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State 'road rule' taking effect July 1 could force permits for long driveways and outlying development
Summary
Board discussed a state 'road rule' that designates village centers for development and triggers state permitting for driveways over 800 feet or roads with more than 2,000 cumulative driveway feet — potentially requiring Act 250 review and restricting development outside designated village centers.
Julie Ireland and board members reviewed the impending state 'road rule' that will take effect July 1 and could significantly change development patterns. Ireland explained, “And the road rule for tier 2 says, if you're in a build on there and your driveway is gonna be more than 800 feet, or if you make a road with driveways off of it that equals more than 2,000 feet, so if you're doing a development like Jane did, then you gotta go through and get a permit from the state.”
The board noted that the mapping in the draft designates a village area for concentrated development while much of town would be tier 2, making outlying construction more likely to trigger state review and exemptions (and eligibility for certain grants) would favor village‑center development. Members expressed concern that available developable acreage would be limited after removing wetlands, conserved land and habitat corridors from consideration.
