In February 1999, the Vermont Forum on Sprawl released results of a poll of over 2,300 Vermonters on the subject of community values and sprawl. A national polling firm, Macro International, undertook the poll. The 2,325 interviews were conducted by telephone with randomly sampled Vermonters between August 24 and October 6, 1998. Among the key findings:

As the law states: "It is the intent of the general assembly, by this act, to preserve and encourage the development of downtown areas of municipalities of the state; to encourage public and private investment in infrastructure, housing, historic preservation, transportation including parking facilities, and human services in downtown areas; and to reflect Vermont's traditional settlement patterns, and to minimize or avoid strip development or other unplanned development throughout the countryside on quality farmland or important natural and cultural landscapes."