The Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies (VAPDA) is seeking the services of a qualified planning consultant who can review, edit, and update the planning and land use manual developed by the State of Vermont. Context and Background VAPDA is spearheading an effort to update a public-facing planning and land use manual developed in accordance with §4304 of Title 24. The materials are: State Planning Manual Module 1: The Municipal Plan – Introduced in 2017, this module helps citizen planners build consensus on the community’s top priorities and develop concrete achievable action steps. Module 2: State Designation Program – Introduced in 2018, this module provides guidance and case studies on state designation programs and how their benefits have helped communities achieve their planning goals. Module 3: Enabling Better Places: A Zoning Guide for Vermont Neighborhoods – Introduced in August 2020, this guidance document examines incremental approaches to improving local land use regulations to increase housing opportunities in downtowns, village centers, and neighborhoods. The modules must be updated to reflect statutory changes relevant to planning and zoning in Vermont. Existing and emerging best practices, namely those relating to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, as well climate resilience, must also be incorporated into the planning and land use manual. Final documents must be consistent in their general look and feel, consistent with the State of Vermont reporting templates and accessibility features, and written in a language that’s accessible to a general audience of citizen planners. Final deliverables must be in Microsoft Word so they can be easily edited and updated in the future.
