A. What Is a Regional Plan and a Regional Planning Commission?
Addison County Regional Planning Commission
In 1967, the Vermont Legislature passed measures enabling municipalities to join
together to form regional commissions. Addison County Regional Planning Commission
(ACRPC) is composed of delegates and alternates that are appointed by each municipality's
legislative body (town selectboards or city aldermen). There are 38 municipal delegates,
assuming all municipalities fill all available positions. Municipal representation reflects
population; so larger municipalities have more representatives. However, all municipalities
have at least one delegate. Alternates represent the municipality when the delegates cannot.
There are 20 towns and one city presently enrolled as members of ACRPC. Currently, the
commission has spaces available for six citizen interest group representatives.
The mission of the commission is to provide a forum for municipalities to discuss and
resolve mutual concerns, to provide assistance to municipalities with the planning process
and information gathering, to develop a regional plan, and to be a central repository of
planning information.
The Regional Plan
The purpose of the Regional Plan is to guide and coordinate change and development in
the region in accordance with present and future needs and resources. The plan sets regional
goals and policies, and provides a database with the intent of promoting the health, safety and
general welfare of the region's citizens.
This Regional Plan charts a course for the region through the year 2010 and supersedes
any prior plans. Over the next five years the work of ACRPC will be to revise the plan and to
implement its goals, policies and programs
B. The History of the Regional Plan
The history of this Regional Plan begins in 1990 when ACRPC was faced with the task of
developing a comprehensive plan almost from “scratch.” Unlike a number of Vermont's
Regional Commissions, the Addison County Regional Commission was not updating an
existing comprehensive regional plan. From 1990 to 1994, the commission worked hard to
draft a new document supported by significant public participation. This work resulted in the
Addison County Regional Plan adopted April 13, 1994. During the process of developing the
1994 Regional Plan, the commission agreed that five years should not lapse before the
elements in the plan were revised. The commission decided to rework roughly one element a
year. The commission believed this process would help the plan to remain current and allow
ACRPC to deal with issues as they develop.
Throughout 1995, the commission worked on the Transportation Section and on
September 13, 1995 the Regional Planning Commission amended the plan to include that
revised section. The Regional Planning Commission amended and readopted the plan again
on October 21, 1998. At that time the Future Land Use Section of the plan was revised in part
and readopted after a contentious debate. However, many other revisions brought to the Full
Commission at that point were not adopted.
In 2001, the commission reworked the Population and Housing Section of the plan and
readopted the Regional Plan in its entirety. In addition, ACRPC updated the Introduction and
Consistency Sections so that they would reflect the amendments made since 1994. In 2004,
the commission reworked the Economy Section of the plan, updated the Introduction and
Consistency Sections, and readopted the Regional Plan in its entirety. In 2005, ACRPC
revised the Utilities, Facilities and Services Section of the plan, and decided to incorporate
the previously separate Energy Section into it. The commission also updated the
Introduction, Future Land Use and Consistency Sections so that they would reflect the most
recent amendments. Although the Utilities, Facilities and Services section failed to pass, the
Commission readopted the plan in its entirety.
State statutes (24 VSA § 4348) require the Regional Commission observe certain
activities as it prepares the Regional Plan. Activities such as preparation of the plan by the
Regional Planning Commission, solicitation of participation of local citizens and
organizations, a minimum of two public hearings and mailings to statutory parties all
occurred as required.
C. How Is the Plan Used, When Does It Apply and Who Uses It?
There are a limited number of areas where the Regional Plan can have regulatory effect.
These include: Act 250/Environmental Board Hearings, Solid Waste (facility certification 10
V.S.A. § 6605) and Public Good Determination Hearings (related to siting of electric
generation or transmission facilities 30 V.S.A. § 248). The plan is also used to support grant
applications such as Community Development Block Grants, and housing or farmland
conservation applications to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund. In addition,
the commission hopes that the plan will be a useful source of information and data for
municipal officials and citizens.
The Regional Plan has effect where it is not in conflict with provisions of duly adopted
municipal plans. At those times when a conflict between the local and regional plans does
exist, the statutes give the Regional Plan precedence if it is demonstrated that the project
under consideration in the proceedings would have a “substantial regional impact.”
The term “substantial regional impact” has been defined for use in the Addison Region in
this plan (See Substantial Regional Impact and 24 VSA § 4345a(17)). ACRPC has decided to
include a provision to mediate differences between the local and regional plan before
entering the Act 250 hearing process so that in all cases possible differences can be resolved
amicably between the region and its municipalities.
A number of areas of regional significance (24 VSA § 4345a(5)(D)) in the Addison
Region have also been identified as part of this plan.
The statutes require the Regional Plan to contain an “Implementation Section” (24 VSA §
4348a(7)). The plan does not include an implementation section per se. In the place of an
implementation section, for the convenience of the plan’s users, a series of recommended
actions developed from the discussion in the documentation and analysis sections have been
collected at the end of the goal and objective portion of each section.
Relationship to Municipal Plans
It is hoped that municipalities and citizens will use this plan as a guide and data resource
in their planning work, and will feel free to call their delegates or the commission office
when they need additional assistance.
D. How Do I Read the Plan?
The plan is advisory in nature, purpose and effect. The plan is intended to strengthen
local governments by providing information and guidance. It recognizes the independent
tradition of local government and seeks to encourage and facilitate cooperation among these
governments, between these governments and other regional agencies, and finally among
local governments, regional agencies and state government.
Because of the natural association of all aspects of the Regional Plan, the policies in any
section are not to be considered in isolation, but rather in conjunction with all sections and
chapters in this Regional Plan. Statements designed to guide the growth and development of
the region preface each section. The use of these guiding statements is defined here to help
the reader understand the context in which they are used.
Goal(s)
Definition: Broad statements of what the region ultimately wants to achieve.
Comment: These are “timeless” concepts, and as stated are not placed in any kind of
schedule. Specific goals remain to be developed for several sections of the
plan.
Objective(s)
Definition: The general steps necessary to reach the stated goals, including an action to
be taken, expressed in a time frame in which the action is to be completed.
Comment: Objective statements must be realistically feasible to achieve given the
resources available, otherwise they are actually a policy or a goal rather than
an “objective.” Not all sections of the Plan have stated objectives. Individual
goals could have multiple objectives associated with them.
Policy(s)
Definition: Enduring rules, standards or courses of action that guide the implementation
of the goals and objectives.
Comment: Policies contain the principles or standards that guide the choices concerning
which implementation measures can be used to reach the plan's goals.
Recommendation(s)
Definition: The specific actions to be carried out to reach the stated goals and objectives.
Comment: This is where the individual steps to achieving the plan are spelled out stepby-
step in the detail required for their accomplishment (the who, what, when,
where and how).
Structure of the Sections
Most of the sections are organized into the following structure. A few sections were too
short to need a summary, and many of the same sections, due to their nature, did not include
goals, policies or recommendations. Most sections have an introduction and a documentation
and analysis portion.
1. Introduction
This portion includes a brief explanation of why the section is included in the plan.
2. Summary
This portion is a summary of the salient points that are presented in the documentation and
analysis section. These are provided as a “quick read,” solely to help the user determine if
they desire to read the detailed information. At this time the documentation and analysis
section is the plan and should be read by anyone who want to understand the commission's
actual policies.
3. Goals and Policies
This portion is a listing of the goals and policies associated with the section of the plan. In the
future objectives would be added here. These are included upfront so they will be easy to
locate.
4. Recommendations
This is a collection of ACRPC’s recommended actions that are developed in the
documentation and analysis portion of the section. They are drawn out here to make it easier
for the reader to locate or reference them.
5. Documentation and Analysis
This is the “meat” of the plan. This section identifies and discusses issues, and provides
information. These sections are the “substance” from which the goals, policies and
recommendations are developed.
E. How Does the Plan Get Adopted and Revised?
The plan is adopted by a vote of the commissioners representing municipalities in the
Regional Commission (24 VSA § 4348(f)). To be adopted, at least 60 percent of the
municipal representatives must vote for adoption. The plan is then immediately submitted to
the legislative bodies of the region's municipalities (town selectboards and the city mayor and
alderman). There is a 35-day waiting period within which the legislative bodies have the
opportunity to veto the plan. If the commission receives certification from a majority of the
municipalities in the region vetoing the proposed plan it is considered rejected. Unless a plan
is rejected, it takes affect after the 35-day waiting period.
In theory, the Council of Regional Commissions reviews the Regional Plan and may
make recommendations for amendments (24 VSA § 4348(i)). However, the Council of
Regional Commissions is currently defunct. If re-established, the Council of Regional
Commissions is organized to have a municipal representative from each of the Regional
Commissions (for a total of 12) who are each selected by their individual commissions. In
addition there would also be three state agency or department heads and two individuals
representing the public that are appointed by the governor (24 VSA § 4305(a)) on the
council.
Regional Plans expire five years after they are adopted unless the commission readopts
them (24 VSA § 4348b). Before readoption, the Regional Commission is required to update
the information on which the plan is based, and to consider whether the Regional Plan
continues to apply.
F. Acknowledgements
Since 1990 numerous committees, delegates, alternates, citizens, technical advisors and
staff have spent hours working on the Regional Plan. Without their effort, the plan could not
have been produced nor could it continue to be updated. Many thanks to all.
Adam Lougee, Executive Director
1.2. Vision Statement
In the future, the Addison Region will be a place where...
1. You will find a diverse business economy, and in particular, a flourishing farm
and forest economy with both local and out-of-region markets.
2. Residents find employment locally.
3. Natural resources (e.g., timber and agricultural resources) are exported as
manufactured products rather than raw materials to the extent feasible (e.g., table
versus raw lumber; ice cream versus fluid milk).
4. You will find small village and town clusters interspersed with economically
viable open, forested and farmed (working land).
5. Growth is sustainable, monitored, and guided.
6. The economy is healthy, diverse and technologically varied.
7. The economy provides additional good job opportunities for the next generation.
8. Businesses are often locally owned and operated.
9. Educational opportunities keep pace with demands of society and the economy.
10. There continues to be substantial private ownership of resources so that people are
independent and self-reliant and free to make their own decisions.
11. Cultural, recreational and civic opportunities are abundant, varied, and often
inspired.
12. Small-town sense of community is maintained, where people feel a sense of
belonging and responsibility.
13. We continue to rank high in the quality of our air, water and soil.
14. Tourism continues to strengthen the local economy and provide employment
opportunities.
15. The land base continues to reflect varying degrees of human impact, with portions
of the region in wilderness, managed use and settlement.
16. The people have a strong understanding of, and support for, stewardship of land
and other natural resources.
17. People continue to be attracted by the aesthetic qualities of both the natural and
humanly built landscapes.
1.3. Regional Plan Overall Goals
A. Support development patterns that will maintain the historic character of the region;
namely urban centers and villages separated by rural countryside.
B. Encourage a strong and diverse economy that provides economic opportunity,
satisfying and rewarding employment, improved income and economic growth.
C. Assist in providing access to educational and vocational training opportunities that
will foster full realization of the abilities of the population in the region.
D. Facilitate a transportation system that balances the goals of safety, convenience, cost,
energy efficiency, environmental protection, economic growth and recreation.
E. Protect important natural and historic features of the region's landscape.
F. Protect, and where conditions are substandard enhance the quality of air, water,
wildlife and land resources, as they exist independently and in relation to one
another.
G. Encourage conservation and efficient use of energy and the development of
renewable energy resources.
H. Maintain and enhance recreational opportunities for Vermont residents and visitors.
I. Strengthen diversified sustainable agricultural and forest industries.
J. Support the economic vitality of the region's downtowns.
K. Encourage the efficient use of the region's natural resources and the appropriate
extraction of earth resources and the proper restoration of the aesthetic qualities of
the area.
L. Encourage the availability of safe and affordable housing.
M. Support an efficient system of public facilities and services to meet future needs.
