Proposed Amendment for the DHCA Consolidated Plan
Strategy and Action Plan for Program Years 2000-2004
Volume 3, pg. 10, Draft 03/03/01

Growth Centers

Background

Policies in the Consolidated Plan structure programs that affect land use. To contribute to implementation of Vermont's smart growth agenda, the Agency encourages communities to implement thoughtful growth consistent with the land use planning goals found in state law (24 VSA 4302). While in most communities this means concentrating development in existing village centers, downtowns, urban neighborhoods or industrial parks, in some it means establishing new town centers or "emerging downtowns". In all instances, maintaining the rural, open characteristics of the surrounding landscape is a goal. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and the Agency of Natural Resources agree on the following definition for growth enters which they will use as an element in decisions about distribution of state resources.

Growth Center Definition and Characteristics

A growth center is one or more areas designated by a community in its municipal plan (adopted under the provisions of 24 VSA 4384-4387 and/or designated by a regional planning commission in its regional plan adopted under 24 VSA 4348, 4384a and 4384b) to accommodate a significant amount of growth anticipated by a community over the next twenty years. A growth center contains a mixture of uses that include, or have the potential to include commercial, business, civic, residential, including affordable housing, and recreational activity. Industrial uses may also be appropriate in densely settled, compact areas. Growth centers may include public spaces that promote social interaction, as well as distinct organization around central places or focal points. Often industrial parks and small traditional villages and hamlets do not have all of the uses noted above, but are considered growth centers nonetheless.

All growth centers have the following characteristics:

1. Lot size, road width and setback requirements that replicate traditional growth center patterns already present within historic communities.

2. Development density within the growth center that is far greater than the rest of the community. While a growth center plan may include currently vacant land planned for development, when build-out is complete, there should be a clear edge between the growth center and the surrounding landscape. Historic medium to high densities within traditional villages and downtowns provide the best guidance for these communities as they grow out and fill in. New growth centers need to include densities that will produce compact development and facilitate alternative transportation uses. Development within the growth center is compact and concentrated, while outside the growth center development is more scattered and open space predominates.

3. A circulation system that is conducive to pedestrian use and other non-vehicular traffic and that supports transit opportunities.
Studies have shown that pedestrians will walk up to _ mile radius from a given point along a pedestrian oriented landscape. Transit stops, parking facilities, street networks and pedestrian circulation systems should be set up under this principle. Pedestrians will not, however, walk _ mile across large parking lots.

4. When applicable, continued use and care of historic resources, with new construction that is compatible with the scale, size, design and materials of the area's historic resources. Infill of undeveloped land within a growth center should take priority over demolition of existing unless no other options are available. Brownfield redevelopment is strongly encouraged

5. The growth center is part of a comprehensive vision for the municipality articulated in a duly adopted and approved plan, supported by municipal regulations and capital improvement plan aimed at concentrating development in the growth center(s) while protecting the rural qualities of the landscape outside.

6. The growth center is planned to the extent possible to absorb a large percentage of the growth anticipated within the municipality during the succeeding twenty-year period.

7. When applicable, sewer service areas that are part of an adopted sewer allocation plan should be consistent with growth center boundaries.

The agency notes that not all businesses; industries or housing can be located in growth centers or in downtown areas. Some, such as those processing agricultural or forest products, may best be sited in rural areas.

Consistent with the priority extended to projects in downtowns and to growth centers, the Agency will generally not support projects that constitute sprawl. For purposes of this Plan, "sprawl" means dispersed development outside of compact urban and village centers along highways and in rural countryside.

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