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Rutland RPC releases revised regional‑plan maps, flags S.325 and Act 250 changes ahead of May vote
Summary
The Rutland Regional Planning Commission said it will release municipal notices and a FAQ tomorrow and seek formal adoption of its regional plan on May 19 after map revisions that restore Tier 1B areas and reshape rural categories; staff warned that S.325 and broader Act 251 debate could affect eligibility and urged towns to consider opt‑in decisions carefully.
The Rutland Regional Planning Commission’s Executive Finance Committee was told April 13 that the RPC will release revised regional‑plan maps and municipal notices tomorrow and will ask the commission to adopt the plan at its May 19 meeting.
Devon, the executive director, said the revisions — three years in the making — restore several Tier 1B planned‑growth areas and reshape rural categories after public feedback. "Three years in the making, we are finally there," Devon said, adding that the map changes restored areas in Fair Haven, Castleton, Pittsford and Brandon and made only minor changes in Rutland City.
Why it matters: the map determines which areas are eligible for streamlined review under Act 250 tiers and affects local planning choices and eligibility for some development priorities. Devon said the RPC shifted much land previously mapped as "rural conservation" into "rural ag and forestry" by following the region’s mapping methodology, and emphasized that the plan map is a planning document rather than a regulatory restriction.
State context and S.325: Devon warned that state legislation and rulemaking remain in flux. He described S.325 as a bill that would delay portions of the road rule and Tier‑3 implementation to 2028 and 2030 and add clarifying language and a streamlined amendment path for municipal plans. He said the bill also seeks to resolve contradictory language about land‑use categories and treatment of historic buildings in centers. "Two of the elements are delaying the implementation of road rule and Tier 3 to 2028 and 2030," Devon said.
Local impacts and outreach: Devon said local opposition to some Act 251 elements has led towns such as Castleton to consider opting out of Tier 1B eligibility; RPC staff are engaging town officials to discuss whether towns would opt back in if state changes are made. The RPC will distribute municipal notices, a document comparing the 2018 and 2026 maps, and a new FAQ explaining Act 250/Act 251 tiers and mapping decisions to selectboards, planning commissioners, clerks and town managers; notices will also be posted online (Front Porch Forum, Facebook) and a press release was issued.
Next steps: the RPC has scheduled a final public hearing and expects to present the plan for formal adoption at the May 19 commission meeting. The Executive Finance Committee was asked to support the public‑notice release and to encourage local officials and residents to review the materials ahead of the hearing.
The committee did not take a formal adoption vote at the April 13 meeting; the May meeting is the next scheduled opportunity for a recorded action.
