CCRPC planning panel says Act 181 housing-target calculations hold, urges emphasis on mid-target

At its July 9 meeting, the Planning Advisory Committee of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission reviewed regional feedback on Act 181 housing targets. Taylor Newton, CCRPC planning program director, presented the Act 181 report-out on future land use maps and housing targets and said the core calculations remain unchanged.

Paul Conner (South Burlington), speaking for several member concerns, said rural municipalities worry about sprawl and that many Chittenden County towns have opted into Tier 1B in parts of their eligible areas. He and others told staff the public-facing materials should emphasize the middle (mid) target rather than presenting low, medium and high targets with equal weight so the mid-target is understood as the Commission’s working objective.

Newton said the targets for mixed urban/rural communities will change slightly because they are tied to updates in the future land use map, but that the “fundamental calculations” have not been altered by public comment. Committee members and staff discussed how CCRPC and PAC will eventually review municipal plans against the housing targets and new regional future land use map; Conner suggested the mid-target be shown with more prominence or a margin-of-error treatment in communications.

The committee also received a brief ECOS plan schedule update and noted the coordination with other regional planning commissions for Land Use Review Board submission. No formal action on the targets was taken at the meeting; staff will continue outreach and technical work as the mapping and targets are refined.