By Brent Addleman | The Center Square
An essential piece of housing legislation is now law in Vermont.
Gov. Phil Scott signed Senate Bill 100 on Monday afternoon, which is designed to spur more progress in addressing the state’s housing shortage. The new law will bring more regulatory reforms to the housing sector.
Gov. Phil Scott
“This bill represents what we can get done when we all come to the table, work through our differences, and reach compromise to the benefit of all Vermonters, especially our most vulnerable and marginalized,” Scott said in a statement. “We will continue to focus on turning the tide of this housing crisis. More important work lies ahead, but this bill is a great start.”
The bill, known as the Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone Act, passed the Senate 19-11 on March 30, and the House 135-11 on May 9.
The HOME Act will bring up-to-date local zoning and land use regulations through higher-density developments where water and sewer services exist. In addition, the bill is designed to create more housing opportunities for Vermont residents, along with affordable homes.
The new law will create resources to aid the construction and rehabilitation of affordable and safe housing units across the state. It will prioritize low-income individuals and families, along with other vulnerable populations. The Vermont Housing Improvement Program will be expanded under the bill and promote housing options that are inclusive and accessible in renovations and new construction.
According to the bill, barriers to housing development will be lowered while not putting environmental protections at risk, aligning state and local land use policies so that more homes can be built in areas designated by the state.
In addition, municipal zoning reform will take place under the bill in residential districts that are served by water and sewer lines by lowering parking thresholds while increasing lot standards. The bill will allow for multi-unit dwellings and shelters to be constructed that will support low- and middle-income housing opportunities, which would go into effect in December 2024.
Under the bill, provisions have been added that would place funding to address the needs of homeowners and renters through the fiscal year 2024 budget.
“As I’ve said before, we can’t build housing in the clouds,” Department of Housing and Community Development Commissioner Josh Hanford said in a statement. “This bill creates opportunities to create new and more dense housing in the places we want it, rehab previously offline units, and reform our land and zoning laws, all of which will begin to address this housing crisis.”
The hidden truth is middle-income, higher bracket neighborhoods will see development in their backyards – guaranteed. Any patch of land not developed within a muncipality or town is up for grabs. Those once quiet, safe neighborhoods working families once enjoyed will give way to traffic circles, ugly buildings, and declining home values. The time frame is short for credit lines to be had for developers. Unless someone is holding a big bag of cash, new construction is a tough sell to the banksters – perhaps deals were already made in the backrooms to ensure the money will flow for now to finish the job as 10% Joe said.
I’ve never seen MORE regulation from the government FIX anything. The cost of building is high because of the act 250 process and local zoning and their regulations. It’s also high because we are in the mist of bidenflation which raises the cost of lumber and other building materials. You can’t build a house the poor or vulnerable can afford much less middle income and young families starting out.Vermont has been made unaffordable by the legislature the stupid voters elect.