by Don Keelan
Leaders of the Administration, Legislature, housing agencies, and the media provide all sorts of reasons why so little housing is being developed in Vermont. The reasons range from high interest rates and construction costs to zoning barriers and a lack of construction trade personnel. They still do not recognize the elephant in the room: the unspoken reason.
The elephant is encapsulated by what is taking place in Westford: residents are “worried it would fuel more development, impacting the rural nature of the small community…they worry it would destroy the town common…(one individual) is worried about undesirable development and congestion in and around the common.”
Some background. The quotes were documented by Auditi Guha, a reporter for VTDigger, in her November 29, 2023 piece on the wastewater bond vote in the small Vermont community of Westford.
Westford is like other Vermont towns and villages. It has about 2,000 residents, a town green, and no municipal wastewater system. The town’s wastewater goes into the ground via traditional septic systems. However, the latter was about to be changed, or that is what the town leaders thought.
After nearly 16 years of planning with engineering accomplished and paid for, Westford held a vote earlier in November, according to Guha. The substance of the vote was a no-brainer. Will the voters of Westford agree to add $400,000 from a bond commitment to the already $4,000,000 in hand from other sources to commence the wastewater project?
The town leaders had to be in disbelief when the vote was tallied: fifty-two percent voted not to incur the $400K bond (the vote was 532 no and 488 yes.) The reason behind the negative votes was even more striking to this writer but not surprising.
The voters spoke. They do not want development to come to their town. It does not matter to them that there is no wastewater treatment that would bring reliable service to the center of the town, serving homes, businesses, and municipal buildings. It would bring growth, and that will bring change. We all know that most Vermont towns and villages do not like change of any type.
If housing costs and interest rates were ½ of what they are today and a labor force was available, multi-family housing (which is what is needed) would never see an ounce of concrete poured in Vermont’s towns and villages.
What is needed throughout Vermont is a change of attitude and perspective. If each village and town were to commit to allowing development within its confines of 25 housing units, Vermont could have over 6,000 housing units.
The units developed could be restricted to first-time home buyers and local senior residents who might want to downsize and continue to reside in their village or town. The housing could also be restricted to families who work for local government and employers. The point is that there is housing available.
In a recent unscientific survey I conducted in southwestern Vermont, I discovered that most, if not all, of organization employees located within Bennington County (a national retailer, a prominent country club, an international manufacturing company) did not live within the town their employer was located; instead, many live across the state line in New York.
Two conclusions as to why: little or no housing available and out-of-reach pricing. Contrast that to what I witnessed forty years ago: many employees lived in the town where they were employed. Is there any wonder why we have and will continue to require a paid rescue, fire, and town government staff? The volunteers don’t live here anymore.
I would love to meet the fine citizens of Westford who are quoted as to why they voted no for the wastewater plant. They need to be made aware that change is coming to Vermont.
The author is a U.S. Marine (retired), CPA, and columnist living in Arlington, VT.