Flood Recovery and Resiliency the Central Issue for Legislators

Flood Recovery and Resiliency the Central Issue for Legislators

Committees in both the House and Senate took testimony this week on the July flooding and the ongoing impacts of climate change in Vermont. Discussions in the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee highlighted the connection between housing challenges and climate impacts. Encouragingly, the focus was not solely on where not to build, but also on identifying suitable areas for development. Witness testimony stated that the triumph of Irene was the reopening of roads and bridges, while the triumph from the July flooding needs to be the building of new housing outside of floodplains.

In a joint hearing, the House Environment and Energy Committee collaborated with the House Transportation Committee to also address flooding and climate resilience concerns. The discussion focused on conserving and restoring landscapes, including wetlands and floodplains, to mitigate storm impacts. Notably, nature-based solutions were recognized for their dual benefits in reducing flood risk and enhancing community recreation. The Vermont Chamber will be advocating for continued resources for flood-impacted businesses and for policies that increase resiliency while also building housing.  

Draft Report on Recommended Act 250 Updates Released

Draft Report on Recommended Act 250 Updates Released

The Vermont Natural Resources Board released a draft report that underscores the need for strategic changes to Vermont’s land use policy. In recent months, Megan Sullivan, VP of Government Affairs was on the Stakeholder Steering Committee for the report, working to center modernization and to ensure essential housing development in smart growth areas is incentivized. Businesses are encouraged to submit feedback on the report in writing today, Friday, December 15, 2023. By participating in the public comment process, we can work together to ensure that Act 250 reform aligns with the needs of Vermonters.

There is an opportunity this year to update Act 250 to allow for critical housing development while also protecting important natural resources. It is essential that after taking public comments into account the final report recommendations consider the following:

  • We must ensure that the final report recognizes the role housing plays as an economic catalyst. We can stimulate economic activity and opportunity by reducing redundant permitting that adds unnecessary time and costs. This will actively support the creation of more housing in smart growth areas that subsequently help retain Vermont’s current population and attract new talent to Vermont.
  • It is vital that areas proposed for Act 250 exemptions, or a higher unit trigger, meet Vermont’s growth needs over the next 20 years. Infill development in current mapped designation areas which include less than 3% of Vermont’s land, will not meet the level of new housing units required to meet the goal of 350,000 units by 2035.
  • Any enhanced Act 250 jurisdiction in areas that have subsets of highly sensitive natural resources in Vermont should be carefully studied with input from rural Vermonters. Rural communities are an important part of the fabric of Vermont and cannot be left out or left behind.
  • The final report should contain a clear recommendation on measurable performance indicators. They must require that the administration of Act 250 is timely, consistent, predictable, and fair across all District Commissions.

Opportunity for Public Comments on Major Land Use Reports

Opportunity for Public Comments on Major Land Use Reports

The business and development communities are encouraged to provide feedback on the drafts of several milestone reports on land use policy. The Vermont Chamber is here to save you time by breaking down the key details and directing you on how to provide feedback. Reach out to Megan Sullivan to join a virtual meeting on Tuesday, November 21 at 11:00 AM and learn everything you need to know. The meeting will cover two draft reports by the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies (VAPDA) and the soon-to-be-released draft report on necessary updates to Act 250.

Comments on the VAPDA’s Regional Planning Report and the Act 250 Municipal Delegation Report are being accepted until December 1. Two more draft reports, the Natural Resource Board’s Necessary Updates to Act 250 and Designation 2050 Evaluation and Reimagining Vermont’s Designation Program for the Next 25 Years, will be released in the coming weeks. Comments will be reviewed and integrated into the final reports in time for the legislative session.

During the upcoming session, the Vermont Chamber will be advocating for bold strategic solutions that work to meet the need for 80,000 new units of housing by 2035. Specifically, we need to invest in more solutions for middle-income Vermonters through appropriations and tax policy. Exemptions, more predictable and consistent processes, and redesigning state designation programs will support and incentivize resilient smart growth in larger geographic areas.

State Testimony Sets the Stage for Another Session Centered on Housing

State Testimony Sets the Stage for Another Session Centered on Housing

State officials testified to the Joint Fiscal Committee on the magnitude of the statewide housing supply shortage, stating that “we cannot buy our way out of this crisis.” Legislative leaders agreed that it will require a coordinated approach and bold strategic solutions to bolster efforts that are already underway. The conversation set the stage for the upcoming legislative session when the Vermont Chamber will be a champion for policy solutions that will work to meet the need for 80,000 new units of housing by 2035.

The testimony confirmed that most communities are not producing enough units to meet current demand, despite $400 million of investment since March of 2020. Last session, the Vermont Chamber routinely advocated that money alone cannot solve this problem, and we will continue to elevate this throughout the upcoming session.

Resiliency Must Be Central To Rebuilding and Future Planning

Resiliency Must Be Central To Rebuilding and Future Planning

In the wake of this summer’s catastrophic flooding, the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee took extensive testimony to inform legislative needs for a long-term mitigation plan. The hearing covered housing and community resiliency as well as the workforce challenges that could hinder the ability to make progress on climate mitigation.

The hearings featured FEMA, climate experts, infrastructure specialists, state regulators, and advocates discussing the ongoing impacts of the flood. They also emphasized the need for a new perspective on growth strategies to focus on new, resilient, regions. This challenges historical standards for where development should occur.

Many members of the committee, who also serve on the Senate Finance Committee, stressed the challenge of finding ways to fund these critical initiatives, recognizing the mounting pressures on the state budget. Additionally, the hearing focused on the challenges of cultivating a diverse workforce capable of addressing climate challenges. The shortage of skilled labor required for recovery and the lack of resilient housing for displaced residents loom as significant hurdles.

Leading up to the 2024 session, Megan Sullivan, VP of Government Affairs, will serve on the Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s Vermont Economic and Community Development Task Force. The group will help shape Vermont’s future in the face of ongoing climate challenges and will inform legislative priorities.

“Homes For All” Initiative Is a New Tool in the Missing Middle Toolbox

"Homes For All” Initiative Is a New Tool in the Missing Middle Toolbox

A new program launched by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development is providing a path forward to address housing shortages for middle-income earners. Homes for All:  A ‘Design & Do’ Toolkit for Small-scale Home Builders, Investors & Community Leaders, intends to focus statewide attention on small-scale gentle infill and incremental development. The Vermont Chamber continues to be a leader in advocacy concerning the need for innovative strategies to address the shortage of workforce housing options. Spurring the creation and improvement of middle-income housing goes hand in hand with combatting the workforce shortage that is impacting businesses statewide.

A missing middle homes design guide, builders workbook, training resources for planning leaders, and a series of five case studies will all inform the work to increase diverse, affordable housing options for all Vermonters.

This ‘Design & Do’ Toolkit will produce four deliverables useful to housing champions across Vermont:

  • Missing Middle Homes Design Guide – A design guide for Missing Middle Homes in a broadly appealing Vermont architectural vernacular.
  • Vermont Neighborhood Infill Design Case Studies – A series of five case studies showing how MMH building designs can be integrated into existing Vermont neighborhoods and communities using illustrated visualizations. These case studies and visualizations will be generated in partnership with five pilot communities.
  • Builders’ Workbook – A Missing Middle Home builders’ how-to workbook that provides a comprehensive roadmap to real estate development for first-timers. This workbook will provide guidance on a variety of considerations including regulations and zoning, financing, infrastructure, and design, as well as advice on potential partners that can help beginner developers achieve success.
  • Training Resources – A complete package of training resources for regional and local planning and economic/community development leaders to promote the toolkit and transfer knowledge. The full toolkit, including these Training Resources, will be used for the first time as part of a MMH leadership summit in the spring of 2024.

Vermont Chamber Engaging with Stakeholders on Act 250

Vermont Chamber Engaging with Stakeholders on Act 250

The Stakeholder Steering Committee for a legislative report on “Necessary Updates to the Act 250 Program” is continuing to meet to advise the Natural Resources Board on a comprehensive and inclusive approach to the Report. The Vermont Chamber, which serves on the committee, is centering modernization in this work to ensure the program incentivizes essential housing development in smart growth areas. This is of the utmost importance for businesses that continue to face a severe workforce crisis that is exacerbated by the housing shortage, and now made worse by the recent flooding.

When the legislature examines housing and changes to Act 250 it will be paramount to reconsider what smart growth for housing in a resilient Vermont should look like. The Vermont Chamber continues to meet with defined stakeholder groups and businesses to inform our work in this area. To share your opinion on the pain points of Act 250 and opportunities for modernization, contact govaffairs@vtchamber.com.

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Resiliency Must be Central to Housing Development Policy

Resiliency Must be Central to Housing Development Policy

With Act 250 modernization on the table this upcoming legislative session, the Vermont Chamber is advocating for smart growth housing development in Vermont to have an emphasis on climate resiliency. Specifically, on the need to include resiliency efforts in downtown and village center development. Smart growth also needs to expand beyond existing high-density locations to include areas that are safe from floodplains and other high-risk land.

With major flooding events occurring more frequently in high-density areas, legislators must examine if smart growth means filling in the empty space in these areas, even if they are prone to flooding. Downtown and village center housing projects are often aimed at low and moderate-income Vermonters, those least likely to be able to rebound from a catastrophic loss. When the legislature examines housing and changes to Act 250 it will be paramount to reconsider what smart growth for housing in a resilient Vermont should look like.

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Megan Sullivan Appointed to Stakeholder Steering Committee for Act 250

Megan Sullivan Appointed to Stakeholder Steering Committee for Act 250

Megan Sullivan, Vice President of Government Affairs, has been appointed to the Stakeholder Steering Committee for a legislative report on “Necessary Updates to the Act 250 Program.” The committee has been established as part of Act 182 of 2022 and Act 47 of 2023 to facilitate stakeholder input and consensus building for necessary updates to the Act 250 program. This appointment recognizes Sullivan’s expertise and the Vermont Chamber’s dedication to advancing the Vermont economy. Sullivan brings a wealth of economic development experience and knowledge to the table and her work will ensure that the needs of Vermont businesses will be considered in the process. 

The Stakeholder Steering Committee was formed in June 2023 by the Natural Resources Board (NRB) and is comprised of 16 key leaders representing various constituencies, including applicants, consultants, attorneys, economic development organizations, housing organizations, municipalities, environmental advocates, and state agencies. The committee’s primary goal is to facilitate conversations, debates, and consensus-building to advise the NRB on a comprehensive and inclusive approach to the Act 250 program update report. Through regular meetings and open discussions, the committee will work to identify common ground between different proposals and interest groups, working towards recommendations that the NRB and stakeholders can support or have reached a compromise on. 

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House Leadership Restores Essential Provisions in “HOME” Bill

House Leadership Restores Essential Provisions in “HOME” Bill

Successful leadership on housing displayed by the Rural Caucus and Speaker Jill Krowinski culminated with the House Environment & Energy Committee passing an amendment to the HOME bill with a vote of 11-0-0. The amendment incorporates many aspects of the Rural Caucus amendment advocated for by the Vermont Chamber. This includes increasing the Act 250 jurisdictional threshold increase for housing units from 10 to 25 units in downtowns, neighborhood development areas, growth centers, and village centers. With paid family and medical leave off the table this session, the Vermont Chamber is now working to secure any newly available funds for the Revolving Loan Fund to allow employers to invest in housing solutions for their workers. 

While the bill does not meet the full potential of what was originally passed out of the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee, the version now up for a vote on the House Floor exceeds the version that was previously passed out of the Senate. Additional amendments to the bill are expected to be debated on the House floor next week and further conversation on Act 250 modernization is set to take place next session. 

Amendments to the bill achieve the following: 

  • Permits the Department of Housing and Community Development to use up to 20% of municipal planning funds to help towns meet neighborhood development area requirements.  
  • Adds a Regional Planning Report that requires the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies to study improving coordination between municipal, regional, and state planning. 
  • Tasks the Natural Resources Board with determining what is required to create a municipal delegation process. 
  • Includes a Rural Recovery Council to strengthen coordination in rural economic development, housing resource navigators to work with local organizations and private developers, and a directive to eliminate redundancies in state permitting requirements. 
  • Returns the number of people who can appeal a municipal zoning permit from 1 to 10.  

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