Republican Gov. Phil Scott said the state has invested $500 million in housing over the past two years, but the state is being held back from advancing housing by regulations he said need to be addressed this year.
Hinesburg landowners have clashed with town planners over proposed zoning changes that, to prioritize forest conservation, would more strictly govern land use across a large stretch of town. “That’s not what my vision is for my property,” resident Tony St. Hilaire told the Hinesburg Planning Commission.
The governor on Tuesday had the mayor of Vermont’s largest city and another housing policy expert on hand at his weekly press conference to tell Vermonters now is not the time for red tape when it comes to reforming the state’s land use law, Act 250.
The purpose of S.234 is to promote “smart growth,” affordable housing, healthy forests, working lands, and reorganize oversight of the Act 250 process. The new permitting process adds “undue adverse impact on forest blocks (or) connecting habitat” to the list of reasons an Act 250 permit could be rejected.
H.492, an act relating to the structure of the Natural Resources Board, passed in the State House of Representatives on March 22, 2022, by a vote of 92-49.
In its Feb. 6 legislative update, Campaign for Vermont offers an in-depth look at what lawmakers and the governor are doing for fiscal responsibility, workforce and economic development, housing, good government and education.
Will this legislature act next year to put a stop to this arbitrary, despotic and sometimes extortionate use of Act 250? Alas, almost certainly not, because it is owned by the enviro groups, notably the Vermont Natural Resources Council.
The Legislature adjourned Friday until October or January after passing bills that address several legislative priorities the Vermont Chamber worked to support over the past five months.
While recent news of the cancellation of Montpelier’s hotel project is troubling, those familiar with Act 250 are not surprised. The decision to terminate the project is yet another example of how truly broken our state’s principal land use law is.
A plan to increase the number of boat slips at a Mallets Bay marina was hit with environmental concerns at a recent Colchester Development Review Board (DRB) meeting.
Governor Phil Scott today vetoed H.926, An act relating to changes to Act 250, and signed Executive Order 04-20 to provide regulatory certainty for recreation trails.
Gov. Phil Scott on Friday signed into law the $7.17 billion 2021 state budget, he said at his regularly scheduled press conference.