We often say at the planning commission that a town plan should represent the community’s vision for the future. At our public forums we try to establish a common vision for the future of our towns and region. So what might a vision statment like this look like? I pulled out a few examples of vision statements adopted by towns around our Region.

As you read over these vision statements, consider your overall impression of the towns that adopted them - do you feel they are living up to their vision statements? What can planning commissioners do to shape their town’s future?

Tinmouth

“Tinmouth residents hope to:

• Maintain the rural aspects of the town including active, productive farms, open meadows, substantial forests, and scenic mountain vistas.
• Balance the needs of residents for housing, safe roads, good schools, public services, and recreational opportunities with clean waters, mixed wildlife habitat, and undeveloped land.
• Promote a small-town, neighborly atmosphere by continuing to improve the village center and support civic activities and efforts.”

Tinmouth Village

Brandon

“VISION

Brandon is an intimate, warm and walkable small town with a strong sense of place and significant community and historic assets, including a compact and full-service downtown. Brandon’s designated downtown is unusual in that it still provides the essential goods and services that have moved to the outskirts of many Vermont towns. Our town provides the local populace and residents of surrounding towns with jobs, retail goods and services, and the social and civic benefits of an active and diverse community. This plan will guide future growth to promote the health and welfare of Brandon’s residents and protect the things that make Brandon special: our natural resources, our historic streetscape and our community character. This vision is articulated in the goals, objectives and recommendations contained within each section of the Plan. The recommendations represent items of priority, but they are not meant to address all questions and actions related to the Plan and therefore should not be considered to be all-inclusive.”

Brandon Village