Failure to do so will mean veto
By Guy Page
Gov. Scott will veto any Act 250 reform bill that doesn’t include significant housing incentives and streamlining zoning and landuse regulations, he said at a press conference Wednesday.
He was responding to the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee’s discussion last night of merging H.687, an Act 250 update, and the more housing-friendly S.311. Scott said he’s concerned the merger won’t do enough for housing. The bill is slated to be passed out of the Senate committee today.
Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle said the administration expects any ‘housing reform’ bill to include:
- Immediate broad exemptions in urban areas with wastewater capacity. H687 would only allow the exemptions after several years of planning.
- Add an environmental judge to expedite Act 250 appeals.
- Change the current appeal process in which any 10 people can’t object to a proposed development.
- Incentivize rehab of blighted properties into permanent housing, by not collecting property transfer tax on the sale of blighted properties.
H.687 is sponsored by Rep. Amy Sheldon (D-Middlebury), who sponsored and shepherded the bill requiring conservation of 50% of all Vermont land area by 2050. VDC asked Scott, “Do you think H687 cares more about bear habitat and land conservation than about building new homes?”
“I don’t know if I would characterize it like that,” Scott demurred. “We need relief now. 687 is something that is going to evolve over years. Pitting one against each other….I think you can have both. But not now, in this environment.”
The Scott administration has floated discussion of a plan to defer payments of school ed funding, providing at least short-term property tax relief. Treasurer Mike Pieciak says the plan would harm the state’s bond rating, thus raising the cost of borrowing money.
Scott said he’s a big fan of maintaining a high bond rating. But he said (editor’s paraphrase) that extraordinary times may require extraordinary measures.
“We need to get creative,” Scott said. “The treasurer could tell us that if the bonding agencies decide to downgrade our credit rating, what’s the effect? How much will it cost?…We have to weigh that out.”
Scott said bond rating agencies might look with favor on a plan that helps the Vermont economy in the long run.
Scott was asked if anyone at the state level is looking at reducing school spending. He noted Vermont has local control of school spending, but that the rejection of school budgets “is having a positive effect.” At the state level, the Legislature might consider reversing or reducing the $30 million allocated for universal school meals.
“Maybe we should take a look at that,” Scott said.
VDC social media director Paul Bean asked why lawmakers who run for office on “we need more housing” appear to de-prioritize the issue during the Session. “I’m as mystified as you are,” Scott said. He noted that housing progress is stifled in key committees. “Is it ideological? Maybe,” Scott said.