.

» Go to Reference Documents

TicketNetwork Concert Action

Our successful effort to prevent TicketNetwork from holding rock and country concerts at Exit 66 began in December with their first Planning and Zoning Commission hearing and ended on March 11, 2010 when the PZC rejected the application. It was an exhilarating experience in community organizing, fundraising, developing arguments and testifying effectively. The effort is preserved in this section of the website. Hopefully, it may benefit other groups and towns in their efforts to control development.

» Go to Concert Campaign