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House committee asks counsel to draft universal-design language for off-site housing pilot
Summary
The House Committee on General and Housing heard testimony from AARP Vermont on universal design and asked counsel to draft language to add 'elements of universal design, including adaptability and visitability,' to the pilot in section 3 28; members said VHFA guidance and modular-home building codes can be used to provide specificity while avoiding changes to HUD standards for manufactured homes.
On Wednesday, April 29, the House Committee on General and Housing heard testimony from Kelly Sonapour, associate director of outreach for AARP Vermont, who urged lawmakers to incorporate universal-design features into the pilot created by section 3 28 and offered model language and checklists for the committee to use.
Sonapour told the panel, "We define universal design, as housing that is designed for people of all ages and abilities that does not have to be adapted or, specially designed afterwards," and said AARP favors requiring or incentivizing universal-design elements in new housing that uses public resources. She listed low-cost, early-design measures — "step free entrances, wider doorways and halls, accessible lever handles, and accessible bathrooms" — and warned that retrofitting later shifts…
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