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The ECOS Project

Stands for Environment, Community, Opportunity and Sustainability and is a once-in-a generation opportunity to provide the framework for a more healthy, inclusive and prosperous community.

Wikibon.org/blog/the-organizational-impact-of-converged-infrastructure

• The project is funded by a $1 million federal grant to help us become more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable.

• The Regional Planning Commission is spearheading the project, along with over 65 diverse organizations representing the community.

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Circle of Prosperity

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The Steering Committee drafted goal statements after reviewing 60 planning documents and about 2500 statements in those documents. The goal statements have been divided into four topic areas: 1) Built Environment; 2) Economic Infrastructure; 3); Natural Systems; and 4) Social Community. These goal statements provide the basis for indicators that will increase accountability for reaching the goals and guide the prioritization of the actions that will be taken to achieve the community’s goals.

The second phase of the project is focused on data analysis to achieve common understanding in the areas of economic development, natural resources, housing, transportation, land use, and energy. These analysis reports are now available on the website and we are looking for your feedback. The comment period is from November 15th through December 31st. The revised reports will be accepted by the Steering Committee in January.

Phase 3 is the development of indicators that will show all of us how well we are achieving our goals. The draft indicators will be presented in January; public review in February and March, 2012; and Steering Committee approval in April 2012.

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Complete, however these goals will evolve as we develop indicators and implementation priorities.

Phase 4 is prioritizing actions to achieve our common goals. The first draft of actions will be presented in April 2012 with approval scheduled for the October Steering Committee meeting.

Phase 5 is implementing the actions. The Steering Committee will decide upon the prioritized actions to fund near the end of 2012 with $280,000 of federal funding budgeted as well as other resources that may be applicable.

In progress.

In progress.

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• The Steering Committee began working on the goals at a retreat on May 25th.

• The Committee received 200 comments from 65 individuals. The Working Groups refined the goals based on these comments.

• The Steering Committee approved the goals with amendments on October 26, 2011.

Phase 1: Goals

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1. Built Environment - Make public and private investments in the built environment to minimize environmental impact, maximize financial efficiency, optimize social equity and benefits, and improve public health.

2. Economic Infrastructure – Build the region’s capacity for shared and sustainable improvements in the economic well being of the community through support of both local and globally competitive initiatives.

3. Natural Systems – Design and maintain a strategically planned and managed green infrastructure network composed of natural lands, working landscapes, and open spaces that conserve ecosystem values and functions, and provide associated benefits to our community.

4. Social Community – Promote the skills, resources, and assurances needed for all community members to participate in the workforce and in their family, civic and cultural lives, within and among their neighborhoods, and in the larger community.

Broad Goals

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• Economic – GBIC/Garnet Consulting

• Housing – Vermont Housing Finance Agency

• Land Use/Transportation – CCRPC

• Energy – VT Energy Investment Corporation

• Natural Resources – LandWorks

• Public Health – Dept. of Health and Fletcher Allen

• Education – Champlain Initiative

Phase 2: Analysis

Economic Development 9

• The County’s assets outweigh its challenges.

• However, if current trends continue there will be a continued steady loss of high paying jobs.

• Complacency is not a viable policy.

Economic Analysis

Economic Development 10

Possible Target Clusters & Industries• Business and

Administrative Services

• Clean Tech/Green Tech

• Digital Media

• E-Commerce

• Health Care

• Higher Education

• Information Technology

• Non-profit Organizations

• Retail

• Tourism

• Value-Added Manufacturing

• Value-Added/ Sustainable Agriculture

*4 to 6 of these will be chosen and further evaluated

Housing Needs 11

Housing Needs AnalysisThe most critical housing needs in the County include:

•500 people were homeless during the last one-night count, illustrating problems in both access to housing and housing affordability.

•The growing population of non-white residents, residents with disabilities, and single-parent families are more likely to experience poverty and less likely to become homeowners than other types of households.

•The vast majority of the County’s working residents pay more than 45% of their income for the combined cost of housing and transportation.

•Will need to increase renter stock by roughly 200 homes per year to meet demand—about 40-50 more than created in prior years.

Land Use & Transportation 12

Planning Area 1950 1970 1990 2005

Center 9.04% 5.45% 3.63% 3.67%

Metro 55.21% 51.66% 39.65% 34.95%

Suburban 7.15% 14.99% 20.76% 23.69%

Rural 17.85% 18.07% 26.90% 28.69%

Village 10.35% 9.31% 8.46% 8.43%

Enterprise 0.41% 0.52% 0.61% 0.57%

Percent of Total Structures by Planning Area

Over the past 60 years, Chittenden County has

experienced significant, but lately slowing, growth. Much of that development has gone to

the more suburban and especially rural parts of the

county, resulting in increased transportation and

environmental costs.

Land Use & Transportation 13

Future Land Use Scenarios

Land Use & Transportation 14

2035 Forecast• 2035 Housing and Employment forecast

distributed by CCRPC’s Planning Areas• Transportation model used to analyze land

use for 3 distinct transportation scenarios

• Basic Transportation - No new roads

• Energy Constrained - Trip reduction programs and transit service increases

• Road Capacity - Additional roads and widening to meet future demand

Land Use & Transportation 15

Draft 2035 Transportation Analysis

Energy 16

Energy AnalysisTrends in energy consumption in Chittenden County show an overall increase in energy usage in parallel to the population growth that the county has been experiencing. The per household or per employee energy consumption for several fuel types has shown a decline over the last 20 years, consistent with improvement in efficiency and more stringent standards.

VT Total Energy Consumption (2009) by Sector

Transportation 34%

Residential 31%

Commercial 20%

Industrial 15%

Natural Resources 17

• Phosphorus levels in Lake Champlain have remained constant although still high. Phosphates in major tributaries are decreasing.

• Non point phosphorus loading from streams to the main section of Lake Champlain are recorded at 139 metric tons (2002-2007) - far above the target of 51.3 metric tons indicating unsustainable land use practices, planning goals and regulations.

• Subdivision, parcelization, fragmentation and conversion of forestland are the biggest threat to natural systems. The number of parcels has gone up, while their size has gone down, contributing significantly to parcelization and fragmentation.

• Although the number of farms has increased (local food production), the amount of acres in farmland has significantly decreased.

Natural Resources Analysis

Natural Resources 18

All towns in Chittenden County have a municipal plan that highlight the importance of natural and scenic resources. However, there is little or no recognition of climate change and its effect on water quality, habitat and wildlife. Also the bylaws often lack specificity for protection of all of these resources.

Natural Resources AnalysisLocal Zoning Lags Behind Plans*

Of 211 zoning bylaws reviewed in VT:•88% include conditional use

standards (17% of which mention wildlife habitat)

•75% include site plan requirements (18% of which mention wildlife

habitat)•51% included some form of

conservation district (49% of which mention wildlife habitat)

•39% include explicit riparian buffers (the average buffer width was 42

feet)•22% include a forest reserve district

(40% of which specifically mention wildlife habitat)

•2% of the municipalities include a specific definition of “wildlife habitat”

in their zoning bylaws.•1% (3 municipalities) include a wildlife habitat overlay district

*Wildlife Considerations in Local Planning – Vermont Natural Resources Council, February

2011

Public Health 19

Public Health AnalysisThe Real Cause of Death

Public Health 20

Community design matters

Public Health 21

Education Analysis• The Education Analysis paints a picture of

education in the County by starting with big picture national United Way education goals, and reports on K-12, Higher Education and Adult Education data in VT and Chittenden County. The analysis also makes the connection between health and education. For example:• While 42% of Vermonters who have less than a

high school education earn an income below the federal poverty level, only 5% of those who have a college degree earn so little.

• Two-thirds of people with less than a high school education report having one or more chronic conditions, compared to one-third of those who have a college degree or more.

Education

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Phase 2 comment period ends 12/31PLEASE submit comments on

ecosproject.com

Steering Committee Meetings:

January 25, 2012 | April 25, 2012 | July 25, 2012 | October 24, 2012

Project Status & Future Meetings

Economic Development 23

• Regina Mahony• rmahony@ccrpcvt.org• 802.388.3011 ext.28

• Charlie Baker• cbaker@ccrpcvt.org• 802.846.4490 ext.23

• Visit ecosproject.com

• THANK YOU!

The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.

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