Working in conjunction with the Trust for Public Land and the Vermont Land Trust, the Hinesburg Land Trust is focused on ways the project can support the new Hinesburg Town Plan and its efforts to support sustainable development and open space protection to contribute to the preservation of Hinesburg’s rural character. The project is like several initiatives in one, conserving four large parcels, with efforts being devoted to: conserving working farmland on nearly 200 acres of some of the best farming soils in Chittenden County; protecting wildlife and riparian areas near already-conserved lands; and restoring and maintaining the health of the LaPlatte River corridor in order to help control runoff into Shelburne Bay on Lake Champlain, where more than 60,000 Vermonters get their drinking water.
- Download a trail map of the public trails on Bissonette Farm here.
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Click here for an aerial map of the project area, representing all project land and boundaries, riparian corridor overlay, and wetlands. The map also shows the adjacent lands already conserved by HLT, some of which is now managed by Vermont Fish & Wildlife (please note that potential housing locations do NOT represent actual or planned housing locations; maps will be posted here when housing locations are identified).
- Click here for an ortho map of the project area (please note that Parcel 1 on the map is noted as 334 acres; however, the project scope represents 216 acres of the total that once comprised Parcel 1).
Working Farmland: A Vermont Way of Life
Hinesburg ’s history, like much of Vermont, is rooted in farming. More than 200 acres of farmland are identified in the project for conservation, keeping these productive soils available for farming, and strengthening the town’s farm economy and improving access to locally-grown food and other farm products. This will help maintain the rural landscape that defines the southern part of Hinesburg, and will protect the wonderful views of the Green Mountains across the open farm land.
Plants and Wildlife: A Diversity of Natural Communities
Complex lowland forest habitat is fast disappearing in the Champlain Valley as the population grows and development spreads. On the Bissonette Farm, a variety of animal and plant life awaits those who visit. 
Moose, bobcat, fox and countless birds, reptiles and amphibians make their home among the woods, ponds, streams, wetlands and fields bordered by Route 116, Lewis Creek Road, and Silver Street. And Spring wildflowers throughout the land are fantastic! The project area will also provide a critical link between neighboring conservation lands, which allow wildlife to continue to move unhindered across large areas of land.
Community Recreation: Trails for Local and Traditional Use
Gilman Road, which bisects the project lands north to south, is a favorite dirt road for bicycle touring, running, walking, and horseback riding – attracting residents from all over Hinesburg and throughout southern Chittenden County. The area also abuts land already conserved by the Hinesburg Land Trust and other groups, most of which is now controlled by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.The existing network of trails within the project area provides abundant recreational opportunities and access to neighboring public lands for equestrians, hunters, hikers, snow shoers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers. We intend to protect these recreational and traditional uses, and to improve access to the area by all Hinesburg residents.
Water Quality: Birthplace of the LaPlatte
The headwaters of the LaPlatte River emerge from forested hillside springs and low-lying wetlands throughout the project lands. These streams converge into the LaPlatte River, and flow 14 miles before draining into Lake Champlain at Shelburne Bay, where more than 65,000 people get their drinking water from the Champlain Water District. 
With land development in Vermont increasing at 2.5 times the rate of population growth, we must join together with our neighbors to identify and protect all viable drinking water sources, including helping to reduce pollution of Lake Champlain. Regaining a more natural stream channel and establishing a vegetated buffer will improve habitat for wildlife, improve lake water quality, and help ensure safe drinking water for Chittenden County.
Limited and Affordable Housing Development
With the pressure on Hinesburg to grow as rapidly as its neighbors, and with the new Town Plan as a guide, the Hinesburg Land Trust recognizes the importance of building homes where it makes sense. We have identified opportunities for limited housing development in the project area, where there will be minimal impact to natural resources.
Part of this housing initiative will also include identifying appropriate types of housing for the area, including affordable housing units, to help maintain the economic balance that makes Hinesburg a vibrant, diverse town that invites people of all backgrounds to the area.
Fitting the Pieces Together
Through this project, the Hinesburg Land Trust is working to make the town’s vision of maintaining a rural heritage while adapting to the economy and environment of the 21st Century.