BRATTLEBORO — The plan is to create a plan.
Planning Director Sue Fillion received authorization from the Selectboard to apply for a $20,000 grant from the Vermont Municipal Planning Grant program for Fiscal Year 2019.
If the town receives it, the money will help pay for technical assistance to create a type of master plan known as a “downtown design plan."
At the Sept. 18 regular Selectboard meeting, Fillion described the plan as a document that will look at urban design in downtown Brattleboro using principles of public spaces and connections like biking and walking.
Fillion told the Board the downtown plan is a priority for the town's Planning Department and the Planning Commission, and it was first mentioned in the 2013 Town Plan.
The grant program, Fillion said, offers the town “a good opportunity to pursue it,” and requires Selectboard approval to apply.
Selectboard member Shanta Lee Gander asked Fillion about the process for including public comment.
“Who will be involved in the designing? And how will we ensure diversity and community involvement? That's my concern,” Gander said.
Fillion said that concern was shared by the Planning Department and the Planning Commission. She said the consultant team they will hire, and the Commission, will do outreach to the community.
“We definitely want to communicate with all users of the downtown,” Fillion said.
Gander followed up with a request to broaden their reach.
“Go into the neighborhoods to make sure it's not the 'usual suspects,'” she said.
“Yes,” said Fillion, who added, “We found we need to get out [into the community]. We can't expect people to come to meetings.”