HALIFAX-A public hearing on these updates and revisions to the Halifax Town Plan will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m.
Under Vermont Law, a town plan can be updated and amended at any time, but must be readopted every eight years. Halifax voters adopted the current Town Plan on March 5, 2019.
Since early 2026, the Planning Commission held 11 sessions, all posted and open to the public, to update and revise the document.
Throughout the year, many parties, including representatives from the Windham Regional Commission, the Halifax Highway Department, Fire Department, School Board, Historical Society, Cemetery Commission, Selectboard, and Conservation Commission, have provided gather information needed to update the plan.
"Public input is very important, as it represents a conscious community decision regarding the town's future character, land use, and conservation of natural resources," the Planning Commission collectively wrote in a news release. "Halifax's existing plan is well-written, with strong policies and recommendations."
The revised draft includes:
• additions on municipal housing targets.
• measures to meet a new Vermont state planning goal ("to equitably distribute environmental benefits and burdens"), as defined in state law.
• a reference to the Deerfield River Basin Plan.
• a link to the Agency of Natural Resources' BioFinder mapping tool.
• updated community profile information provided by Windham Regional Commission and updated statistics (e.g., improved cell phone and internet access).
• updated language to address large-scale development such as data centers, server farms, cryptocurrency mining facilities, fulfillment centers, and big-box stores.
The revised draft plan is available at halifaxvt.com/halifax-town-plan-2027-draft/.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.