Newfane Town Planning Process

June 12, 2025

Listening Session

What’s a Town Plan?

A town plan is a document that sets out the community’s shared vision for our future and broadly outlines how to implement it.

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An 8-YEAR PLAN: the Plan get’s an update every 8 years

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A 20-YEAR VISION: the Plan is long-range, budgeting steady progress over time to address challenges and reach a goal which is aspirational and attainable

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What’s a Town Plan used for?

• It empowers local decisions by making it possible to adopt e.g. Zoning regulations, Subdivision regulations, Flood-hazard and other free-standing regulations, a capital budget and program and charge impact fees

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• It influences state regulatory proceedings:

-Act 250 applications must conform to the municipal plan

-Applications for a Section 248 Certificate of Public Good must consider the Town Plan

-Community development and affordable housing funds

What is a Town Plan Used For? Continued….

• It is needed to qualify and receive priority for certain state and federal programs, including

-Municipal planning grants

-State designation programs

-Downtown and village tax credits

-Bicycle and pedestrian facilities funding

-Brownfield redevelopment funds

-Community Development Block Grants

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What’s in a Town Plan?

• State law requires that a town plan include 12 specific benchmarks and follow state planning goals. Our task is to use these state requirements as a framework to enhance and support Newfane’s community vision.

12 Elements of a Town Plan

1. A statement of objectives, policies, and programs of the municipality to guide the future growth and development of land, public services, and facilities, and to protect the environment;
2. Land Use Plan
3. Transportation Plan
4. Utility and Facility Plan
5. Statement of policies on the preservation of rare and irreplaceable natural areas, scenic and historic features and resources.
6. Educational facilities plan

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7. Recommended program for implement of the objectives of the development plan
8. A statement indicating how the plan relates to development trends and plans for adjacent municipalities, areas and the region developed under this title
9. Energy Plan
10. Housing element that includes recommended program for addressing needs of low-and moderate-income persons.
11. Economic Development element
12. Flood Resilience plan

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Overview of Current Town Plan

• The 2018 town plan sets out an extensive and detailed portrait of Newfane, through data, tables, and narrative.

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• Its goals and policies established a foundation for the town’s actions and decisions and for Zoning Bylaw revisions.
• The 2018 plan preceded the Covid pandemic and its impact on this community, the state of Vermont, and the rest of the world. Nonetheless, it has continued to be useful.
• Our task is to do the same thing – to plan based on the information and input we have in a way that will guide our town toward desired circumstances, through predictable growth - and surprises

Our Schedule of Events

• June 12 - Informational Meeting and Listening Session, Newfane Town Office
• July 19 - Informational Meeting and Listening Session, Williamsville Hall
• September 20 - Discussion of Goals and Actions to Implement Community Vision, NewBrook Fire House
• October 23 - Discussion of Goals and Actions to Implement Community Vision, Williamsville Hall

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What’s the process?

The State of Vermont recommends that we incorporate five steps into our process:

1. Community Assessment

-Updating data on (1) demographics; (2) economic conditions; (3) natural resources and physical conditions; (4) transportation; (5) utilities facilities and services; (6) energy; (7) historic and cultural resources; (8) housing; (9) flood resilience and hazard mitigation; (10) land use; and (11) regional context.

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2. Develop Shared Community Vision:

-Identify what to Maintain, Evolve, and Transform

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What’s the process? Continued……

3. Identify Community Goals and Objectives

- What goals, objectives, policies and actions will make the community vision a reality?

4. Map out the future

-Design land use policies, regulations, and investment to support the community goals and objectives.

5. Make it happen

-Implementation timeline

Applying a Maintain/Evolve/Transform Framework

• Maintain: What should be protected and preserved for future generations?

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• Evolve: What should change in ways that keep their core identity but adapt better to modern lifestyles

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• Transform: What is fundamentally in need of improvement and possesses unrealized potential?

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Planning in Alignment with the Region’s Goals

Newfane is one of 26 towns in the Windham Regional Planning District.

-In order to implement impactful change, towns in Vermont need to take a collaborative approach to planning and carrying out targeted initiatives.

There are 11 Regional Planning Commissions in Vermont

-The goals and initiatives of town plans need to be in alignment with Regional goals and objectives

State and Regional Plan Alignment

• State Level Plans - While not directly linked to local plans, and often developed in response to federal agency requirements, some state agencies adopt plans that affect local and regional planning (e.g. Transportation, Emergency Management, and Housing)

• Regional Plans - Each of Vermont’s 11 Regional Planning Commissions adopts a plan that in most respects parallels the content of municipal plans. According to Vermont law, a municipal plan is compatible with the regional plan and the plans of adjoining municipalities if the plan will not significantly reduce the desired effect of those other plans.

Goals for Tonight’s Listening Session

• Discuss 3 elements of our Town Plan:
• Transportation
• Energy
• Natural Resources

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What are the Town’s key objectives and recommendations in each area?

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How are we in alignment with State and Regional Goals?

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What is missing? What needs greater attention?

Vermont’s 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan has 6 Goals:

1. Improve safety and security across all transportation modes
2. Preserve and improve the condition and performance of the multimodal transportation system
3. Provide mobility options and accessibility for all users of the transportation system
4. Leverage transportation investments to increase Vermont’s economic vitality
5. Practice environmental stewardship
6. Support livable, healthy communities

Transportation Challenges facing Vermont’s Communities

• Lack of funds on Federal and State levels for infrastructure improvements
• Raising costs of construction and tariffs likely to further impact pricing e.g. concrete for culverts, sidewalks; iron for bridges, etc.
• Increase prevalence of violent weather events negatively impacts road maintenance, storm drainage, and culvert replacement
• Rural nature of state makes public transportation more costly, and less convenient for residents

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Town Plan Transportation Objectives and Recommendations

• Provide a convenient road system with service that is commensurate with the need while respecting the natural environment, maintain the community's rural character and historic sites, and ensuring public safety.
• Direct the Town’s transportation funds toward projects that meet the greatest need and benefit the most people.
• Maintain and improve roads bridges, and sidewalks to pedestrian safety.
• Strengthen land-use patterns to prioritize commercial and residential development in existing villages, preserve Newfane’s character, and protect the Town’s natural resources.
• Prepare for potential reduction in state and federal funding support for routine and emergency transportation infrastructure repairs
• Encourage energy-efficiency through options such as carpooling and public transportation.

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• Adopt improvements such as year-round maintained sidewalks, marked crosswalks, and traffic-calming measures to protect pedestrians. (e.g. traffic calming measures in Newfane, Williamsville and South Newfane)
• Continue pursuing transportation flood-resiliency practices that will protect residents and minimize damage to infrastructure. (e.g. culverts, concrete boxes, etc.)
• Continue pursuing state and federal grants for the maintenance and improvements of the Town's street and highway system, bridges, sidewalks, and other improvements where feasible. (e.g. sidewalks and trails in Williamsville and South Newfane)
• Prepare for potential significant reductions in state and federal funding support for routine and emergency transportation infrastructure repairs by having other possible funding sources. (e.g. bonding, lines of credit; collaborate with WRC on regional initiatives)
• Support regional efforts to advance carpooling and provide public transportation options in the Route 30 corridor.

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Discussion on Transportation Element

• What are the transportation concerns which you have for our Town?

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• Of these concerns, which do you feel are most pressing, or urgent?

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• Do the objectives in the Town Plan address these concerns?

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• Do our recommendations and proposed activities seem achievable?

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• Is the Town’s transportation plan in alignment with the State’s Plan?

State of Vermont Energy Goals and Strategies

Goals:

• To make efficient use of energy

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• To provide for the development of renewable energy resources

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• To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

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General strategies for achieving these goals:

Increasing the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings

Identify areas suitable for renewable energy generation;

Encourage the use and development of renewable or lower emission energy sources for electricity, heat, and transportation

Reduce transportation energy demand and single occupancy vehicle use.

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Town Energy Plan Policies and Recommendations

• Policies:

1. Encourage energy conservation by promoting development that concentrates growth near the village centers, allows for cluster housing, site buildings for solar gain and minimize road construction.

2. Make Town-owned buildings as energy efficient as possible.

3. Encourage the use of onsite or locally-obtained renewable energy resources as long as implementation is consistent with resource conservation policies outlined in this Plan.

4. Support energy conservation and energy-efficiency programs of SEVCA, Efficiency Vermont and Energy Star Homes.

5. Promote strategies that reduce driving, such as carpooling, public transit and infrastructure that can support telecommuting.

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• Recommendations:

1. Monitor municipal energy use and, where feasible, implement energy conservation measures and the use of renewable energy sources. (progress here?)

2. Make information available regarding local and statewide organizations with programs that provide information on how to become more energy efficient, and how to manage resources to ensure sustainable use.

3. Complete energy mapping per VT Act 174. (done?)

4. Evaluate and propose methods to allow for clustered housing. (progress here?)

5. Evaluate and propose regulations for residential wind energy systems and an ordinance for outdoor wood furnaces.

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Discussion on Energy Element

• What are some ways that you would like to see the Town involved in encouraging alternative energy use and lowering emissions?

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• Are there activities that the Town could initiate to help reduce transportation energy demand?

Natural Resources

“All ethics so far evolved rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts. His instincts prompt him to compete for his place in that community, but his ethics prompt him also to co-operate (perhaps in order that there may be a place to compete for). The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land.”

-Aldo Leopold

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Natural Resource Planning: Statewide Goals

• To identify, protect, and preserve important natural features of the Vermont landscape, including significant natural and fragile areas; outstanding water resources, including lakes, rivers, aquifers, shore lands, and wetlands; significant scenic roads, waterways, and views.
• To maintain and improve the quality of air, water, wildlife, and land resources.
• To provide for the wise and efficient use of Vermont’s natural resources and to facilitate the appropriate extraction of earth resources and the proper restoration and preservation of the aesthetic qualities of the area

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The Current Town Plan Covers These Topics:

• Wetlands
• Groundwater
• Surface Water
• Wildlife Resources & Natural Features
• Forest Resources
• Agricultural
• Earth and Minerals

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Wetlands

Recommendations:

Amend the zoning bylaw to require a minimum of a vegetated buffer strip around the edge of a mapped or otherwise documented wetland. (progress?)

Groundwater

Recommendations:

Evaluate the need for future community water and/or sewage systems in Newfane's village areas. (Selectboard, Planning Commission)

Make information available to land owners on the proper maintenance and care of' wells and septic systems. (Town Health Officer)

Surface Water

Recommendations:

Establish zoning techniques such as vegetated buffers and overlay districts to protect surface waters and propose amendments to the Zoning Bylaw where appropriate, (Planning Commission).

Wildlife Resources & Special Natural Features

Recommendations:

Obtain information on matters relative to the protection of forest resources, fish and wildlife areas, and areas of special natural features. (Conservation Commission)

Protect wildlife habitat through the development of land use regulations that are sensitive to valuable habitat areas. Such measures. could include performance standards, buffer strip requirements, additional streambank setbacks requirements for low density development, and cluster development (Planning Commission)

Air Quality

Recommendations:

Review the air quality standards outlined in the Newfane Zoning Bylaw. (Planning Commission)

Forest Resources-

Recommendations:

1. Implement land use regulations that will allow for the cluster development outside of the forest blocks in order to prevent the fragmentation of large tracts of forest land and to protect locally significant forest lands within those tracts. (Planning Commission)

2. Complete a full analysis of Newfane’s forests in compliance with Act 171

3. Consider appropriate steps to encourage the voluntary protection of agricultural and forest lands. (Conservation Commission)

4. Develop strategies to protect long-term viability of agricultural and forestlands and to maintain low overall density.

5. Encourage the manufacture and marketing of value-added agricultural and forest products

Forest Resources

Recommendations continued:

6. Encourage the use of locally-grown food products.
7. Encourage sound forest and agricultural management practices.
8. Plan public investment so as to minimize development pressure on agricultural and forest land.
9. Coordinate with Vermont Land Trust regarding the management of large blocks of undeveloped forest and land. (Selectboard, Conservation Commission)
10. Encourage landowners to seek technical forestry expertise to develop a forest management plan and institute proper timber management techniques. (Select Board, County Forester)
11. Resurrect the Village Tree Committee to survey, plant and supervise the location of additional shade trees within Williamsville and South Newfane.

Agricultural Resources

Recommendations:

Explore various agricultural resource protection strategies which may be applicable to Newfane, including but not limited to, incentive programs, land use controls, and a transfer of development rights program. (Planning Commission)

Locate and name all the farms in the Town of Newfane. (Conservation Commission, Planning Commission)

Earth and Mineral Resources

Recommendations:

Amend the Newfane Zoning Bylaw to include conditional use review of all proposed mineral extraction operations, and require such operations to meet strict health, safety and environmental performance standards. Under conditional use approval, submission of an excavation plan and a site restoration plan should be required. (Planning Commission)

Continue coordination with appropriate law enforcement agencies to enforce restrictions on local roads and bridges. (Selectboard)

Natural Resources Discussion

• What aspect of natural resources are you most concerned about?

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• What are priority areas that you would like to see preserved?

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• What are some possible actions, projects, or programs that the Town should be considering?