Land Use
VYCC Monitor Barn and associated lands description
The VYCC in partnership with the Richmond Land Trust worked to purchase and conserve for public use two parcels of land with road frontage on US Route 2 east of Richmond Village, Vermont. Together the two parcels represent approximately 230 acres of land that make up the West Monitor Barn property. The VYCC owns and maintains the West Monitor Barn property while the Richmond Land Trust (RLT) and the Vermont Housing Conservation Board (VHCB) hold conservation easements on the land.
Conservation Easements
A conservation easement is a legal document that transfers development and some property rights from the land owner (the VYCC) to the easement holder (RLT and VHCB). This allows the easement holder to have some control over the land through its use and development.
Types of Land-Use
All VYCC land is open for public use. Types of use include but are not limited to hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, camping, hunting, trapping, and wildlife viewing. In an effort to protect and preserve the land in its natural and historic state there are some limitations of use applied to the land.
Hunting and Shooting
Hunters may use the West Monitor Barn property with the direct permission of the VYCC. If you are interested in hunting on the West Monitor Barn property please contact the VYCC at 434-3969. When planning to hunt on the land hunters should check this website or call the VYCC directly to ensure the VYCC does not have any youth activities happening on the land.
The West Monitor Barn property has one "safety zone" designated as a no shooting area. This area encircles eight lean-tos associated with the VYCC's youth and education activities. This zone is posted with white "safety zone" signs.
No-shooting dates
There are a number of dates in the spring and fall when the VYCC will have youth and staff camping, working, and training on the land. Hunting and shooting are banned during these dates for the safety of VYCC staff and the enjoyment of hunters (in an effort to keep distractions down).
- 2007
- April 29th -May 3rd
- May 13th -May 20th
- June 9th-17th
- July 13th -15th , 27th -29th
- August 24th -26th
ATV's/snowmobiles
The VYCC does not condemn nor promote the use of ATV's and other motorized recreational vehicles. However, in partnership with the easement holders of the Monitor Barn property the VYCC has decided to deny land access to motorized vehicle use. The main driver for this ban comes from environmental and historic usage factors.
There are two exceptions to the motorized vehicle ban on the West Monitor Barn property. The first is applied to the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers trails that cross the northern part of the property. The VYCC has an agreement allowing VAST trail users to cross the property on the developed and marked VAST trails. The VYCC asks that VAST trail users limit their use to the developed trails and appreciates VAST members cooperation in this matter.
The second exception is for the use of agricultural vehicles on the land. The West Monitor Barn property was historically an agricultural property and will remain so in the future. The use of agricultural vehicles in direct association with agricultural practices is permitted on the West Monitor Barn property.
Documents
If you would like more information about land usage or would like clarity on what types of usage are acceptable please contact Thomas Hark at 802-434-3969 or .