© 1996 City of Burlington, Vermont

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City of Burlington, Vermont
1996 Municipal Development Plan

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Purpose and Role of the Plan
A community's Municipal Development Plan, or "Master Plan," must be both visionary and strategic. The Master Plan outlines goals and objectives for the future and is the principal guide directing land use policy and decision-making. It defines the policies, programs and specific actions necessary to attain these objectives.

A Master Plan is prepared every 5 years in accordance with state statute and has standing in statewide regulatory proceedings including Act 250. All City plans and programs which effect land use and development, including the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Impact Fees and Capital Improvement Plan, must be in conformance with the policies and directives found in the Municipal Development Plan.

For the vision presented in this plan to become a reality however, other steps must follow its adoption. These include:

• revision of municipal ordinances and bylaws to ensure the Plan's goals and policies are properly reflected, implemented and enforced;
• development of a capital budget and program to outline long-term funding needs and commitments;
• development of area-specific plans, programs and policies to offer more detailed and site-specific strategies for selected parts of the city;
• ongoing evaluation of plans, policies and programs; and
• continuing community involvement in the planning and governing process.

Overarching Principles
The overriding philosophy that will guide future development of Burlington is "sustainability." From annual town meetings, volunteer governments and working hill farms, stewardship of Vermont’s communities and landscapes are the fabric and culture of the state and its people. The concepts behind sustainable development are found in Vermont traditions over the past 200 years - we make the best of what we have, we use only what we need and we pass things on to the next generation. In summary, sustainable development is nothing more than "future-oriented" common sense.

Elements of a "sustainable community" include:

• Ecological Integrity: including satisfying basic human needs such as clean air and water; protecting ecosystems and biodiversity; and, pollution prevention strategies.
• Economic Security: including local reinvestment; meaningful employment opportunities; local business ownership; and, job training and education.
• Empowerment and Responsibility: including respect and tolerance for diverse views and values; a viable non-government sector; equal opportunity to participate in decision-making; and, access to government.
• Social Well-Being: including a reliable local food supply; quality health services, housing and education; creative expression through the arts; safety from crime and aggression; respect for public spaces and historic resources; and, a sense of place and self-worth.

If we are to have a sustainable community, future development within the City of Burlington must further the following principles:

• Support and strengthen our neighborhoods.
• Concentrate development within growth centers.
• Utilize mixed-use development and multi-use structures.
• Lessen the dependence on the automobile.
• Respect for the city’s history and natural systems.
• Support long-term solutions.
• Promote cooperation through working partnerships.

The document "City of Burlington, Vermont - 1996 Municipal Development Plan" is available here in PDF format for downloading. It is 160 pages long, and 4.34 MB in size.

Acrobat Reader V. 3, available free from Adobe, is needed to read this PDF file.