Regional Planning CCRPC Board Training March 21, 2012

1. Regional Planning CCRPC Board Training March 21, 2012

2. Resources • State Statute: Title 24, Chapter 117: Municipal and Regional Planning and Development • CCRPC Bylaws • Long Range Planning Committee • Planning Advisory Committee • CCRPC Policies • Guidelines and Standards for Confirmation of Municipal Planning Processes and Approval of Municipal Plans • Guidelines and Standards for Reviewing Act 250 and Section 248 Applications

3. Regional Plan Duty (§ 4345a(5)) • Prepare a regional plan consistent with § 4302 goals, and compatible with approved municipal and adjoining regional plans. When preparing a regional plan: • Use a process that encourages & enables widespread citizen involvement • develop a regional data base that is compatible with, useful to, and shared with the geographic information system • Conduct capacity studies • Identify areas of regional significance • Identify viable agricultural lands • Consider probable social & economic benefits and consequences of the proposed plan

4. Purpose of the Regional Plan (4347) General Purpose: Guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, efficient and economic development of the region which will, in accordance with the present and future needs and resources, best promote the health, safety, order, convenience, prosperity and welfare of the inhabitants as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.

5. Purpose of the Regional Plan (4347) This general purpose includes recommending a distribution of population and of the uses of the land for urbanization, trade, industry, habitation, recreation, agriculture, forestry and other uses as will tend to: (1) create conditions favorable to transportation, health, safety, civic activities and educational and cultural opportunities; (2) reduce the wastes of financial, energy and human resources which result from either excessive congestion or excessive scattering of population; (3) promote an efficient and economic utilization of drainage, energy, sanitary and other facilities and resources;

6. Purpose of the Regional Plan (4347) CONT: This general purpose includes recommending a distribution of population and of the uses of the land for urbanization, trade, industry, habitation, recreation, agriculture, forestry and other uses as will tend to: (4) promote the conservation of the supply of food, water, energy and minerals; (5) promote the production of food and fiber resources and the reasonable use of mineral, water, and renewable energy resources; and (6) promote the development of housing suitable to the needs of the region and its communities.

7. Elements of the Regional Plan(§ 4348a) • Consistent with goals in Section 4302. • Policies to guide future growth and development of land and of public services and facilities, and to protect the environment. • Land use; Energy; Transportation; Utility and Facility; Housing; and Economic Development element (All elements must be correlated with the land use element and with each other) • Policy on preservation of rare and irreplaceable natural areas, scenic and historic features and resources • Implementation program • Relation of the regional plan policies to development trends, needs and plans of adjacent municipalities and regions

8. Adoption of the Regional Plan (§ 4348) • Hold two or more public hearings. • Provide copies to municipalities, other RPCs, VT Dept. of Housing & Community Affairs and other interested parties as requested. • Plan must be adopted by affirmative vote of at least 60% of the Commissioners representing municipalities. • Unless they are readopted, all regional plans, including all prior amendments, shall expire every eight years (§ 4348b). • The Long Range Planning Committee, as established in CCRPC’s Bylaws, shall oversee development of the Regional Plan.

9. Phase 1 - Goal statements developed after reviewing 60 planning documents and about 2500 statements in those documents. The goals are divided into four topic areas: 1) Built Environment; 2) Economic Infrastructure; 3); Natural Systems; and 4) Social Community. Phase 2 - Analysis of data to achieve common understanding in the areas of economic development, natural resources, housing, transportation, land use, and energy. These analysis reports were out for public review at the end of 2011 and will be considered by the Steering Committee on Jan. 25th. Phase 3 – Indicators are being developed that we can track over time to demonstrate how well we are achieving our goals. The draft indicators will be presented in January; public review in February and March, 2012; and Steering Committee approval in April 2012. Phase 4 –Implementation actions will be collected and prioritized to achieve our common goals. The first draft of actions will be presented in April 2012 with approval scheduled for the October Steering Committee meeting. The actions will be incorporated into the Regional Plan, MTP and CEDS. Phase 5 – The highest priority actions will be funded near the end of 2012 with $280,000 of federal funding budgeted as well as other resources that may be applicable.

10. Confirm Municipal Plan and Planning Process Duties (§ 4345a(8 & 9)) (8) Confirm municipal planning efforts, where warranted, as required under section 4350 of this title (§ 4350: review the planning process of its member municipalities at least twice during an eight-year period, or more frequently on request of the municipality). (9) At least every eight years, review the compatibility of municipal plans. Also, § 4350(b) requires that municipalities must have their plans approved by the RPC in order to retain confirmation of its planning process. Municipal plans shall expire every five years unless they are readopted (§ 4387).

11. Confirm Municipal Plan and Planning Process Benefits • A municipality that elects to have its planning process be confirmed obtains these benefits: • Eligibility to charge impact fees and to apply for municipal planning grants; • Greater certainty that the municipality’s plan will be recognized as an “adopted plan” [such as in Act 250 proceedings]; • Immunity from review by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs of the municipality’s plan for compliance with affordable housing criteria established under 24 VSA 4351; and • State agency plans adopted under 3 VSA Chapter 67 must be compatible with the municipality’s approved plan.

12. Confirm Municipal Plan and Planning Process Policy • CCRPC’s Municipal Plan and Process Review Policy was adopted in 2005. Possible amendments may include: • Simplified re-approval procedure for re-adopted plans • Review committee – PAC (established in Bylaws) • Add economic development to the required elements (child care has been added to the goals since the policy was written, but the goals are not specifically spelled out in CCRPC’s policy)

13. Resources • State Statute: Title 24, Chapter 117: Municipal and Regional Planning and Development • CCRPC Bylaws • Long Range Planning Committee • Planning Advisory Committee • CCRPC Policies • Guidelines and Standards for Confirmation of Municipal Planning Processes and Approval of Municipal Plans • Guidelines and Standards for Reviewing Act 250 and Section 248 Applications • For copies or more information please email me: • rmahony@ccrpcvt.org