Select board urges new subdivision bylaw; planning commission to seek regional planning assistance

Members of the Rutland Town Planning Commission and a select board representative discussed a multi-month effort to replace the town’s outdated subdivision ordinance, agreed it should be modernized, and directed staff to explore outside assistance from the Regional Planning Commission on July 31, 2025.

At the meeting, Mary Ashcroft, a select board member, told commissioners the select board wants a new, up-to-date subdivision bylaw because the town’s existing standalone ordinance contains errors and gaps that could expose the town to future legal or administrative challenges. "Please don't get hung up on trying to find the perfect model," Ashcroft said. "Go with a recent template and tweak it." She urged the planning commission to move the work forward expeditiously.

Why it matters: Subdivision bylaws determine how land can be divided and what standards and procedures apply. Commissioners said some provisions in the town’s current ordinance refer to outdated processes or to parts of the town’s unified regulations that no longer exist, and they cautioned that trying to patch the current ordinance would be slower and less reliable than adopting a…