Regional Plan

The Lamoille County Planning Commission is in the process of amending the 2023 Lamoille County Regional Plan to comply with Act 181 and Act 47 requirements. Since January 2025, the LCPC staff have been meeting monthly with the Regional Plan Committee to review proposed Regional Plan Amendments. Draft chapters that have been approved by the Regional Plan Committee will be made available on this Regional Plan page.

 As part of this Regional Plan Amendment, the LCPC updated its Vision Statement section to reflect current municipal and regional priorities and meaningful public input gathered from the 2025 Regional Plan Survey. This input helped the LCPC capture a snapshot of regional concerns around flooding, housing, and land use issues concerning future growth and the vision for Lamoille County. Public input and input from the Regional Plan Committee is being reflected in updates to the primary Regional Plan Objectives in the Vision Statement as well as informing policy and recommendation changes throughout the Regional Plan in key chapters such as Housing, Flood Resiliency and Land Use.

 Per Act 181 the LCPC Executive Director and Deputy Director have been meeting with legislative bodies (Selectboards and Village Trustees) to gather input on the update to the Regional Future Land Use map. This will inform existing and future growth areas recognized under Vermont’s State Designation Programs such as eligibility for Village Center/ Downtown Designation and Neighborhood Areas Designation as well as housing density exemptions for municipalities requesting Act 250 Tier IB status.

 As LCPC meets with legislative bodies at the municipal level, LCPC staff have also been meeting with local Planning Commissions to inform members of Act 181 and this new statewide standardized approach to how we map future land use at the regional level. This has provided an opportunity for local Planning Commissions to also weigh in on Future Land Use areas mapped in their community and inform the mapping of future growth areas and Village Center expansion opportunities reflected on the draft Lamoille County Future Land Use Map. The LCPC has also been meeting with local Panning Directors/ Zoning Administrators to ensure resemblance of current zoning districts when mapping Future Land Use in accordance with Act 181 standards and mapping definitions. 

 In addition to the update of the Regional Future Land Use Map, this Amendment will reflect an update of the Housing chapter to incorporate required housing targets for the County and its municipalities. This inclusion of Housing targets as derived from the 2025 Vermont Housing Needs Assessment and is required per Act 47 and Act 181. The LCPC was provided regional housing targets by the state and took the most equitable approach to municipalizing these targets based on population. To ensure all Act 181 requirements are met the LCPC is amending several key Regional Plan chapters listed below.

 To reflect recent flooding events, the LCPC has also revisited the Flood Resiliency section of the Regional Plan to reflect new flooding data and update policies and recommendations to promote more flood resilient communities. The LCPC has also undertaken amendments to the Telecommunications chapter in coordination with Lamoille FiberNet’s Executive Director, to reflect the Lamoille Communication Union Districts progress in increasing broadband coverage throughout Lamoille County. This Regional Plan amendment continues to elaborate on Health Equity language integrated into the Regional Plan in 2023 and addresses environmental benefits and burdens in accordance with Act 154, the Vermont Environmental Justice law.  

 In the introduction and Economic Development Strategy the LCPC also referred to priorities of the updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) developed by the Northern Vermont Economic Development District (NVEDD). The LCPC is currently working with the NVEDD to develop a regional Flood Resiliency and Recovery Plan. The Regional Plan Committee will revisit the Flood Resiliency chapter of the Regional Plan in October 2025 to reflect priorities and recommended actions from the Flood Resiliency and Recovery Plan.  

 Please see the timeline below for an outline of the 2025 Regional Plan Amendment process.

Regional Plan Chapters Being Amended

• Introduction/Vision Statement
• Housing
• Transportation
• Telecommunications
• Land Use
• Other Future Land Use Reference Changes in Regional Plan
• Flood Resilience
• Public Facilities

Regional Plan Amendment Timeline (2025-2026)