Comprehensive Plans

The CCRPC can assist municipalities in the development of their Comprehensive Plans, and also approves the Plans and confirms the municipalities’ planning process.

The CCRPC can assist municipalities in development of their Comprehensive Plans – including mapping, data development and updates, drafting content, facilitating meetings and public engagement activities.  Please see the UPWP page for further information on requesting this assistance.

Vermont law [24 VSA 4350(a)] requires each Regional Planning Commission to review the planning process of each of its member municipalities at least twice during an eight-year period (or more frequently at the request of a municipality). This “Guidelines” document identifies the procedures and standards that the CCRPC will use for approving the plans and confirming the planning processes of its member municipalities. A municipality that elects to have its planning process confirmed by the RPC 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.

RESOURCES

• Municipal Enhanced Energy Planning in Vermont – Best Practices and Resources »
• CCRPC Guidelines and Standards for Confirmation of Municipal Planning Processes, Approval of Municipal Plans and Granting Determinations of Energy Compliance (September 2018) »
  • Appendix A: Municipal Plan Review Tool (Microsoft Word) »
  • Appendix B: Municipal Plan Implementation Assessment (Microsoft Word) »
  • Appendix C: Energy Planning Standards for Municipal Plans (Microsoft Word) »
• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Act 171 Guidance (March 2018) »
• CCRPC Best Practices for Reporting American Community Survey in Municipal Planning »
• Groundwater and Drinking Water Resources for Vermont Planners »
  • “Advice Worth Drinking” – APA and Source Water Collaborative »
  • “Nowater Town: A Case Study of a Town Exceeding Its Available Water” – Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation »
  • “Vermont Groundwater Monitoring Network” – United States Geological Survey »
  • “Source Protection and Land Use Planning: Overview and Mapping Tools” – Vermont Rural Water Association »
  • “Geology and Groundwater” – Vermont Geological Survey »
  • “Emergency Planning and Hazard Mitigation: An Overview for the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector” – Vermont Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security »

CONTACT

For more information, please contact Taylor Newton, CCRPC Planning Program Manager, at (802) 846-4490 x 115.