HARDWICK – In village centers and along familiar roads, development rarely feels abstract. It arrives as a new building near a town green, a change to a well-known corner, or a proposal that raises questions about traffic or neighborhood character. In towns of all sizes, these moments bring a mix of possibility and uncertainty.
Much of the work of navigating those changes happens quietly, in meetings that rarely draw attention but shape outcomes for years to come. These are the meetings where questions are asked early, concerns are voiced face to face, and decisions are shaped incrementally rather than all at once. In Hardwick, as in many Vermont towns, that work takes place through the Hardwick Development Review Board (DRB).
For the past decade, the DRB has been chaired by John Mandeville. His decision to step down this June marks a transition familiar to many communities: the passing of responsibility from one set of steady volunteers to the next. It is a reminder that local governance is sustained not only by policies and plans, but by people willing to serve over time.
DRBs are not advocacy bodies, nor are they places where broader policy debates are resolved. Their role is procedural and deliberative. Members listen, ask clarifying questions and apply the regulations their communities have already adopted. This work is intentionally measured. It provides consistency for applicants and transparency for neighbors, with decisions that can endure disagreement.
Service on a DRB does not require technical expertise. In Hardwick and elsewhere, board members are supported by zoning administrators and planning staff who help guide the process and clarify applicable standards. Meetings are scheduled as needed, often monthly, and the work is concentrated in those public sessions rather than in outside research or preparation.
At a time when civic institutions are under strain and public trust can feel fragile, local boards like DRBs remain among the most grounded forms of civic participation. They offer a structured place for community voices to be heard and for change to be navigated thoughtfully rather than reactively.
As towns continue to adapt to growth, housing needs and changing conditions, the quiet work of local review remains essential, even when it is largely unseen.
Kristen Leahy is the Town of Hardwick zoning and floodplain administrator.
