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Selectboard debates state housing goals as regional planners finish energy and town-plan drafts
Summary
Board members said state-set housing and energy goals appear unrealistic for Leicester, raising concerns about infrastructure, permitting costs, wetland rules and the possible implications of village-center designations in the draft town and energy plans.
Members reviewed draft 5 of the town plan and a separate energy plan prepared by regional planning staff and raised repeated concerns that the state-prescribed housing targets and other numerical goals are not achievable given Leicester's wetlands, conserved land and lack of water/sewer infrastructure. "The goals for housing do not appear to be achievable," a board member said during the review. The group discussed using language in the plan that calls the state goals "overly ambitious" while also saying the town will not actively hinder future growth.
Board members discussed village-center designations and cautioned that a small village-center footprint could produce permitting and Shoreland impacts; they also questioned whether incentivizing housing in remote rural areas makes fiscal sense. Selectboard members said the energy-plan goals are primarily "encouragement" language because the town cannot mandate private property changes. They asked staff to circulate the plan drafts for review before the board's formal review meeting and to prepare suggested introductory language reflecting the town's perspective.
