(Host) One of the last bills to break out of the legislative logjam was a bill designed to make it easier for developers to build housing near downtowns or village centers.
The bill exempts projects from state Act 250 review if they are in designated areas.
Governor Jim Douglas pushed hard for the legislation. Environmentalists said his bill did not contain enough protections to prevent sprawl development in the country.
But Douglas and many developers said the bill that came out of the House was too restrictive.
Essex-Orleans Senator Vince Illuzzi tried to find a compromise.
(Illuzzi) "As the bill came to the Senate, it was opposed by every business organization that weighed in on the bill. And several reasons: it was viewed as a restriction on housing development, as opposed to a smart growth bill which would encourage development in designated locations."
(Host) Illuzzi said the bill that passed only waives Act 250 review if towns or cities have zoning and planning in place.
(Illuzzi) "And the whole purpose of the downtown program, the Vermont Neighborhood program in part is to relax regulatory review and burden and expense in exchange for locating development, construction and housing in traditional settlement patterns and areas".
(Host) After weeks of criticism, Douglas praised lawmakers for their work on the bill.
(Douglas) "While it took several years to get to this point, and the bill does not go as far as I’d hope, the bill will result in the creation of homes that otherwise would not be built and more importantly that working families can afford."
(Host) The bill says that at least 20 percent of the homes in one of these new "Vermont Neighborhoods" has to be priced at $250,000 or less.
House Speaker Gaye Symington said the bill should work to create more housing. And she praised other accomplishments by the Legislature on housing issues, including additional funding for the state’s Housing and Conservation Board.