Public Policy Detail

Since 1993 VBSR has held that Vermont's economic future depends on its environmental quality and image. Therefore VBSR supports maintaining Vermont's commitment to environmental quality through planning, education, public participation and strong regulatory standards. We believe that the high bar that Vermont has set should not be relaxed because it contributes to our economic vitality.

We've also held since 1993 that there is room for improvement in the implementation and permitting of development regulations. Those improvements should promote consistency and predictability and improve processing times.

We support the following:

1. Consolidating appeals:
   
   • We support the concept of all appeals going to an Environmental Court because this is much less political than the current system and it is more efficient. Furthermore, we support the notion of a consolidated board that handles all of the non-appeal policy functions.
   • We support appeal rights being limited to only those that participate at the District Commission hearing when the hearing is on the record. However, we acknowledge that this formalizes the process and believe that there should be support staff (such as an ombudsman) and resources available to encourage efficient citizen participation. This will help both the applicant and the citizen.
2. Expanding party status early in the process:
   
   • We support a lower-threshold for party-status at the district commission level and
     
   • Ensuring appeal rights for those that demonstrate an interest and have participated.
3. Requiring parties to appeal early in the process: 
   
   • We support requiring appeals of agency permits to occur when they are issued. However, we acknowledge the need for meaningful and efficient notice to occur when an agency is reviewing a permit.
4. Exemptions from Act 250 in Designated Downtowns: 
   
   • We support higher thresholds to trigger Act 250 review for projects in designated downtowns (as defined by the Downtown Development Act).
5. Better Use of Technology:
   
   • We support consolidating applications and making those applications available to file online in an effort to improve process times.
6. Planning:
   
   • We support state, regional and town planning to encourage appropriate growth, which will yield clearer standards, more predictability, and smoother permitting.
7. Adequate Resource:
   
   • To ensure that the above policy objectives are met, the associated state agencies and board must be adequately funded.

Back to Previous Page