The Ten Criteria of Vermont Planning

In order to create a detailed picture of the community, there are ten specific sections, or "elements", that, by Vermont statute, must be included in any municipal plan. These elements should describe in detail how the identified needs and opportunities may be reached.
24 V.S.A. § 4382(a)

The ten elements are:

In most Vermont communities, the planning goals set forth by residents and their planning boards have expressed a desire to maintain the rural character and quality of life that makes Vermont the special place it is, while creating economic growth consistent with our bucolic nature.
  1. A statement of objectives and policies to guide the future growth and development of land, public services and facilities, and to protect the environment .
  2. A land use plan consisting of a map and statement of present and prospective land uses.
  3. A transportation plan (map and statement) showing existing and proposed highways and streets, and other transportation facilities, including parking, public transit, terminals, bike paths, and scenic roads.
  4. A utility and facility plan (map and statement) showing existing and proposed educational, recreational, and other public sites and facilities, including medical services, libraries, power generating plants and lines, water supply, sewage disposal, refuse disposal, storm drainage, and recommendations to meet future needs to meet community services.
  5. A statement on the preservation of rare and irreplaceable natural areas, scenic and historic features and resources.
  6. An educational facilities plan (map and statement) of present and projected uses and needs.
  7. A recommended program for the implementation of the plan.
  8. A statement of how the plan relates to plans and development trends of neighboring communities and the region.
  9. An energy plan, including an analysis of energy resources, needs, scarcities, costs, and problems; a statement on conservation of energy; a statement on development of renewable energy resources; and a statement on patterns and densities of land use likely to result in conservation of energy.
  10. A housing element, including a recommended program for addressing the housing needs of low and moderate income persons.

Twelve Planning Goals

In addition, there are twelve planning goals set forth in 24 V.S.A. §4302 of Chapter 117. these goals, in a nutshell, are set to encourage appropriate development of lands in the state in a manner which will promote public health, safety, welfare, prosperity,and comfort; to protect areas from overcrowding, traffic congestion, and loss of peace, quiet, and privacy; to facilitate the creation of an optimum environment; and to provide the means and methods for municipalities and regions to plan for eliminating and preventing development problems and to implement those plans.

While this may sound like a lot of legal "mumbo-jumbo", the whole idea is quite simple. The process, criteria, and goals of planning were set forth by the Legislature to help individual cities and towns, regions of the state, and citizens of the state itself to take an active part in the type of growth, goals, and nature of the future of Vermont.

Anyone who has visited Southern or Costal New England and witnessed the explosive growth, traffic, and population densities of the last 20 years can easily appreciate the importance of planning.

In most Vermont communities, the planning goals set forth by residents and their planning boards have expressed a desire to maintain the rural character and quality of life that makes Vermont the special place it is. But again, the goals and plans set forth are those of the community itself, provided it remains consistent with the state and regional plan.

Download this document in:

Microsoft Word Format

Adobe PDF Format

To download, right click on a link above and select "save target as"

 

Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional Valid CSS! Valid Section 508! This Page Updated : Thursday, January 25, 2007 7:18 PM