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Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission reports leverage of local dollars to bring state and federal funds; housing targets remain a challenge
Summary
Charlie Baker, executive director of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, briefed the council on the CCRPC's annual report, saying local contributions of about $600,000 leveraged roughly $7.6 million in federal and state funds and that communities face a wide range of housing production targets.
Charlie Baker, executive director of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, presented the CCRPC’s annual report to the Essex Junction City Council on Sept. 24, saying municipal contributions have helped the commission leverage sizable state and federal funding and that regional housing targets present a wide, challenging range for municipalities.
Baker reported the CCRPC used roughly $600,000 in local municipal funds to leverage about $7.6 million in federal and state resources for Chittenden County programs and projects over the past year. He thanked Essex Junction for continued representation on the CCRPC board and committees and noted that city staff and council appointees had been active in several projects.
On housing, Baker explained the state provided a housing target range with a low end that essentially reflects recent trends and a high end that would be a substantial increase in production. “At the high end, I’m gonna say a 100%. At the low end, I’m hoping it’s closer to 0%,” Baker said, describing expectations that many municipalities will aim for a midpoint of the target range.
Baker said countywide targets ranged from roughly 15,000 to 45,000 housing units over 25 years; he characterized 15,000 as the pace the county is currently on and 30,000 as a level some communities are pursuing but that would double recent production.
The CCRPC has been working on regional plan elements, outreach to underrepresented communities and transportation programs that include the Amtrak station project now in the region’s TIP (Transportation Improvement Program). Baker also noted CCRPC’s efforts to reach underrepresented communities during public engagement.
Council members asked about how many communities will be able to meet higher housing targets. Baker reiterated uncertainty and said the low end is likely achievable while the high end would strain capacity: “I would be surprised if any town or city is able to reach that high end target.”
This presentation was informational; the council did not take formal action on Sept. 24. The CCRPC report will inform local planning and the city’s participation in regional programs.
