The Role of the Planning Commission

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Planning for a Vibrant Community
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Introduction

• Planning is a process that involves
• Assessing current conditions envisioning a
  desired future charting a course towards that
  future
• Municipalities not required to adopt a plan a
  plan is required prior to adopting any land use
  regulations
• Plan itself is final product, there is as much or
  more value in process of engaging stakeholders

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Overview

• This section reviews legal and practical elements
  of local land use planning
• Steps in the process
• Nature of the process
• Public participation
• State planning goals
• Required elements of the plan
• Regional planning process

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Steps in the Process

• Design the planning program
• Design outreach strategy
• Select consultant
• Identify sources of technical assistance
• Collect and analyze background information
• Might include surveys or other information
  reflecting a communitys aspirations, problems,
  and opportunities

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Steps in the Process

• Establish goals and objectives
• Housing, transportation, infrastructure
• Outline recommended actions to achieve those
  goals and objectives
• Create an implementation program
• Both regulatory and non-regulatory options
• Adopt the plan
• Implement the plan
• Evaluate the plan and planning program

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Nature of the Process

• By design, planning requires a lot of
  participation by diverse stakeholders
• Land use issues evoke strong emotional responses
  about government, private property, and the
  public interest
• Planning can challenge patience of those
  involved, but offers unique opportunity
• Golden rule of planning include public and
  interested parties at every possible step

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Public Participation

• Planning commission is not only entity that
  plans others must be involved in process
• Include general public, legislative body, citizen
  groups, local chamber, etc.
• Public participation has long been a hallmark of
  effective planning
• Can be difficult to do well

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Public Participation Strategies

• Community Visioning Sessions
• Brings large numbers of community members
  together
• Most effective for determining values and broad
  goals
• Community Planning Survey
• Offers higher degree of control over subject
  matter
• Attracts different participants than visioning
  session
• Weakness is inability to hear from others
• Technology
• Virtual bulletin board or email listserv

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State Planning Goals

• Process Goals
• Establish a coordinated, comprehensive planning
  processto guide decisions by municipalities,
  regional planning commissions and state agencies
• Encourage citizen participation at all levels
• Consider the use of resources and consequences of
  growth
• Encourage municipalities to work together to
  develop and implement plans

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State Planning Content Goals

• Maintain historic settlement pattern of compact
  village and urban centers
• Provide strong and diverse economy
• Broaden access to educational and vocational
  training
• Provide safe, convenient, economic, and energy
  efficient transportation system
• Identify and preserve important natural and
  historic features

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State Planning Content Goals

• Maintain and improve quality of air, water,
  wildlife, and land resources
• Encourage efficient energy use and develop
  renewable energy resources
• Maintain and enhance recreational opportunities
• Encourage and strengthen agricultural and forest
  industries

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State Planning Content Goals

• Provide wise and efficient use of natural
  resources
• Ensure availability of safe and affordable
  housing
• Provide an efficient system of public facilities
• Ensure availability of safe and affordable child
  care

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State Goals Summary

• Process goals provide a vision of a process
• coordinated across levels of government
• involves citizens
• considers the consequence of growth
• encourages municipalities to work together
• Content Goals
• help ensure that plans are coordinated.
• reflect the Legislature's vision for how lands
  will be developed.
• compliance with goals is required for approval by
  RPC

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Required Elements

• Statement of objectives, policies, programs
• Land use plan (map and statement)
• Transportation plan (map and statement)
• Utility and facility plan (map and statement)
• Statement on preservation of rare and
  irreplaceable areas and historic resources

15
Required Elements

• Educational facilities plan (map and statement)
• Recommended implementation program
• Statement of how plan relates to plans of
  neighboring communities and region
• Energy plan
• Housing element

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Addressing Local Concerns

• State law provides a structure and certain
  elements that must be considered
• Municipalities have significant flexibility to
  determine scope and content of plan

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Significant Diversity in Local Plans

• Randolphs 2004 plan recommends new zoning
  districts to protect village and agriculture
• Essexs 2006 plan recommends improving water
  quality in two impaired watersheds
• Mendons 2005 plan recommends encouraging growth
  of home businesses

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Regional Planning Process

• Plans must also be updated every five years
• Address same process and content goals
• Similar required elements.
• Plans approved by board of commissioners
• One of RPCs functions is to harmonize local
  plans with regional plans
• Approved plans allow municipalities to attain
  village or downtown designation and requires
  state agencies to consider local plan in their
  planning

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Planning for a Vibrant Community Summary

• An engaging planning process is critical to
  creating a vibrant community
• Public participation is a fundamental component
  of that process
• State law provides both goals and required
  elements to guide the process
• Each plan should reflect local goals,
  objectives,and implementation strategies