Informing Land Use Planning and Forestland Conservation Through
Subdivision and Parcelization Trend Information

Subdivision, fragmentation and the conversion of forestland are threatening the economic and ecological integrity of the Northern Forests. Subdivision and land conversion can negatively affect plant and animal species, wildlife habitat, water quality, recreational access, and the ability of forests to sequester and store carbon. They can also affect the contiguous ownership, management, and viability of forest parcels to contribute to the region’s rural economy. While subdivision and conversion pressures have been identified as problems for decades, there has been no systematic tracking of trends to inform planning or resource management.

This project was designed to analyze subdivision trends in Vermont by using state Grand List data for 2003 and 2009 to establish a database of parcels of land in the state, compiled by class size. The analysis goals were to:

1. quantify the extent of subdivision and the degree to which subdivision is affecting the viability of undeveloped land for resource management;
2. quantify and understand the extent to which residential development is occurring on parcels that are larger than needed for a residence; and
3. investigate and document patterns that may be relevant for policies and programs that support resource management and/or discourage fragmentation.

In addition to the above analysis, eight towns were studied in detail to determine whether certain zoning or subdivision policies promote or discourage viable parcel sizes for resource management. This analysis can be viewed by clicking on the Zoning Analysis link on the left.

The research in this report is intended to inform land use planning, focus forest stewardship and wildlife conservation efforts, assist with the administration of the Use Value Appraisal Program, and aid in the development of baseline data for various smart growth, climate change, and forest management policies. Although the research looks at Vermont, the other Northern Forests states have similar issues, data sources, and municipal government structures, so the findings and methodology should be applicable. In addition to this report, town parcel data and maps are available on this web page maintained by Vermont Natural Resources Council.