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January 23, 2025
The Charlotte Planning Commission and the Chittenden County regional planners met last week to discuss Act 181, a new law that takes initial steps to reform and modernize Act 250, Vermont’s half-century-old land use law. The new law recognizes that much of Vermont has shifted since 1970, when Act 250 was passed. As the state grapples with an acute housing shortage and attracting or retaining young families, Act 181 is meant to update how the state handles planning. “Really, that’s just moving us a little bit into the future of how we can do this better, and with an eye on promoting more diverse housing options,” Darren Schibler, senior planner with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission said. “Using the infrastructure that already exists in
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Charlotte planners, regional leaders talk Act 250 reform bill LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
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our communities more efficiently and maybe exploring where some might be warranted in the future at a regional and statewide level.” The law’s main goal, Schibler explained, is meant to concentrate development in urban centers while also increasing protection on important natural resources. And as Vermont’s regional planning commissions draft a new future statewide land use map, the Chittenden County commission has been making its rounds to local municipalities to explain what this new law could mean for local review boards and planning commissions. The main topic of discussion centers on the map the regional commission is drafting that will guide where new developments may be able to be exempt from state review. See BILL on page 13
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A female Northern Cardinal grabs a quick bite to eat from a well-stocked bird feeder.
Hinesburg sends budget to voters for Town Meeting Day BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
The Hinesburg Selectboard approved its budget for the coming fiscal year without much fanfare at
a meeting on Jan. 15. The board voted 4-1 to adopt the budget, with selectboard member Dennis Place voting against. While the town has not yet
received the county tax assessment following a reappraisal process, officials expect a property tax increase of $48 on every $100,000 of assessed value. The total budget currently stands at $5.48 million,
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less than a 1-percent increase from the previous year. However, the adopted budget relies on a 7.5-percent increase in tax revenue. According to the summary distributed before
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the Jan. 8 public hearing on the budget, this is due to a decrease in non-tax revenue sources for See BUDGET on page 16
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