Manchester VT Town Plan Update
The Town of Manchester VT is looking to update its Town Plan, and would like your help.
A Town Plan is a document which serves as a blueprint for a community, establishing a vision for our future, with different goals, policies and strategies to achieve that vision. Such plans often cover a wide variety of topics, such as land use, zoning, housing, recreation, economic development, natural resources, and infrastructure. A successful Town Plan should articulate a clear vision for what we want our community to look like in the future, and needs to be updated every several years to ensure it reflects our current needs.
But we need your help—this plan needs to be developed using the input of our community—we want to hear your thoughts and ideas. Please join us at our upcoming meetings/events announced below to hear different ideas and share your own.
You can also submit comments and suggestions here at any time using the “COMMENT FORM” button below.
Latest Announcement
DATE 2026 - Introductory Public Meeting Announced
ANNOUNCEMENT - The Town of Manchester will be hosting a public meeting on [Date], 2026 at 6PM at the [Location] to introduce and discuss the Manchester Town Plan Update. This first public meeting is an opportunity to meet our planning consultant, Regrowth Planning, learn about the planning process, and find out about the many ways you can participate and contribute to the discussion. This will also provide an opportunity to provide early input on the process.
All residents, property and business owners, as well as people who are employed in Manchester are invited and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you these!
Documents & Downloads
Background Documents
CURRENT TOWN PLAN
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
ZONING MAP
MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDY
LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE
2022 EMPLOYER SURVEY
Meeting Notes
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Meeting Videos
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News
(Additional news and announcements will be posted here once available)
Timeline / Events & Anticipated Schedule
Municipal Planning Grant Awarded: May 2025
Request for Planning Consultant Proposals / Consultant Selection: Fall 2025
Introductory Public Meeting - [DATE / TIME]
Visioning Workshop - [DATE / TIME] 2026
Housing Workshop - [DATE / TIME] 2026
Economic Development Workshop - [DATE / TIME] 2026
Presentation of Draft Plan Recommendations - Summer 2026
Presentation of Final Draft Plan - Fall 2026
Adoption of updated Town Plan - December 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of this effort?
The goal of this effort is to develop a long-range strategic plan which will help guide the Town of Manchester on achieving both short and long-term priorities. The plan will be used by local town officials, community leaders and residents to work toward a common vision for improving our community, and will help leverage future grant funding for specific projects which the community has identified as important.
Who is overseeing this work? How is it paid for?
The Town Plan update is being overseen by the Town of Manchester Planning Commission, with the help and support of our planning consultant, Regrowth Planning, who has been selected to oversee and moderate this community discussion with the help of a Municipal Planning Grant awarded to the town by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
What are the boundaries of the Town Plan study area?
The focus of the Town Plan will be all lands within the jurisdiction of the Town of Manchester. Although the Town Plan does not technically include the Village of Manchester, many discussions will need to take place regarding town and village coordination because of our very close relationship.
Will this plan change my zoning?
The Town Plan itself will not change any zoning, however it is expected to make zoning recommendations for future changes once it is complete. These recommendations, if made, would need to be considered by the Selectboard, and would need to go through an adoption process with a public hearing before any changes are made official.
Who should participate in these discussions and meetings?
We encourage everyone to be a part of the discussion, young and old, including Manchester residents, business and property owners, as well as people who work in town and help support our local economy. We are particularly interested in getting input from younger generations who may provide a unique perspective on our future but who typically do not participate in these town governing discussions. The plan we hope to put together should reflect the wider spectrum of viewpoints across our diverse range of ages and backgrounds.
How can I submit comments or suggestions?
If you are not able to attend our meetings in person, you may submit comments and suggestions at any time over the course of this project by clicking on the “COMMENT FORM” button shown below, which will open a separate page. All comments submitted will go to our planning consultant, who will review them and periodically share collected comments with the Planning Commission. All comments submitted are anonymous.
What if I am not able to attend the meeting(s)?
If you missed or are unable to attend one of the meetings, this webpage will still provide you with recap summaries and notes from each meeting in the Documents section above, as well as video recordings of public meetings which you can watch at a time which is more convenient for you. You can also submit any comments or suggestions you may have via the comment form, linked at the top and bottom of this page.
I have other questions about this process. Who can I contact to ask questions?
If you have any additional questions regarding this planning effort which are not answered above, you can submit them via the COMMENT FORM linked on this page. Any questions submitted will be answered during the next public meeting (announced above), and we may add your question and answer here to this FAQ on the webpage for others to see.
How long is this process expected to take?
The overall process timetable is outlined above in the Timeline / Events Schedule, and is roughly anticipated to take about one year to complete. It may eventually be longer or shorter depending on the timing of meetings and other factors. Overall, the requirements of the funding grant dictate that the work must be completed no later than April 30, 2027.