(Host) Progressive lieutenant governor candidate Anthony Pollina wants the state to provide greater regulatory oversight of proposals to create large farms in Vermont. Speaking last night on VPR’s Switchboard program, Pollina said the current system of giving the commissioner of agriculture the sole authority to rule on these projects needs to be changed:
(Pollina) “If someone wants to put, let’s say an auto body shop next door to you, depending on the scope and whatnot, they’re going to have to go through a zoning process or Act 250 type process. And if you’re the next door neighbor you have input: You can if you choose to be involved in that permitting process. If someone wants to put 10,000 hogs next door to you, it’s exempt from zoning and it’s exempt from Act 250 and what you get to do is, go to a meeting and listen to what they’re going to do. But there’s no way for you to participate as a party to that permitting process.”
(Host) Pollina says agricultural projects should continue to be exempt from Act 250 review but he believes a new review process with members from the local community needs to be established.