Housing advocates defend legislation

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(Host) Advocates of a housing bill pending in the Legislature are defending the measure against criticism from developers and the Douglas Administration.

They said the bill strikes a reasonable balance between protecting the environment and promoting affordable housing.

VPR’s John Dillon reports:

(Dillon) Last week, business groups and real estate developers urged the Legislature to kill a housing bill.

The bill relaxes Act 250 review for projects built near downtowns. But to qualify for the regulatory relief, 20% of the project would have to be affordable.

From some developers’ perspective, the bill does more harm than good.

This week – days before the House is set to vote on the measure – affordable housing advocates, environmentalists and a non-profit housing developer, praised the bill.

Andy Broderick runs Housing Vermont, a non-profit housing developer.

He says both for-profit and non-profit companies face high costs in Vermont.

(Broderick) “This bill is a thoughtful, balanced approach to address one aspect of that cost. And that’s permitting. It’s trying to focus the investment that developers make, that the state of Vermont makes in high-quality housing being built in the right places, and in trying to focus that investment where it will do the most good.”

(Dillon) Steve Holmes of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, agreed that the bill strikes a balance. He pointed out that the legislation substantially weakens environmental review for projects near downtowns.

(Holmes) “Remember, no Act 250 oversight in these areas. This is a significant loosening of Act 250. This happens to be the underpinning of this bill, this loosening of Act 250.”

(Dillon) But the legislation also tightens development review for projects that could create sprawl. Holmes said his organization could not support the legislation without that counter-balancing provision.

But the Douglas Administration does not see the legislation as a compromise. Kevin Dorn is the state’s Commerce Secretary. He says the amount of land that could be developed without Act 250 constraints is a tiny percentage of property in the state.

(Dorn) “If this passes in its current form, it will make matters worse for working Vermonters and their ability to get housing. At a time when we need to move forward with a pro-active housing bill to address their needs, this is going in the wrong direction.”

(Dillon) The legislation also strengthens oversight of rental housing in the state through a system of private inspectors. Low-income advocates say these provisions are needed to improve housing conditions. But the Douglas Administration says the cost of inspections will be passed on to renters.

For VPR News, I’m John Dillon in Montpelier.

 

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