Act 250 reform bill poised for vote in Vermont House

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – State lawmakers are sparing amongst themselves and the governor over a sweeping land-use bill aimed at updating Act 250 and making Vermont more resilient to flooding and climate change. But some worry that it falls short in tackling the state’s housing crisis.

Seven years of studies and task forces on Act 250 are converging as part of a debate on the floor of the Vermont House Wednesday night. The sweeping bill creates a new professional board to hear Act 250 appeals and issue decisions instead of the courts. It also re-determines where Act 250 is applied, creating a new tiered system that loosens regulations in developed areas and tightens it in areas with natural resources.

“While this is not a housing bill per se, it builds on the work of the last two sessions by relaxing regulations in centers, thus setting the stage for the creation of walkable downtowns,” said Rep. Seth Bongartz, D-Manchester, a co-sponsor of the bill.

Supporters say the measure is the result of consensus among environmental groups and the Natural Resources Board and they say it’s aimed at updating Vermont’s signature land use law to reflect the challenges of the 21st century.

“We do have a housing crisis, we have a biodiversity crisis, and we have a climate crisis. This bill isn’t going to solve any of them but it’s a step in the right direction for all of them,” said Brian Shupe with the Vermont Natural Resources Council.

But it isn’t without its critics. Republicans say the bill does nothing to get badly needed housing built and they say the new tiered system could make it harder to build housing in rural towns. “Any bill that hinders housing development and substantial growth can not rightfully be classified as a housing bill,” said Rep. Ashley Bartley, R-Fairfax.

Governor Phil Scott says housing is the root of many of Vermont’s economic challenges — from homelessness to skyrocketing property tax rates — and that the bill fails to meet the moment. “We need relief right now because this is a crisis that we have,” he said.

Lawmakers are going to continue to debate the bill into Wednesday night. It will need to exceed 100 votes to survive a potential veto from the governor.