VIA ZONING REFORM
So there also are issues to
renovations or allowing ADUs on a lot to meet 21st century housing needs and
aging-in-place opportunities.
Tomasso said the agency works with AARP and other partners to focus on livability and walkability.
Vermonters are buying into the benefits of universal design and
housing and communities that support aging in place.
VIA ZONING REFORM
VAR has made the creation of new housing the association’s top priority,” said Kathleen Sweeten, VAR CEO. “VAR supports policies that will create ownership and rental opportunities for workforce housing and the provision of incentives for employers who invest in the creation of housing for their employees. We support policies that will expand availability and affordability for homeownership.”
Bristol Cohousing in
Bristol, Vt., is a good example of a cottage court.
“We’ve
seen a shift in the conversation in Vermont. The NIMBY comments common years
ago are changing because the housing crisis has become so acute,” said Jacob
Hemmerick, AICP, community planning & policy manager for the Vermont
Department of Housing & Community Development. “Their kids can’t buy a
home. Their grandkids can’t buy a home. Seniors can’t downsize. Their favorite
hamburger shop is closing because they can’t find workers.”
VIA ZONING REFORM
Now, duplexes are allowed in all single-family residential zones and triplexes and fourplexes in all areas served by water and sewer.
Many activists
for equity and inclusion have applauded these preemptions as a giant step
toward reversing the impact exclusionary zoning has had on affordable housing
and racial/economic segregation.
Planners
and REALTORS® are spreading the message about the upside of zoning reform,
which goes beyond affordable housing and includes equity, environmental and
economic benefits.
VIA ZONING REFORM
Vermont
just launched a pilot program with predevelopment funding for architecture,
engineering and other expenses for smart growth neighborhoods in the state.
“Most land-use controls in Vermont are held by municipalities, so we want to give them a suite of tools designed to help them take the next step,” Jacob Hemmerick, AICP, community planning & policy manager for the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development, said.
“We want to help make it easier to build a home in a livable neighborhood that Vermonters can afford.
We want to get people thinking about working across multiple agencies and
governments, so we can eliminate hurdles that stand in the way of homes people
can afford.”
VIA ZONING REFORM
“The
toolkit takes a comprehensive approach from permitting to financing. It will
look at zoning as a foundation and visualize the missing middle housing types
we need, so people can wrap their heads around what missing middle housing
looks like and welcome it next door.”
Amy Tomasso, planning coordinator for the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development, said much of Vermont’s housing is out of the price range of its workforce.
There also is a need for affordable, accessible housing to
meet the needs of seniors, young people, and people with disabilities.
VIA ZONING REFORM
To remove barriers to convenient and diverse neighborhoods with affordable housing, Amy Tomasso, planning coordinator for the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development, said, “Vermont is presently building a toolkit for small-scale developers of less than 10 units.”
It will show housing
types, from an Accessory Dwelling Unit to a six plex, for incremental
developers.
Jacob Hemmerick, AICP, community planning & policy manager for the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development, said the Homes for All project will have community infill case studies and a training summit for small-scale developers.
The Vermont Department of Housing & Community
Development, led by Commissioner Josh Hanford, selected five communities across
the state — to include a range of demographics and existing infrastructure —
and creates visualizations of neighborhood infill.
MARK – A CALL TO ACTION GLOBAL RELEASE OCTOBER 8, 2024
Thanks to award-winning producer-director Ron Small and the Bookman Family, I appear as America's Universal design expert in a 90-minute documentary.
"Mark -- A Call To Action" releases globally October 8th via streaming, digital, satellite and other outlets.
From Filmmaker Small:
I'm happy to share the DVD menu, with some bonus features not seen in the documentary.
Pre-order the DVD on Amazon.
Visit https://amzn.to/3L8UMyZ All proceeds benefit the #GLIDEFUND of The Mark Bookman Foundation.
