Implementation
THE REGIONAL PLAN IN CONTEXT
Statute requires that the Regional Plan include a statement indicating how the regional plan relates to development trends, needs, and the plans for local municipalities and adjacent regions. The Windham Regional Profile includes a discussion on development trends and changes in regional demographics since the last Plan update was completed. This data was analyzed and the findings incorporated into the separate chapters within the Plan and their respective policies.
MUNICIPAL PLANS IN THE WINDHAM REGION
In terms of the relationship between the Regional Plan and plans for towns in the Windham Region, 24 of the 27 member towns have adopted town plans, all of which have been approved by WRC as being compatible with the Regional Plan. Each of these 24 towns has an appointed Planning Commission charged with planning for the future growth and development of their communities. WRC maintains an on-going consultation process with our towns regarding the town plan update process and consistency with the Regional Plan and state planning goals.
RELATIONSHIP TO PLANS OF ADJACENT REGIONS
The three Vermont regional planning commissions that adjoin the Windham Region are Mount Ascutney Regional Commission, Bennington County Regional Commission, and Rutland Regional Planning Commission. The Windham Region also borders the Southwest Regional Planning Commission and Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission in New Hampshire and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments in Massachusetts. The WRC regulars coordinates and collaborates with adjoining regional planning commissions on a host of issues that impact our respective regions.
The WRC reviewed the regional plans for each of the adjoining regional planning commissions for consistency with the Windham Regional Plan with a focus on planning areas that span the regional boundaries, such as land use, transportation, economic development, and watershed planning. Similar to the Windham Regional Plan, the plans for the other Vermont RPCs are required to be consistent with the statewide planning goals in 24 V.S.A., § 4302. Therefore, the adjoining RPC plans are consistent and compatible with the goals established in the Windham Regional Plan.
MOUNT ASCUTNEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
The most current Mount Ascutney Regional Plan was adopted on October 14, 2022. The Mount Ascutney Region borders the Windham Region to the north. Communities that border towns in our region include Springfield, Chester, Andover, and Ludlow. The Future Land Use map shows the lands bordering the Windham Region are guided for Rural Residential, Working Land, and Conservation uses, which is consistent with the future land use plan for adjacent towns in the Windham Region.
Springfield is a large regional employment center in Windsor County that many Windham Region residents commute to for work. In addition, the communities of Chester and Ludlow are home to numerous businesses, including the Okemo ski resort in Ludlow, that residents commute to for work. All three communities also offer retail and personal services that Windham Region residents rely on and that may be in closer proximity than services located in towns within our region. The economic vitality of these communities is important for the health of the Windham Region as well.
Major state highways that connect our two regions include Route 5, Route 103, Route 11, and Route 100. The WRC and MARC collaborate on VTrans corridor studies for these highways that span our two regions. There are no major transportation improvements discussed in the Mount Ascutney Regional Plan that would negatively impact towns in the Windham Region. Finally, the WRC and MARC are both located within the West-Williams-Saxton River Basin. The MARC plan also emphasizes the importance of water quality and there were no conflicts between the plans in terms of water quality and watershed planning.
RUTLAND REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
The most current Rutland Regional Plan was adopted on June 19, 2018. The Rutland Region borders the Windham Region to the northwest. Communities that border towns within our region include Mount Tabor and Mount Holly. The future land use map shows the area along the border of these towns with Weston as Development Constraint Areas that have significant limitations upon development because of public ownership, conservation easements, or natural limitations. Much of the area bordering Mount Holly and Mount Tabor and Weston is within the Green Mountain National Forest. The only state highway directly connecting the two regions is Route 155 that runs north through Weston into Mount Holly. It is important to note that the city of Rutland is only approximately 25 miles away from Weston in the northwest corner of our region and there are likely Windham Region residents that commute or travel to Rutland for job opportunities and services.
BENNINGTON COUNTY REGIONAL COMMISSION
The most current Bennington County Regional Plan was adopted on March 19, 2015. The Bennington Region borders the Windham Region along its western side. The following communities border towns in our region: Stamford, Woodford, Glastenbury, Sunderland, Manchester, Dorset, Peru, and Landgrove. Much of the land area along the border between the regions falls within the Green Mountain National Forest. Generally, the Bennington Regional Plan guides these bordering areas for Upland Forests and Rural Areas. This is consistent with future land use planning in the WRC Plan. Manchester and Bennington are the largest population and employment centers in Bennington County and a large number of Windham Region residents commute to these towns for jobs and shopping, in particular communities in the western part of our region.
Major state highways that connect our two regions include Route 9, Route 30, and Route 11. Route 9 in particular is an important highway that provides a critical east-west connection between New York and New Hampshire. The WRC and BCRC collaborate on VTrans corridor studies for these highways that span our two regions. There are no major transportation improvements discussed in the Plan that would negatively impact towns in the Windham Region.
UPPER VALLEY LAKE SUNAPEE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
The most current Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Plan was adopted on June 17, 2015. The Windham Region adjoins only the town of Charlestown, New Hampshire in this region. Charlestown is located on the eastern side of the Connecticut River across from the town of Rockingham. Currently, much of the development in Charlestown is concentrated around the historic town center on Route 12A and further north and not along Route 12A towards the bridge connecting to Rockingham. The vision for Land Use in the Region is to build upon its historic, traditional settlement patterns by focusing new residential and non-residential development in village and city centers. The region’s rural landscape will support traditional uses like housing, farming, forestry, and recreation.
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
The most current Southwest Region Planning Commission Regional Plan was adopted in 2015. The Windham Region borders the following towns across the Connecticut River in the Southwest Region: Hinsdale, Chesterfield, Westmoreland, and Walpole. Both Hinsdale and Chesterfield have commercial areas in close proximity to the Windham Region just across the Connecticut River. These areas draw a large number of residents from our region for shopping and employment purposes and future growth and development may impact traffic patterns and economic development in our region. There are also large number of residents in Hinsdale, Chesterfield, Westmoreland, and Walpole that commute and travel into our region on a daily basis for jobs and services. The WRC and the SWRPC are currently working in partnership with VTrans and NHDOT on the construction of the new Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge (Route 119).
FRANKLIN REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
The Franklin Regional Council of Governments has adopted several regional planning documents that address transportation, housing, economic development, and other planning areas. The Windham Region borders the following towns located in Franklin County, Massachusetts: Northfield, Bernardston, Leyden, Colrain, Heath, Rowe, and Monroe. The area bordering the two regions is generally rural and mostly defined by low-density residential development and forestland. The main highways connecting the region are Routes 142, 5, and 112, as well as Interstate 91. The two regions are also both located in the Deerfield River Watershed and work collaboratively on water quality-related issues and projects. Greenfield is also a major employment and commercial center in Franklin County and many residents from the Windham Region, in particular in the southern area, commute and travel to Greenfield for employment and services.