ACT 181

State Land Use Enacted Legislation

Bill #	State	Year	Party	Topic
ACT 181	VT	2024	D	Accessory dwelling units regulations, Affordable housing incentives and financing, Funding, Planning Requirements, Written findings, burden and standard of proof

Provided by Furman

Summary

The Natural Resources Board shall review applications for Tier 1A areas and approve or disapprove based on whether the application demonstrates compliance with the requirements of section 6034 of this title.

Creates Tier 1A area status, which beginning on January 1, 2026, a municipality, by resolution of its legislative body, may apply to the Land Use Review Board for Tier 1A status for the area of the municipality that is suitable for dense development. The Board shall produce guidelines for municipalities seeking to obtain the Tier 1A area status.

On or before January 15, 2026, the Land Use Review Board shall issue a report evaluating whether to transfer appeals of permit decisions and jurisdictional opinions issued pursuant to 10 V.S.A. chapter 151 to the Land Use Review Board or whether they should remain at the Environmental Division of the Superior Court, including how to prioritize and expedite the adjudication of appeals related to housing projects, including the use of hearing officers to expedite appeals and the setting of timelines for processing of housing appeals.

The Land Use Review Board (Board), in collaboration with the Agency of Natural Resources, shall adopt rules to implement the requirements for the administration of 10 V.S.A. § 6086(a)(8)(C). It is the intent of the General Assembly that these rules discourage fragmentation of the forest blocks and habitat connectors by encouraging clustering of development. It also eases permit requirements in Tier 1B areas to allow for the greater building of housing. It also provides for the Land Use Review Board to review and accept/reject regionally adopted regional plans for conformance with certain state goals.

Upon publication of the Statewide Housing Needs Assessment setting out the statewide and regional housing targets required pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 4348a, the Department of Housing and Community Development, in coordination with regional planning commissions, shall develop metrics for measuring progress toward the statewide and regional housing targets.

The Department of Housing and Community Development and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns shall analyze the feasibility of a land bank program that would identify, acquire, and restore to productive use vacant, abandoned, contaminated, and distressed properties.

Provided by lawmakers