Grafton planning commissioners approve letter urging repeal of parts of Act 181 and related road rule

The Grafton Planning Commission on Wednesday reviewed and approved a draft letter urging state officials to reconsider elements of Act 181 and the application of Act 250's road rule in Tier 3 areas, then moved to send the draft to the town Select Board for review and possible co-signature.

The commission focused on three practical points: the draft calls for repeal of the enrolled 'road rule' as applied to Tier 3 and asks for a more inclusive process before future land-use rulemaking; it adds language questioning the scientific basis for mile-plus species buffers — phrased in the draft as, 'What animal requires one mile or more of habitat crossing?'; and it identifies a list of recipients and CCs the commission wants included, from the town's state representatives to the chairs of the legislature's committees with jurisdiction, plus regional bodies.

Members debated tone and legal framing before reaching agreement. One commissioner reviewing the draft told the group that the current wording 'urges the full repeal of the enrolled rule and Tier 3 elements of Act 181' and said that phrasing made a clear, forceful point. Other members pushed for a measured approach on some phrases; the group ultimately voted to retain stronger language in the draft while trimming argumentative or potentially inflammatory wording elsewhere.

The commission also debated who should receive the letter. Commissioners recommended addressing the town's state representatives and senators who represent Grafton, copying the chairs of the House and Senate committees with environmental and energy jurisdiction, and including copies to the regional planning commission (WRC) and VLCT. Members discussed whether to list county offices by name or to use the phrase 'members of the House and Senate representing the town of Grafton.'

A procedural motion to send the draft to the Select Board was moved and seconded; the chair said he would download the Word version, email it and circulate copies. The meeting record shows the group agreed and prepared several printed copies for signatures and photographs; no formal roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript and the motion was carried by the commissioners present.

Next steps: the chair said he would email the letter and produce printed copies for signatures. The Select Board will be asked to review, potentially modify, and, if they agree, co-sign and send the letter to the state recipients listed in the draft.