Looser Act 250 rules prompt developers to build more housing

Lawmakers had hoped the temporary carve-outs would help ease Vermont’s acute housing shortage. Developers are using the new exemptions in at least a dozen locations across the state.

The regulatory and municipal zoning changes, tax proposals and funding in bills H.719 and S.311 would make it easier and faster to build more housing while avoiding sprawl.

MIDDLEBURY — Developers of a proposed 200-unit, mixed-income housing project off Middlebury’s Seminary Street Extension said they’ll file their preliminary plans with the town’s Development Review Board before the end of this month as part of a timetable … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — The company that is planning to build more than 88 units of “mixed-income” housing off Seminary Street Extension in Middlebury will host its second public information meeting this Wednesday, Sept. 7. In a meeting at the Middlebury town office … (read more)

MONTPELIER — Gov. Phil Scott, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Vermont State Housing Authority and the Vermont State Housing Finance Agency on Friday announced $30 million in housing assistance to those affected by COVID-19. … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — This past weekend Middlebury College and Porter Medical Center announced preliminary plans to house some hospital staff on the college campus during the coronavirus pandemic. “We are working closely with Middlebury College operational leaders … (read more)

VERGENNES — With a land area of only 2.4 square miles, the city of Vergennes is one of Vermont’s smallest municipalities. But it nonetheless faces the same problems with sprawl and land use as some of its much bigger counterparts.  This week, Vergennes wi … (read more)