Winooski staff report progress and delays on housing priorities; inclusionary zoning, ADU workshops and short-term rental licensing advance

City staff presented the Winooski City Council with a multifaceted update on housing priorities on May 19, reporting progress on a community housing needs assessment, plans for accessory dwelling unit workshops, and the first-year compliance results under the city’s short-term rental ordinance, while noting delays on a proposed public building registry and some plan-review items.

Jasmine (city staff) summarized five policy priorities tracked under the city’s housing strategic goals. She said work on a public building registry has proceeded more slowly because of code-team staffing limits and that one plan-review item has “started, but not proceeding well.” For inclusionary zoning, Jasmine said the planning commission had been working with the housing commission and Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission; the commission planned a May 22 meeting to finish a side-by-side review and, if approved there, the draft could come to council in July.

Jasmine described the…