House Human Services reviews amendment changing municipal zoning review for emergency shelters

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The House Human Services Committee on May 14 reviewed a proposed amendment (draft 4.1, posted May 14) that would alter municipal zoning authority over emergency shelters under 44 V.S.A. chapter 117, raising concerns that some towns could confine shelter zoning to small, poorly located districts and thereby limit access to services.

The amendment would remove the current listing of “emergency shelters” from the general municipal-zoning restrictions in 44 V.S.A. §4413 and create a distinct provision requiring each municipality that has zoning to identify at least one district where an emergency shelter may be regulated only with respect to physical aspects listed in subsection 1 — size, height, building bulk, yards, setbacks, density, parking, traffic, noise, lighting, landscaping and screening — and subdivision 3 (hours of operation). Outside that district, municipalities would be allowed to regulate “all other aspects” of an emergency shelter, including operational matters such as staffing or services, if they choose.

Ellen Jacho…