What will the Richmond look like in 10 years? How about 20? Planners in town say the answer to those questions can be influenced by the desires and actions of the people who live, work and play in the community. To that end, the town has launched a year-long effort to develop a 20-year vision for the town. It's called Richmond: Our Town, Our Future.
According to a press announcement distributed by Town Planner Clare Rock, "A diverse local steering committee is designing the process to gather broad public input about Richmond and develop a 20-year vision for the Town’s future. During the yearlong project, community members will also make choices and define strategies for Richmond’s land use, economic development, environment and community."
The results will inform a new community-supported town plan. However, Rock says the process for this town plan re-write will involve more than the typical community planning meetings and hearings. The town is reaching out to resident through surveys, social media and events such as the farmers market. Planners are encouraging residents to share their ideas on Facebook and Instagram using @richmondvtfuture.
According to the press announcement, there are several parties involved in the effort:
An all-volunteer Town Plan Steering Committee, in partnership with the Planning Commission, is leading the effort to gather input from as many people as possible. They are supported by Richmond’s Town Planner, Clare Rock, and Community Workshop LLC, a small Vermont consulting firm. The project is in part funded by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
“Richmond is a great small town full of people who care deeply about its future. The process of creating the new plan will heavily rely on their input to ensure Richmond will maintain its small town charm while addressing the challenges of the future,” Rock commented.
For the first phase of the project, this summer’s activities will focus on community visioning and engagement. In the fall, the town will hold a visioning forum and workshop series to foster in-depth conversations on Richmond’s future.
