21-05-2025
Public meeting to discuss VT's environmental protection rules this Thursday
ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Vermont's Act 250 has been credited for the state's flourishing green spaces and forests. But it's also been criticized as exacerbating the housing crisis by making it harder to build in Vermont's urban areas. On Thursday community members will have the chance to comment on what level of development should be able to proceed before requiring an environmental review.
The state's Land Use Review Board (LURB) is asking for public input on what parts of the state should qualify as critical natural resource areas, and what projects can go ahead in these areas before requiring a special permit under Act 250.
Vermont's Act 250 was passed all the way back in 1970, at a time when the state's population was growing more quickly than the national average. It directed towns in the state to consider environmental impacts before approving new developments. At times, environmental groups have criticized Act 250 for not going far enough to protect habitats from fragmentation due to development and climate change, and it has been amended several times.
In one such amendment, the Vermont state legislature passed Act 181 last year, which reforms some of Act 250's requirements, allowing more exemptions in downtowns and village centers to expedite development, while allowing fewer in critical natural resource areas. Governor Phil Scott vetoed Act 181, saying it did not go far enough to resolve the state's housing shortage, but the legislature overrode his veto.
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Governor Scott appointed the current five members of the Land Use Review Board earlier this year. Unlike its forerunner the Natural Resources Board, all of the LURB board members are professionals in the fields of land use, zoning law, and civil engineering.
This meeting is a step in a longer process that will lead to further public engagement through January 2026 with an eye to the new land use and permit rules coming into effect at the end of next year. In addition to public input, the LURB is also working with a group of stakeholders, which include members of environmental organizations and business groups.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, May 22, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at 111 West Street, Building 2, Essex Junction. Attendees can join either in person or remotely using Microsoft Teams, with information available on the meeting agenda.
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