Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Regional Future Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission backs requesting Act 250 Tier 1b status for mapped growth areas; RPC presents regional housing targets
Summary
The commission voted unanimously to recommend that City Council seek tier 1b Act 250 eligibility for the urban center, village center and planned growth areas shown on the regional future land use map; the meeting also included an RPC presentation of county housing targets and a discussion about infrastructure and service implications.
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council ask the regional planning commission to pursue Act 250 Tier 1b status for eligible areas identified on the regional future land use map.
Staff explained that under the state law changes municipalities can request a Tier 1b designation (for certain mapped centers and planned growth areas). That status would preserve Act 250 exemptions for relatively small housing projects (the legislation generally exempts housing projects of a specified size that meet map and eligibility criteria). Staff’s recommendation asked the council to request Tier 1b for eligible areas within the city’s urban center, village center and planned growth area shown on the regional future land use map. A motion to that effect passed unanimously; commissioners recorded “Aye” votes and staff noted the vote was unanimous and a roll call was not required.
Kate McCarthy of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) presented the draft regional future land use map and the housing targets the state supplied to RPCs. McCarthy said the public interactive map is live through May 19 and staff had already done outreach at local events. She described the map’s “transition” (orange) designation as intentionally calling attention to areas that have infrastructure but limited connectivity and that may merit further planning.
RPC staff presented three regional housing target scenarios (low, mid and high) supplied by the state; the mid‑range target is the RPC’s recommended planning baseline. For the region the mid target is about 31,595 units over the planning period; staff explained the RPC allocated roughly 60% of the regional target to the four cities (Burlington, Winooski, Essex Junction and South Burlington) and then apportioned city targets by mapped land area and planned growth areas. South Burlington’s mid‑range city target appears substantial relative to recent historic growth because the city already has sewer, water and mapped growth areas that can accommodate higher yields.
Commissioners and members of the public raised implementation and fiscal questions: how development‑driven growth would affect schools, emergency services, capital planning, and the city’s tax burden. Staff and RPC members emphasized the plan does not override local zoning and that municipalities will be asked to adopt targets in municipal plans with supporting actions and investments; commissioners stressed the need to coordinate growth management, infrastructure and fiscal planning as the city pursues the targets.
Ending
Staff will include the commission’s Tier 1b recommendation in a transmittal to City Council and continue outreach on the regional future land use map and the housing target data; RPC said it will provide additional breakdowns of unit types and suggested next steps for local implementation work later in the year.
