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RPCs report progress on Act 250 interim exemptions and mapping for tiered housing areas
Summary
RPC directors told the Government Operations & Military Affairs committee they met a December deadline for a consistent land-use mapping document, that interim Act 250 exemptions increased covered area from about 0.3% to roughly 2.1% of the state, and that regional plans must be updated by the end of 2026.
Regional planning commission directors briefed the Government Operations & Military Affairs committee on implementation of recent Act 250 changes and the mapping work required under the law.
"We have produced that document in December," said an RPC presenter, referring to the required guidance for consistent land-use mapping across the state. Presenters said interim exemptions tied to last year's housing changes took effect last summer and that the mapping work is underway with towns.
RPC staff told the committee the interim exemption map covers roughly 2.1% of the state, compared with about 0.3% under prior downtown and village designations. Presenters said early mapping for "tier 1" areas appears larger than the interim exemptions in many places, which RPCs said could expand the areas where increased housing activity is anticipated.
RPC directors noted the statute established three tiers of land: a tier intended for growth, another for mixed activity, and a tier intended primarily for conservation. They emphasized that final tier definitions and implementation will depend on rulemaking by the Land Use Review Board and related agencies and that rules were not expected until 2026 or later.
Committee members asked for further detail on "tier 1b" and the presenters said 1b describes places that meet higher criteria within the tier 1 geography; they said mapping choices are still evolving and towns will be involved in the designation process.
Ending: Presenters offered to return with a deeper dive into maps and rulemaking timelines for committee members and staff.
