Bill S.185, introduced by Senator Clarkson, proposes amendments to the regional plan map land use categories in relation to Act 250 Tier 1. The bill aims to enhance the definitions and criteria for "village areas" and "transition or infill areas." Notably, it replaces the requirement for "either municipal" water with "public" water and wastewater in village areas, ensuring that these areas have adequate infrastructure for development. Additionally, the bill clarifies that transition or infill areas must be "proximate to an area served by" public water or wastewater, or have adequate soils for wastewater disposal, while also prohibiting new commercial linear strip development to protect the economic vitality of nearby areas.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new definitions, including "centroid" and "workforce housing zone," which identify areas with high demand for housing due to proximity to job-rich census tracts. It expands the eligibility for designated neighborhoods to include transition and infill areas within workforce housing zones, ensuring that these areas can benefit from the same approval processes as planned growth and village areas. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 24-4348a(a)(12)(C), 24-4348a, 24-4348a(a), 24-4348a(a)(12)(D), 24-5804, 24-5801