Shelburne Public Engagement

ATN worked with the Town of Shelburne to tackle a clear but complex problem: outdated planning rules and strained infrastructure were holding back housing, business growth, and community confidence. Council asked us to design and lead a public engagement process that would ground updates to the Municipal Planning Strategy, Land Use Bylaw, and related capital planning in real community needs.

We built a multi-stage engagement approach. Over six weeks, we held group and one-on-one interviews with property owners (including legally non-conforming owners), developers, realtors, community organizations, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Shelburne Historical Society. We hosted a well-attended community meeting and designed an online survey, delivered by our sister company MQO Research, that received 169 responses, the majority from current residents. Our goal was to hear directly from those investing, living, and working in Shelburne, and to surface both shared priorities and points of tension.

Across all inputs, we heard strong support for modern, “by-right” planning rules, more housing choice (especially affordable rentals and options for seniors), and better alignment between growth and core infrastructure, particularly water and sewer. Stakeholders also emphasized fair taxation, predictable processes, and the need to balance heritage protection with economic vitality.

Using this feedback, we developed clear, actionable recommendations to modernize zoning, prioritize infrastructure upgrades, support non-market and affordable housing, strengthen heritage enforcement, and improve communication and engagement.

The resulting “What We Heard” report and strategic advice give Council a practical roadmap to update its planning framework, rebuild trust, and guide growth in a way that reflects the community’s aspirations while remaining grounded in its fiscal and infrastructure realities.