Rutland regional planners outline Act 181‑driven map changes; residents press for source‑water and parcel remedies

Rutland Regional Planning Commission staff presented the draft 2026–2034 regional plan and its companion future land‑use map at a required public hearing on March 17, saying the effort is intended to guide community economic development while conforming with state planning statute (Title 24, §4348A).

Stephanie Burke, the RPC project manager, summarized a three‑phase engagement that began in 2023, described how the commission incorporated Land Use Review Board (LURB) pre‑application findings, and said the draft plan prioritizes compact “centers” and identifies areas for growth and conservation. Burke told the audience the plan would cover 2026–2034 and that the RPC is demonstrating statutory conformance in an accompanying report available on the plan landing page.

Burke gave a detailed explanation of the land‑use chapter and the changes driven by Act 181 (enacted June 2024). She said the draft maps propose roughly 38 downtown or village centers and 16 planned growth/village areas; the seven higher‑density categories collectively cover about 6% of the region’s land area and roughly 2% of the region is currently mapped as tier 1B eligible. “With a…