Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                           S.227
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                                       S.227
 Introduced by Senators Harrison, Chittenden, Clarkson, White and Wrenner
 Referred to Committee on
 Date:
 Subject: Municipal and county government; municipal and regional planning
           and development; bylaws; nonregulatory implementation of the
           municipal plan; siting of transit amenities
 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to authorize
 municipalities to require the siting and installation of public transit amenities
 as part of zoning bylaws, municipal planning, and site plan review.
    An act relating to the siting of transit amenities
 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
 Sec. 1. 24 V.S.A. § 4414 is amended to read:
 § 4414. ZONING; PERMISSIBLE TYPES OF REGULATIONS
    Any of the following types of regulations may be adopted by a municipality
 in its bylaws in conformance with the plan and for the purposes established in
 section 4302 of this title.
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         (3) Conditional uses.
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                                                                         VT LEG #372603 v.1
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                             S.227
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          (B) The general standards set forth in subdivision (3)(A) of this
 section may be supplemented by more specific criteria, including requirements
 with respect to any of the following:
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             (v) Required connections or improvements to existing
 infrastructure, such as sidewalks, public streets, public transit facilities,
 multiuse paths, bicycle lanes, or similar community facilities on directly
 adjacent properties.
             (vi) Any other standards and factors that the bylaws may include.
                                         ***
 Sec. 2. 24 V.S.A. § 4416 is amended to read:
 § 4416. SITE PLAN REVIEW
    (a) As prerequisite to the approval of any use other than one- and two-
 family dwellings, the approval of site plans by the appropriate municipal panel
 may be required, under procedures set forth in subchapter 10 of this chapter.
 In reviewing site plans, the appropriate municipal panel may impose, in
 accordance with the bylaws, appropriate conditions and safeguards with
 respect to the adequacy of parking, traffic access, public transit facilities, and
 circulation for pedestrians and vehicles; landscaping and screening; the
 protection of the utilization of renewable energy resources; exterior lighting;
 the size, location, and design of signs; and other matters specified in the VT LEG #372603 v.1
     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                             S.227
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 bylaws. The bylaws shall specify the maps, data, and other information to be
 presented with applications for site plan approval and a review process
 pursuant to section 4464 of this title.
                                           ***
 Sec. 3. 24 V.S.A. § 4421 is amended to read:
 § 4421. OFFICIAL MAP
    A municipality may adopt an official map that identifies future municipal
 utility and facility improvements, such as road or recreational path rights-of-
 way, parkland, utility rights-of-way, public transit facilities, and other public
 improvements, in order to provide the opportunity for the community to
 acquire land identified for public improvements prior to development for other
 use and to identify the locations of required public facilities for new
 subdivisions and other development under review by the municipality.
                                           ***
 Sec. 4. 24 V.S.A. § 4432 is amended to read:
 § 4432. SUPPORTING PLANS
    A municipality may adopt a plan or plans that support the municipal plan
 and may incorporate such supporting plan or plans into the municipal plan in
 the same manner as adoption of the municipal plan set forth in section 4385 of
 this title. In this event, the supporting plan shall become a part of the
 municipal plan. Supporting plans may include:
                                                                         VT LEG #372603 v.1
    BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                          S.227
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       (4) Transportation master plan. A municipality may adopt a plan to
 guide the location of future transportation facilities, including roadways,
 sidewalks, trails, bicycle facilities, and public transit.
 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE
    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
                                                                       VT LEG #372603 v.1
Statutes affected: 
As Introduced: 24-4414, 24-4416, 24-4421, 24-4432