Stowe 2050
Stowe 2050 Update-What We Heard...
The Stowe 2050 project recently transitioned from Phase 2-Engaging the Community to Phase 3-Crafing Values and Vision.
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been hard at work turning your comments and ideas into a shared vision for Stowe’s future—a guiding framework that reflects the values and priorities of the Stowe community. Through our many community engagement activities and events, we collected over 7,000 unique comments. Among other questions, we asked:
What do you love about Stowe today?
What do you imagine for Stowe in 2050?
What do you need or miss?
In January thirty community readers reviewed every comment, identifying key themes and ideas. A vision workshop was held to help shape these into draft values and a community vision.
Now It's Your Turn!
We're excited to share the draft community values and vision with you. Click HERE to preview the draft vision, community values, and action priorities and share your comments.
We Need Your Feedback!
Do these reflect what’s most important about Stowe?
Do they describe who we are as a community?
What’s missing? What needs refining?
Your input will help shape the final vision, values, and action priorities. Later this spring/early summer, the Planning Commission will finalize these elements and move to the next step—Identifying Community Action Ideas & Priorities.
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Community Identity & Values
Uncommon Beauty, Community, and Variety
Stowe is a place of breathtaking natural beauty, rich history and character, world-class outdoor recreation, friendly and welcoming people, and remarkable array of quality shops, restaurants, events and activities. From the peak of Mt. Mansfield to the sidewalks of Main Street, Stowe offers something for everyone: endless places to relax, explore, connect, unwind, and grow. We value each of Stowe’s many assets, but it’s the unique combination of so many beloved treasures and traditions in one small town that truly make Stowe a one-of-a-kind home for residents and visitors alike.
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Our Vision and Action Priorities
Stewardship, Balance, and Opportunity
We envision a future that protects and expands opportunities for all who call Stowe home or come to experience its charm. We aim to maintain the remarkable offerings and assets that set Stowe apart, while we become a more balanced, accessible, diverse, and inclusive community. Our vision includes priorities to enhance each of our community values.
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Affordable housing. Great jobs. Trails and recreation. Strong schools. Close neighbors. Sustainable land use. Transportation options. Imagine Stowe in 2050. What do you see? How will we get there?
Join the Stowe 2050 community conversation and help decide.
Stowe 2050 is a community planning project that will help inform our next Town Plan.
Scroll down to read more about the project, upcoming opportunities, and planning in Stowe.
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What’s Happening
Led by the Planning Commission and the Department of Planning & Zoning, the Town of Stowe launched Stowe 2050 in 2024—a community-wide engagement initiative designed to gather ideas and stories that will help shape our next Town Plan. The project was created to hear from everyone with a voice in Stowe’s future, including residents and visitors, youth and older adults, business owners and workers, longtime leaders, and new community members.
Community Engagement Highlights
Through a variety of activities, we’ve gathered extensive input:
- Over 450+ quick community comment cards collected
- Eight meetings with municipal and community organizations
- Five community conversations with over 110 participants
- Eleven community events
- Nearly 700 responses to the Stowe 2050 community survey
- Three community questions of the month, generating over 100 responses
- Countless one-on-one conversations about what makes Stowe special
In total, these efforts generated over 7,000 unique community comments!
Turning Ideas into Action
Nearly 30 community readers reviewed every comment, identifying key visions, values, and action items. A Community Vision Workshop was held in January to refine and categorize these ideas into overarching themes. The Planning Commission will soon unveil a new community vision and values statement, which will guide the next phase of the project—developing the Town Plan together. Stay tuned!
What’s Next?
Throughout 2025, the Planning Commission and Planning & Zoning staff will carefully evaluate community feedback and begin drafting the goals, policies, and action items for the next Town Plan. More opportunities for public input will be launched soon!
Project Timeline:
Mud Season: Release of the new community vision and values statement
Spring/Summer: Drafting the next Town Plan, incorporating community input
Fall/Winter: Seeking public feedback on the draft plan
In 2026, the Planning Commission will hold the required public hearings before recommending the plan for adoption by the Selectboard.
Stay Involved!
We want to hear from you! Stay tuned for upcoming engagement opportunities and sign up for project updates to help shape the future of Stowe.
About Stowe 2050
Stowe 2050 is a community planning project led by the Town of Stowe and Stowe Planning Commission. We’re here to reach out, listen, and learn.
Vermont towns must update their Town Plans every eight years, and Stowe will approve its next one in 2026. Rather than just updating the current plan, we want to think big: what do we want Stowe to be in 2050, and what will it take to get there? We want to hear from everyone in the community and get your ideas on our next town priorities.
Check out these links and resources to learn more:
2018 Stowe Town Plan(PDF, 11MB)
Planning Commission Agendas, Minutes, and Recordings
Questions? Ideas? Get in Touch.
Contact Sarah McShane, Town of Stowe Department of Planning and Zoning
PandZ@stowevt.gov
802-253-6141
