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Staff says Agency of Natural Resources supports minor Act 250 tweaks to rare‑species language
Summary
Planning staff reported that the Agency of Natural Resources reviewed the city's draft Act 250 Tier I language on rare/threatened species, offered minor clarifying edits (chiefly to mapping and permit triggers), and signaled willingness to provide a support letter; staff proposed incorporating tweaks in a future amendment round.
Planning staff told the commission that, as part of the city's Act 250 Tier I application, the team added a section addressing rare, threatened and endangered species and shared the draft with the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR).
"They reviewed it...they are excited to give us a letter of support," the staff member said, adding that ANR suggested roughly four small clarifying edits. Staff described two buckets of recommended changes: clarifications that should be made to give the Development Review Board clearer direction (for example, whether mapping triggers apply to the parcel or to the development footprint and the buffer distance—ANR referenced a 0.5‑mile consideration), and small wording changes to align agency permitting language such as references to "taking" or removal of plants.
Staff recommended not delaying the current council proceedings to adopt the Act 250 Tier I language but instead to incorporate ANR's edits in a subsequent amendment round. Commissioners generally supported the idea of refining language while keeping the current process moving.
Staff said they would bring the clarifying edits forward in the next round of amendments so the DRB would have clearer guidance on when mapping and permitting are required.
