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CCRPC committee reviews draft Climate Change and Land Use guide, members suggest clarifications
Summary
Ann Janda presented a draft guide outlining how land-use tools can address climate change; PAC members asked for clearer visuals, cautioned against blanket minimum-lot-size prescriptions, and flagged limits on municipal authority over building codes.
Ann Janda, Senior Energy Project Manager at the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, presented a draft Climate Change and Land Use guide intended to help municipal energy and planning committees integrate climate considerations into zoning.
Janda said the document covers the climate trade-offs of low-density development, equity considerations tied to a just transition, tools to support compact walkable settlements, strategies to protect natural systems, and guidance on what zoning can achieve vs. building-code measures.
PAC members offered multiple comments on the draft. Members urged caution about advocating for large minimum lot sizes and suggested separating density from lot-size standards so towns can allow smaller lots while managing overall density. Several members asked for more flexibility in how the guide cites zoning authority and flagged that some visuals (page 4) do not clearly match the described scenarios. Other comments included concern about reducing or eliminating impact fees in growth areas and a preference for incentives where municipal building-code change is limited.
No formal action was taken; staff will incorporate feedback and revise the guide for future review.
