Village of Manchester | Village Center Land Use and Connectivity Study
Posted 6/25/2021
​Project Overview
The Village of Manchester is developing a land use and connectivity study for the village center with the support of BCRC as project consultant. The study will identify appropriate reuse proposals for vacant and underused historic sites in the village center and potential improvements for its central intersection.

Questions the project will address include:
  • What are appropriate uses at the former county courthouse (currently housing municipal offices and owned by the Town of Manchester) and the site of the recently-demolished Music Hall (owned by Equinox Resort)?
  • What are the connectivity and transportation implications of reuse of these sites?
  • How well does the central intersection of the village center (Seminary Rd/West Rd/Route 7A) function for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians?
  • What improvements in design of the intersection may address areas of concern and support additional traffic as underused sites in the village center are redeveloped in the coming years?

This planning study will engage Village residents, municipal officials, and businesses in a public process to discuss the reuse potential of these key buildings/sites, including technical concerns for shared parking areas and bike/pedestrian improvements, and consideration of redesign options for the central intersection. 

This project is funded by the Municipal Planning Grant Program of the Department of Housing and Community Development. A report will be completed by spring of 2022 and will outline recommended site reuse scenarios and intersection designs to address connectivity concerns through the village center. 

For more information, contact project manager Mark Anders at manders@bcrcvt.org or 802-442-0713 x303. 
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Project Meetings and Public Input Timeline
Kick-off Meeting
​5/19/21
Public Meeting for Input
​7/14/21
Public Survey
August 2021
Presentation of Findings 
December '21
Presentation of Draft Report
February '22
Final Report to Planning Commission and Trustees 
March 2022
Public Meeting | July 14, 2021 at 5:30pm at BBA
The first public meeting for this project was held Wednesday, July 14, 2021 from 5:30-7pm at the Hunter Seminar Room at Burr and Burton Academy (BBA). 

The Bennington County Regional Commission provided an overview presentation on the village study and relevant existing conditions. Members of the public  shared their views on reuse concerns and traffic flow issues in an open discussion. 
Example Report
For those curious about what a final report may look like, please refer to this 2018 MPG study conducted for the Town of Dorset that assessed pedestrian connectivity in Dorset Village and possible infrastructure improvements:
2018 MPG Dorset Village Pedestrian Plan