Overview

Nearing the halfway point, the 2010 Session’s top issue is still the state’s budget deficit. While fiscal challenges are hampering the state's ability to make investments in smart growth policies and development, there is still positive activity that you can support. Smart Growth Vermont is supporting several key public smart growth investment strategies including the Vermont Housing and Conservation Fund, the Downtown and Village Center Program, and Current Use. We are working with AARP Vermont to encouraging passage of a Complete Streets law that would guide transportation investments. There is positive news to report on progress on S.64 that makes important corrections to the Growth Center law.

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Growth Center Corrections Move Forward: S.64

The Senate Natural Resources Committee is finalizing their review of the current version of S.64, which was brought to the Legislature through collaboration and a compromise agreement between Secretary of Commerce Kevin Dorn and Smart Growth Collaborative members Preservation Trust of Vermont, Vermont Natural Resource Council, and Smart Growth Vermont. It is likely that the bill will be voted out of committee today.

The bill provides language clarification and standards to address concerns raised during the last several years as towns have applied for growth center designation. The changes will streamline the application process; ensure that growth centers will not damage our downtowns and village centers; and provide standards to ensure growth centers are planned for 20 years of growth and result in compact, mixed use areas. Senator Ginny Lyons has made passage of this bill a top priority for her committee.

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Complete Streets in the Top Three: H.741

The House Transportation Committee has selected a Complete Streets bill (H.741) as one of its top three priorities for the current legislative session. Lead by AARP-VT and supported by many organizations, this bill asks communities to consider all users up front in the planning phase when upgrading or designing new projects. Encouraging transportation options is a key smart growth principle and Smart Growth Vermont will be supporting this bill to ensure that pedestrian, bicycle and transit users are integrated into our road networks. Please let members of the House Transportation Committee know why transportation options are important to you and why you support H.741.

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Current Use Debate Moves to Senate: H.485

As part of the fiscal belt tightening efforts, lawmakers are looking to the use value appraisal program, commonly known as current use, for several million dollars. Early in the 2010 Session, the House passed H.485. The main features of this bill are a one year moratorium on new enrollment into Current Use, an improvement of the tax provisions applied to land removed from current use for development, and a one-time appropriation to help bring the program into the electronic era. Smart Growth Vermont has serious concerns about the enrollment moratorium.

The Senate Finance Committee is considering the bill and we are urging the Senate to reject the enrollment moratorium and to find other solutions to secure needed savings. They are reviewing a proposal to eliminate the moratorium and instead apply a small surcharge on all current use properties.  Around the state, we hear from farmers and foresters that this is an important program to support our working landscape. Please share your thoughts and concerns for the future of Current Use.

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Downtown and Village Center Redevelopment Incentives: S.288

These tax incentives are among the most effective state public investments and are a strong tool for economic stimulus. Historic redevelopment in our town centers is labor intensive, which means jobs for Vermonters; it provides support for our local economies; and often adds underutilized property to our tax roles. With our legislative partner Preservation Trust of Vermont, we are urging lawmakers to include this strategy in their economic recovery bill. The Senate Economic Development Committee, chaired by Senator Vince Illuzzi, has advanced two provisions to boost this effort. First, they earmarked 100K of federal stimulus funds which would increase the total tax credits available next year to $1.8M. They also proposed that the Finance Committee support a change in the law to add insurance companies to the list of corporations eligible to purchase tax credits from downtown project owners which would help smaller property owners.

The House Commerce Committee is now reviewing S.288 and we are urging them to raise the tax credit cap to 500K. This would allow more projects to receive credits, creating more jobs and enhancing our downtowns and village centers.

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Housing and Conservation Fund

VHCB investments in affordable housing and land conservation are a proven economic development strategy. As part of the Housing and Conservation Coalition, we are urging lawmakers to invest $11M into our communities through VHCB next year. The Governor proposed $6.1M for VHCB, which is a major reduction from the $15M level two years ago. Lawmakers are looking at supplementing the Governor's recommendation with $5M from the Capital Bill. The House Institutions Committee is finalizing the House version of the Capital Bill now.

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