Welcome to our Community!

We are honored to have you as a part of the Creamery Community. Below you will find some details regarding our community and the building. Our goal is to create a kind, respectful community for both people and the planet.

Below provides some details of the community and your apartment. Our hope is to create a kind, respectful community for both people and planet.

Community Code of Conduct:

Protecting our environment and world.

Our goal for our development is to minimize any impact on our environment to ensure it is available for future generations. Our construction has used leading principles and technology in every way from locally sourcing material to energy and water efficient appliances to being net zero through solar arrays. We can only do so much. Some of the requirements are on personal behavior and consumption. We hope and ask our community to adhere to environmental principles and approach. Some suggestions:

Be mindful of the use of electricity, heat and AC. Turn it off. Turn it down.
Minimize our waste. This is not only a required Vermont Law but the right thing to do. Follow recycling, compost and waste requirements.
Conserve water.
Take the stairs.
Do not litter.

Create a mindful and respectful community

The Creamery will be home to many individuals and a few businesses. We have installed cameras and personalized code access to ensure we are aware of those entering the building. We ask for all our tenants to uphold this goal as well. Each tenant will ensure that they keep the dwelling secure for all tenants. Our hope and wish are that everyone enjoys the experience and can thrive. Where we can support each other and create a vibrant, respectful community. To do that we request the following:

Behave in a reasonable, respectful manner to fellow residents, businesses, visitors, Creamery team members or contractors.
Keep personal exterior door access codes private.
Do not create excessive noise or nuisance to fellow residents or businesses.
If you have a pet, please pick up after them, there is a $40 fine per clean up. Please be respectful of fellow tenants & their right to peaceful space.
Report any concerns to the Creamery Team or Property Manager.
Be respectful to the Richmond community.
No personal use of the Cemetery grounds next door.

Cleanliness and Virus Management

We ask for our tenants and team members to follow the strictest policies to the current Covid-19 pandemic. This is for the safety of all. Guidance will the state and federal guidelines and include:

Everyone must wear face masks, gloves and observe a 6 ft social distancing policy.
Cleaning – We have a robust schedule of cleaning common surfaces with special care on doors, key pads, common bathrooms, water fountains, mailboxes and other shared surfaces.
Communication – Please keep the communication lines open. If you or someone has been diagnoses, please let us know. Your tenancy will not be impacted. We believe open communication will support safety and be respectful to our community.

General Guidelines

Parking

Each residential unit has been allocated a certain amount of parking spaces (based on unit size). We have your registered vehicle for security and management. If your vehicle changes, please provide updated information to the Creamery Team.

Where to park? We are taking an organic approach without assigned spots for residential or commercial tenants, except for the 2 spots that are marked for Raymond James clients. Our hope is to enable our natural and respectful behaviors to help us best use the parking available. With a few key distinctions:

Handicap Spots – Please respect and follow signs for handicap spots.
Parking just north of the building along the railroad – closer to the front of the building and the Blue Seal building. These spots are reserved for short term parking only. Short term is defined as less than 1 hour.
Parking area is only to be used for automobiles/motorcycles unless written permission from Creamery Management.
Tenants shall not permit or allow any non‐tenant vehicles to be parked in the lot for an extended period of time without permission from Creamery Management.
Every person using the parking areas is required to lock their vehicles. Creamery Management will not be responsible for any damage, injury or loss of property, all of which risks are assumed by the person using the parking area.
Tenants are responsible for seeing that all employees, agents and invitees comply with the parking rules, regulations and laws.
Creamery Management reserves the right to change guidance and parking requirements as needed.

Cleaning and Waste Management

Janitorial services are done once weekly for all Common Areas. They are not for individual premises.
Tenants are responsible for keeping their premises in clean, neat and sanitary conditions that do not contribute to rodent or insect infestation.
All tenants are required to collect personal trash, recycling and composting and then deliver to the central building collection in the rear of the building. Please review specific guidance below.
Tenants are responsible for the inappropriate use of any bathrooms, plumbing or other utilities. No foreign substances of any kind are to be flushed or drained. If you make a mess, clean it up.
Do not put any trash into the containers of our neighbors in the Blue Seal Building.
Do not put personal trash into the building's common area trash or recycling containers.
Dumpsters are for normal Tenant use only, please bring large or bulky items to the Transfer Station. Tenants will be charged a minimum of $100 for removal for any large items left at the Creamery dumpsters.

Trash, Recycling and Composting

Based on Vermont law, it is legally required to recycle and compost in Vermont. All tenants are required to collect personal trash, recycling and compost and then deliver it to the central building collection in the rear of the building. No organic refuse will be allowed in trash bags that are going to the dump. We will be fined for any bags that are not compliant. As per the lease agreement, your support and compliance are required.

Why is composting important? I am glad you are asking. Food or plant matter that decomposes improperly (e.g. without air stuck in trash bags in a dump) produces methane gas. Methane gas is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide and leads to global warming. Global warming means no skiing, hotter summers, food supply issues, significant negative economy, social, cultural issues and basically, life on the planet. Yeah, it’s bad. Simple, quick, daily tasks to manage our waste can reduce that impact. And thus you are helping combat global warming.

As such, we recommend that you set up a collection into 3 containers for delivery into the central collection at the back of the building:

Trash
Recycling
Composting

Storage Unit

Each unit is provided with a storage unit in the basement. This space is covered by the terms and conditions of your lease. We hope this provides ample space for bikes, skis, and other household goods. Please note the following:

Only use the padlock as provided.
Please make sure belongings are only in your individual storage unit - except for bikes. All other elements will be removed and thrown away.
Bikes can be left in the common area if carefully stored and out of the way of others. We plan to provide bike storage for tenants in 2022/2023.
Tenants assume all risks from theft or vandalism to the Premises and agree to keep the Premises locked at all times, as required.

Fire, Health and Safety

The building is fully fire-code compliant and sprinklered. We have worked with the local fire and rescue team to run drills and understand how best to manage in the unlikely event of a fire. But we would ask all residents to be mindful and agree to the following:

No smoking.
All appliances are used only in the manner for which they are designed.
Fire doors are kept closed and not wedged open.
Do not obstruct any stairways, landings or passageways.
In the unlikely event of a fire, report it immediately to 911 and follow instructions.
No not use or bring onto premises any portable gas or paraffin heaters.
No persons shall go on the roof of the building for any reason.
Tenants shall comply with all safety, fire protection and evacuation regulations established by Creamery Management or any applicable governmental agency.

Security

Our community’s safety and security is paramount. We have installed cameras and personalized code access to ensure we are aware of those entering the building. We ask for all our tenants to uphold this goal as well. The tenant will ensure that they keep the dwelling secure for all tenants. This includes the following:

Keep personal exterior door access codes private
Do not copy any keys. If you require additional, please contact the Property Manager.
Please report any security or safety issues to the Property Manager.
Tenants will never enter the premises of another tenant without expressed permission.
Tenants assume all risks from theft or vandalism to the Premises and agree to keep the Premises locked at all times, as required.

Lease Agreements:

Every tenant has agreed to a lease upon successful application. Please review that document for any specifics and details. A sample can be reviewed here. A few highlights to support our community are below:

Rent is due on the 1st of the month. Any payment after the 1st will incur a $100 fee. Late payments could impact standing and future leases.
The Landlord may enter the premises with the Tenant’s consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Landlord may enter the premises for the following purposes between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. but on not less than 48 hours’ notice.
Lease extension. Up to 90 days before the lease expiration, a good standing tenant will be provided the opportunity to extend their lease. If that is declined a notice of termination will be issued.
If the tenant wishes to terminate possession and occupancy of the premises, the tenant must provide at least 60 days advanced notice to the Landlord. The Landlord will apply commercially reasonable efforts to re-rent the premises to support a transition as early as possible. But Tenant shall, nonetheless, be responsible for paying rent and meeting any other obligations during the 60-day period.
Upon agreement to vacate, the Landlord will provide the Tenant a checklist for Moving Out to determine the physical condition of the premises for the purpose of refunding any or all of the security deposit. Landlord shall notify Tenant of the application of the security deposit in writing within 14 days from the date the Tenant vacated or abandoned the premises.