The House Ways and Means Committee convened on May 8, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding land use and development in Vermont, with a focus on housing access and community planning. The meeting featured testimony from Katharine Burgess, leader of the land use and development team at Smart Growth America, who emphasized the organization’s commitment to fostering healthy and resilient communities.

Burgess highlighted the collaboration with AARP Vermont on a study aimed at enhancing project scale and enabling housing development through the Community Housing Investment Program (CHIP). She noted that Smart Growth America aims to connect housing, transportation, and economic development, which benefits diverse households, including older adults and families with varying needs.

The discussion also touched on previous initiatives, including a designations reform study and a project on reclassifying state highways, which aimed to improve planning in smaller communities. Burgess pointed out that Vermont faces unique challenges in housing access, including higher costs and workforce issues, making the need for innovative solutions more pressing than in other states.

Following Burgess, Dr. Michael Rodriguez, Director of Research at Smart Growth America, presented insights on the potential impacts of CHIP on site-level development. He outlined two primary objectives: assessing the effects of policy on individual projects and evaluating the overall wisdom of such policies in addressing housing needs.

The meeting underscored the urgency of tackling Vermont's housing crisis, with participants expressing a strong resolve to implement effective strategies. The committee's discussions are expected to inform future actions aimed at improving housing accessibility and fostering sustainable community development in the state.