Planning and Growth in Waterbury

Waterbury organized its planning and zoning in 1980 with the development of a Municipal Plan and town-wide Zoning Regulations. The Municipal Plan was most recently re-approved in 2003. The 2003 Municipal Plan is a model document providing a balanced approach to development, environmental conservation, and historic preservation. The Waterbury Zoning Regulations reflect the applicable goals, objectives and actions in the Municipal Plan. In addition to revising the Municipal Plan, the Town and Village have undertaken several special planning studies since 1991 that address transportation and other community development issues.

Development Goals
Waterbury seeks to continue attracting new business and industry, while encouraging and facilitating the growth and expansion of existing businesses. We would like to attract new residents while maintaining and enhancing our high quality of life and community spirit. We plan to grow at a moderate and steady rate which our community services and resources can reasonably accommodate. New growth must be non-polluting, positioned in appropriate locations, and co-exist in harmony with Waterbury's scenic character and natural environment.

Town & Village
The Town of Waterbury includes the Village of Waterbury within the Town's boundary, even though the Village is a separately incorporated municipality with its own separate legislative body, the Village Trustees. The Village has certain additional services such as a public sewer system and police department. Although the Town and Village of Waterbury are separate municipalities, the two are geographically, socially, economically, and politically intertwined with many shared services and common municipal staff.

Downtown Revitalization
Waterbury has a very successful downtown revitalization program. The historic downtown was given new life in 1993 and 1994 with the reconstruction of the Stimson & Graves Building at the corner of Main St. and Stowe St. The Stimson & Graves project created 14 apartments for low income senior citizens, a senior center, and a retail space, utilizing a Community Development Block Grant and other community and State resources. This project was followed by significant private investment in nearby downtown buildings and the establishment of new businesses.

Another key element in the downtown revitalization program has been the development of the Pilgrim Industrial Park including two recent expansions of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR). GMCR alone has added over 100 new jobs in Waterbury since spring of 1993, with many other smaller industries expanding and being established over the same time period. During this same time, the growth and health of our downtown area has been reflected in many other areas of the Town with the establishment of many small businesses, and commercial and residential new construction and renovation. We are experiencing a general increase in tourism activity in Waterbury with more people staying, shopping and recreating in Waterbury during all seasons of the year.

2003 Municipal Plan for the Town & Village of Waterbury
Click here to view the Municipal Plan as a PDF.
Note: Large-scale maps are not yet included in the PDF document. These are available at the Municipal office.

Zoning Regulations & Maps (PDF format)
- Waterbury Zoning Regulations
- Waterbury Village Zoning Map
- Downtown Overlay Zoning Map
- Waterbury Town Zoning Map

The documents above are posted in PDF format which requires Adobe Reader software that is available for free by clicking here.