Implementation
Implementation Matrix
The Putting the Regional Plan into Action section of the Implementation Chapter describes a variety of different mechanisms for how the Windham Regional Commission will implement the Regional Plan. The Regional Plan also includes numerous recommended action steps throughout meant to implement the goals and policies of the plan. To help organize these different recommended actions, WRC has created the below Implementation Matrix that includes all of these action steps in one location. The Implementation Matrix identifies a lead entity primarily responsible for each action step and any partners, a general priority level, and potential funding sources. The Implementation Matrix is meant to provide towns and members of the public with a better sense of the projects and efforts the WRC will be working on to implement the plan, and will allow the WRC to monitor progress on these implementation steps.
| Land Use | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Lead/Partners | Priority | Potential Funding/Resources |
| Provide towns with technical assistance on planning, zoning and subdivision bylaws, and ordinances to support compact settlements and protect important forest and agricultural lands | WRC | High | State Funds, Municipal Planning Grants, Town Funds |
| Provide trainings for town officials on topics related to land use planning | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Conduct consultations with member towns and provide recommendations on necessary updates to Town Plan to ensure compliance with statute requirements | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Review and comments on applications submitted under Act 250 based on conformance with the Regional Plan. | WRC Project Review Committee | High | State Funds |
| Work with towns to strengthen Flood Hazard and Fluvial Erosion Hazard Bylaws to mitigate risks to public safety, critical infrastructure, historic structures, and municipal facilities from inundation and erosion. | WRC/ANR | High | ANR/VEM |
| Assist member towns with inter-municipal coordination to address regional issues and to combine resources for municipal services | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds, Town Funds |
| Work with towns, state and federal agencies, and conservation organizations to identify and conserve important agricultural and forest land | WRC/ANR/Dept of Ag/Municipalities/NGOs | High | Various |
| Work with adjacent Regional Planning Commissions in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts on land use-related issues that span regional boundaries | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| Educational, Cultural, and Recreational Resources | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Lead/Partners | Priority | Potential Funding/Resources |
| Work with towns to review zoning bylaws to ensure regulations allow for childcare providers to be located in the community | Municipalities/WRC | Medium | State Funds, Municipal Planning Grants, Town Funds |
| Provide town and school officials with assistance on grant applications that support students walking and bicycling to schools | Municipalities/School Districts/WRC | Medium | VTrans, Town Funds |
| Support the development of an arts and cultural plan for the Windham Region | Municipalities/NGOs/WRC | Medium | Grants |
| Participate in efforts to design and install consistent wayfinding signage for regional recreational trails | Municipalities/NGOs/WRC | Medium | State Funds, Grants |
| Participate in efforts involving federal and state land acquisition in the region for outdoor recreation and conservation purposes | Municipalities/State/Dept of Ag/WRC | Medium | Various |
| Provide technical support to town Conservation Commissions and Recreation Committees working on improving local recreational opportunities | Municipalities/WRC | High | State Funds |
| Develop a Regional Recreational Plan | WRC | High | Grants |
| Work with the State, Connecticut River Conservancy, and towns to increase river access | WRC/ANR/Municipalities/CRC | Medium | State Funds, Town Funds, Grants |
| Work with the Vermont Arts Council and the Agent for the Southern Vermont Creative Zone to support the arts and cultural sectors | WRC/NGOs/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Community Utilities, Facilities, and Services | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Lead/Partners | Priority | Potential Funding/Resources |
| Work with towns to develop capital improvement plans to budget for the development, maintenance, and expansion of water and wastewater systems | WRC/Municipalities | High | Municipal Planning Grant, Town Funds |
| Work with towns to develop shared services and supplies agreements to reduce municipal costs | WRC/Municipalities | High | Town Funds |
| Complete a regional municipal wastewater and water assessment | WRC/Municipalities | High | Grants |
| Assist towns with identifying and applying for grants for municipal water and wastewater improvement projects | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Assist towns with maintaining and updating solid waste implementation plans | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | |
| Review and comments on applications submitted under Section 248 based on conformance with the Regional Plan. | WRC Project Review Committee | High | State Funds |
| Work with towns to annually update Local Emergency Operations Plans | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Work with towns on hazard mitigation efforts, including updating hazard mitigation plans and assisting with grant applications for road, bridge, and culvert improvements | WRC/Municipalities | High | FEMA, State Funds |
| Hold regular meetings and trainings for town EMDs and Fire Chiefs to cover emergency management issues impacting the region | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Support towns in updating zoning bylaws to ensure that nursing homes and residential care facilities can be developed in village and town centers to take advantage of existing infrastructure, services, and facilities | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds, Municipal Planning Grants, Town Funds |
| Economic Development | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Lead/Partners | Priority | Potential Funding/Resources |
| Assist towns with grant applications for community facility and public infrastructure improvements that will support and enhance economic development opportunities | WRC/Municipalities | High | State and Federal Grants |
| Work with towns and property owners to utilize the Windham Region Brownfields Reuse Initiative to facilitate the redevelopment of former industrial and commercial sites | WRC/Municipalities/Property Owners | High | WRC/EPA/State |
| Participate in regional planning efforts and partner with organizations addressing economic development, including BDCC, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, and SeVEDS | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Assist towns with completing applications for downtown and village center designations with the Department of Housing and Community Development | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Work with towns to update zoning bylaws to support growth and investment in village centers and downtowns, including infill development, adaptive reuse of buildings, and height/density bonuses | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds, Municipal Planning Grants, Town Funds |
| Housing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Lead/Partners | Priority | Potential Funding/Resources |
| Provide towns with assistance updating town plans and bylaws to promote and allow more housing that meets the needs of all residents. | WRC/Municipalities | High | Municipal Planning Grants, Town Funds |
| Support housing development and rehabilitation in centers, especially where infrastructure is in place and there is minimal impact to natural resources. | WRC | High | VT Housing and Conservation Board, ACCD & Windham Windsor Housing Trust |
| Work with towns to ensure that new housing is not built in flood plains, fluvial hazard areas or other areas of concern. Update bylaws accordingly. | WRC/Municipalities | High | Municipal Planning Grants & Local Hazard Mitigation Plans |
| Promote alternative housing opportunities such as condominiums, homesharing, co-housing, housing cooperatives and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). | WRC/Housing nonprofits | Medium | Windham Windsor Housing Trust & Sharing Housing Inc. |
| Provide technical assistance to towns pursuing infrastructure (water and wastewater) development that supports housing needs. | WRC/Municipalities | High | VT Village Wastewater Program & Northern Borders Regional Commission |
| Through the Windham Region Brownfields Reuse Initiative, provide funding to assess and cleanup contaminated sites to be redeveloped for housing. | WRC Brownfields Committee/Property owners | High | WRC/EPA/State |
| Provide towns with information about innovative planning, design, and construction techniques that minimize long term costs and energy consumption of housing. | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| Participate in the Housing Coalition of Southeastern Vermont, who addresses housing needs and homelessness throughout the region. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Investigate the impacts of Short Term Rentals on the local housing market and support town management of STR's. | WRC | Medium | State Funds, Grants |
| Natural Resources | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Lead/Partners | Priority | Potential Funding/Resources |
| Provide education materials and sponsorship of workshops on invasive species and best management practices. | WRC/SE VT CISMA | High | VT Urban & Community Forestry Program |
| Partner with regional and State organizations to identify and manage invasive species | WRC/SE VT CISMA/State Agencies | Medium | NRCS/VT Urban & Community Forestry Program |
| Develop conservation plans at the regional level to support regional forest and wildlife connectivity. | WRC/Land Trusts | High | Private Foundations |
| Develop a steering committee of representatives from various stakeholder groups to maintain important forest vitality and resources across town boundaries. | WRC/Municipalities/Land Trusts | Medium | State Funds |
| Assist Towns in identifying and mapping local and regional forest blocks and connectors, and in developing policies and actions which will protect them from fragmentation. | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| In support of the state initiative and values of the 30x30 and 50x50 conservation of land targets, work with State and regional organizations to identify potential priority conservation parcels in the region. | WRC/State Agencies/Land Trusts | High | Private Foundations |
| Support municipalities with FEMA buyouts in special flood hazard areas and provide information and resources on how to manage the land for flood resiliency. | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Work with municipalities, other organizations and the State of Vermont in identifying and supporting residential and commercial customers to improve leaking septic systems. | WRC/State Agencies/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Work with municipalities, the State, and regional non-profit partners to identify potential floodplain access projects. | WRC/State Agencies/Municipalities/NGOs | High | State Funds |
| Send Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) updated regional plans, town plans, and flood hazard by-laws when they are updated | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| Work with municipalities and other organizations to identify and reclassify qualifying waters to more protected classification levels. | WRC/Municipalities | High | Tactical Basin Funding/604b Funds |
| Work with municipalities and other organizations to identify and protect surface waters that qualify for Outstanding Resource Waters. | WRC/Municipalities | High | Tactical Basin Funding/604b Funds |
| Assist municipalities in developing and adopting Floodplain By-laws. | WRC/Municipalities | High | Tactical Basin Funding/VEM |
| Work with Municipalities and FEMA to update the FEMA floodplain maps for the WRC region. | WRC/Municipalities/FEMA | High | VEM Funding |
| Assist towns in developing regulations related to development on steep slopes so that streams and wetlands are adequately protected from runoff and sedimentation. | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Support towns in implementing the procedures contained in the Vermont Better Backroads Manual and encourage them to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) on hydrologically connected road segments to comply with the Municipal Roads General Permit. | WRC/Municipalities/VTrans | High | ANR |
| Encourage municipalities to have road crew staff attend the River and Roads Training offered through Vermont DEC and VTrans. | WRC | High | ANR |
| Work with solid waste districts to educate households in the proper disposal of hazardous wastes. | WRC/Solid Waste Districts | Medium | State Funds |
| Coordinate with the Agency of Natural Resources, other state agencies, and local officials in the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of contaminated (brownfield) sites. | WRC/Municipalities/Property Owners | High | WRC/EPA/State |
| Assist municipalities in developing municipal water supplies to better allocate resources and reduce the likelihood of individual well contamination from the surface. | WRC/Municipalities/State Agencies | Medium | State Funds |
| Assist municipalities in adopting zoning or ordinances to limit development on steep slopes. | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds, Municipal Planning Grants, Town Funds |
| Work with municipalities and other organizations to identify unique habitats of local significance, rare, threatened and endangered species and fragile areas. | WRC/Municipalities/NGOs | High | State Funds |
| Work with Town Conservation Commissions to ground-truth local habitats of importance. | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Assist municipalities in identifying important wildlife corridors in their communities. | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Develop a regional map identifying regionally significant wildlife corridors and wildlife crossings on regionally important roads. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Coordinate multi-town scenic resources for towns to consider. | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Provide suggestions to municipalities to consider higher elevation ridgelines, historic structures and areas, ponds, lakes and wetlands, and town level scenic roads as scenic resources. | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Energy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Lead/Partners | Priority | Potential Funding/Resources |
| Work with organizations on the state and regional level to connect and educate municipalities, businesses and individuals to energy conservation and efficiency practices. | WRC/VECAN/VEIC/Efficiency Vermont | High | State Funds |
| Promote the activities of organizations such as SEVCA, NeighborWorks and Heat Squad that provide technical support for weatherization. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Support the establishment of Municipal Energy Committees and work with existing committees to advance energy programs in their communities | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Work with utilities and municipalities to identify and install energy resiliency measures | WRC/Green Mountain Power/Municipalities | High | Energy Resiliency Program |
| Support utilities in their advancement of smart grid technologies to allow energy consumers to make informed choices about their energy usage and expenditures by monitoring when they are using energy, how much they are using, and how much it costs. | WRC/Green Mountain Power | Medium | State Funds |
| Support requirements that utilities improve the efficiency of procedures and infrastructure and assist customers to conserve energy and reduce costs. | WRC/Public Service Department | Medium | State Funds |
| Promote programs which support a regional push to perform energy audits for all public buildings. | WRC/VT Building and General Services | High | MERP |
| Provide educational materials and workshops to inform towns, businesses, and residents on energy conservation practices and programs. These efforts can include tours of efficient buildings, hand-on conservation projects, and workshops on Vermont's Energy Building Codes. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Organize regular regional-wide knowledge sharing forums where organizations, towns, and individuals can bring strategies, innovations, and information about conservation and efficiency. | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| Organize gatherings of Energy Committees in the region to promote sharing, collaboration and inspiration. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Distribute educational information on: Energy conservation techniques; Energy-efficient products and weatherization programs; Available energy options and their respective impacts and costs; and Opportunities for energy diversification and locally based energy sources. | WRC/Efficiency Vermont | Medium | State Funds |
| Provide education to municipalities on state incentives for switching from fossil fuel to renewable, resilient and stable energy heating systems | WRC/Efficiency Vermont | High | State Funds |
| Work with BDCC to promote the benefits of energy conversion to renewable energy sources for businesses | WRC/BDCC | Medium | State Funds |
| Work with utility companies to harden existing utility lines, develop microgrids and install battery back-up systems. | WRC/Green Mountain Power | High | Resiliency Zones Project |
| Encourage the State and Municipalities to enforce the State of Vermont Energy Building Codes for new construction. | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| Work with municipalities to adopt language in Town Plans requiring new construction to adhere to Vermont Energy Building Codes. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Encourage new development and the repurposing of existing structures to utilize strategies to increase energy efficiency, including consideration of transportation energy use, on-site generation and heating systems, and reuse/repurposing of existing structures. | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| Bring together government leaders at the local and state level as well as business leaders to discuss how to decrease the reliance on single-occupancy vehicle trips on the local level. | WRC/VTrans | High | VTrans |
| Encourage the increased use of public transit and ride sharing/carpooling. | WRC/MOOver/VTrans | High | VTrans |
| Facilitate the development of walking and biking infrastructure | WRC/VTrans | High | VTrans |
| Assist municipalities in amending zoning by-laws to include EV charging stations as an acceptable use. | WRC | High | Municipal Planning Grants/State Funds |
| Give developers an incentive for installing EV Chargers by scoring a project more favorably in the WRC Project Review process. | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| WRC will assist Town Energy Committees in identifying potential solar sites within their community. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Bring together stakeholders (such as Town Energy Committees, PUC, Solar Developers) to discuss how to encourage more renewable energy generation in the region. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Work with the State, utility companies, and other energy suppliers to create a regional energy profile as a foundation for planning to meet future regional energy needs and to provide guidance on energy development in our member towns. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Facilitate inter-town conversations about appropriately scaled and sited generation sources, which include consideration of the wishes of residents regarding the meaning of "appropriate" as expressed in their town plans. The WRC recognizes that host towns and abutting towns may have different goals in this area, and will use its best efforts to gain consensus and/or cooperation among them | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Suggest to the State to create an At-the-Ready process for energy contractors. | WRC/State | Medium | State Funds |
| With regard to all energy generation, transmission, and distribution projects that come before WRC: Ask developers to conduct thorough and proper studies and analyses of all anticipated socioeconomic and environmental impacts, both positive and negative; Adequately address all areas of concern regarding proposed developments; effectively and adequately address all issues related to facility operation and reliability; and adhere to a high environmental standard that includes avoiding negative environmental impacts to the extent possible and adequately minimizing and mitigating those that cannot be avoided. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Facilitate public participation as an integral part of the decision-making process for siting, evaluating, and relicensing energy generation, transmission, and distribution facilities and for electric utility deregulation. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Pursue staff training opportunities in diversity, equity, and inclusion to enhance capacity to understand, analyze, and integrate equity considerations in all policies and programs. | WRC | High | State Funds |
| WRC will work towards creating a framework for consistently addressing issues of equity and justice across Regional and Municipal energy policies and plans | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Work with the State to collect the robust and reliable data required to better understand baseline and historical inequities, and to measure progress towards remediating them. | WRC/Public Service Department | Medium | State Funds |
| Transportation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Lead/Partners | Priority | Potential Funding/Resources |
| Assist towns with compliance and administration of the Municipal Roads General Permit to minimize stormwater runoff and road erosion | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Provide assistance to towns considering reclassification of state highways to Class 1 in downtowns and village centers | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Host Windham Region Road Foreman meetings or trainings on local areas of concern on a regular basis | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Assist towns to develop capital improvement plans that address maintenance needs for paved and gravel roads, bridges, and culverts and to identify potential funding sources | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Advocate for a more equitable distribution of bridge funding for small, rural towns in the region | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Provide technical assistance to towns to identify pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects and potential funding sources | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Advocate for the continued operation and expansion, where appropriate, of sand and gravel resources in the region to support town road infrastructure needs | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| Assist Southeast Vermont Transit with developing strategies to increase ridership and advocate for the expansion of bus routes where feasible | WRC/SEVT | Medium | State Funds |
| Coordinate with regional planning agencies in adjacent states on transportation issues that span the state boundaries, including the Southwest Region Planning Commission in New Hampshire and Franklin Regional Council of Governments in Massachusetts | WRC | Medium | State Funds |
| Support the WRC Transportation Advisory Committee and hold regular meetings | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Support transportation planning studies and the completion of construction projects in member towns by serving in a Municipal Project Management, as requested | WRC/Municipalities | High | VTrans/Federal Grants, Town Funds |
| Complete traffic and speed counts for member towns to support local transportation planning | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Maintain and updated town highway maps and culvert inventories for member towns | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Coordinate with local officials, regional partners, and local, state, and federal agencies on transportation projects and initiatives | WRC | High | State Funds |
| Assist towns with addressing transportation management issues in local bylaws and ordinances, including access management and Class 4 road policies | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds, Town Funds |
| Collect data on the levels of bicycling and walking in downtowns and villages, shared use paths, and on-road locations to support local planning efforts | WRC/Municipalities | High | State Funds |
| Provide technical assistance to towns to plan and implement temporary demonstration projects to evaluate improvements such as walking, bicycling, transit access, and traffic flow | WRC/Municipalities | Medium | State Funds |
| Support efforts to incorporate electric vehicle charging infrastructure into park and ride lots, public parking lots, and other appropriate locations | WRC | Medium | State Funds |