Vermont’s increasing demand for housing and love of our forests is an opportunity to rethink the relationship between development and conservation. Providing housing for those who need it most while maintaining a connected, intact, and diverse ecosystem requires strategic land use planning at the town and regional level. Zoning can steer development into downtown, village, and growth centers and prevent forest fragmentation in rural areas. Towns that have redrawn their zoning lines and adapted development standards have successfully conserved large forest blocks and maintained wildlife connectivity across boundaries. Regional Planning Commissions offer technical assistance and funding opportunities to all member municipalities interested in protecting their valued natural resources. The VT Fish & Wildlife’s Community Wildlife Program has partnered with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s Senior Planner, Darren Schibler, for a deeper understanding of zoning in our state’s fastest growing county.
Presenters:
- Darren Schibler, Senior Planner, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
- Jens Hilke, Conservation Planner, VT Fish and Wildlife Department