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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Support efforts to incorporate electric vehicle charging infrastructure into park and ride lots, public parking lots, and other appropriate locations |
WRC |
Medium |
State Funds |
