Senate panel hears progress report on HOME Act and Act 181 implementation, LURB staffing and regional mapping

Montpelier — State and regional planning officials told the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs on Feb. 4 that work to implement the HOME Act and Act 181 is under way, with interim exemptions, mapping and new appeal procedures moving forward even as rulemaking, technical guidance and further studies remain to be completed.

"Housing is a climate and environmental solution," said Katie Gallagher, director of the Sustainable Communities program at the Vermont Natural Resources Council, in opening the committee briefing. Gallagher said the HOME Act and Act 181 are intended to focus growth into compact, walkable centers and to make it feasible to build smaller-scale infill housing in places with existing infrastructure.

The committee heard four principal implementation updates: the Land Use Review Board (LURB) has been professionalized and seated; interim exemptions from Act 250 are active to speed housing in designated areas; regional planning commissions (RPCs) are preparing consistent future‑land‑use maps and municipal allocations for state housing targets; and several required studies and rule‑making steps remain, including appeals reforms and environmental rules.

The Land Use Review Board, established by Act 181 to replace the volunteer Natural Resources Board, is operating as a professionalized body with five full‑time members, three of whom the board said have planning experience. "They are drinking from the fire hose and getting up to speed," said Pete Veil, executive director for the Land Use Review Board. Chair Janet Hurley told the committee the board is organizing to meet the…