Vermont Land Use Review Board announces public meetings on Act 250 habitat criteria

The Vermont Land Use Review Board (LURB) has announced four public information sessions to discuss a new Act 250 review criterion, Criterion 8(C), set to take effect on January 1, 2028. The new rule focuses on ensuring that forest blocks and habitat connectors are considered during the land use permitting process for projects that already require an Act 250 permit.

These sessions, held in Essex Junction, West Burke, Brattleboro, and Rutland, aim to inform the public about the importance of habitat connectivity and the upcoming rulemaking process scheduled for 2027. The LURB intends to gather public input and answer questions regarding the drafting process and the rulemaking timeline.

This development follows recent legislative shifts in Vermont's land use policies. Following public backlash and advocacy from groups such as Rural Vermont Rising, Governor Phil Scott signed a partial rollback of Act 181. This rollback repealed certain provisions of the 2024 statute that required complex reviews for developments in sensitive ecosystems and certain new roads, while also exempting some on-farm business ventures from such reviews.