Appeals Report

Introduction | Timeline | Meetings | Materials and Resources | Stakeholders | Contact and Comments | Act 181 Overview  

Introduction

Act 181 charged the Board to report on land use appeals process using a diverse group of stakeholders. Study recommendations must include (1) whether, where, and how to consolidate municipal, state agency and Act 250 permit appeals; (2) how to expediate housing appeals; (3) procedural rules for the board’s adjudication of appeals and general Act 250 administration; (4) how to improve the efficient and effectiveness of appeals.

The report is due January 15, 2026, however the Board anticipates completion of the study by November 15, 2025.  

Timeline

Timeline and milestones subject to change.

• May - June 2025 - Series of stakeholder meetings 
  • See meeting section for more information
• June - July 2025 - Report development 
• August - September
  • Draft Report finalized
  • Public Comment - Draft Report 
• October
  • Public hearing on Draft Report
  • Public Comment Deadline
  • Finalize Report 
• November - Submit Final Report to Legislative Committees 

Stakeholder Meetings

Meeting 1 (Monday, May 5, 2025, 1:00-4:00 pm)

• AGENDA

Location:
National Life Campus, Dewey Building
Room 206 (Dewey Conference Room)
1 National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05620

Related documents:

1. Attachment A - Appeals Study Statutory Charge
2. Attachment B - Appeals Study Discussion Questions
3. Appeals Study Meeting 1 PowerPoint Presentation

• Environmental Division Statistics
• Liam Murphy - Appeals Process Models
• Meeting Notes

Meeting 2 (Monday, May 12, 2025, 1:00-4:00 pm)

• AGENDA

Note:
The public is welcome, but must join remotely through the Teams link, which will be provided in the Agenda.

Location:
National Life Campus, Dewey Building
Room 206 (Dewey Conference Room)
1 National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05620

Related documents:

1. Attachment A - Appeals Study Statutory Charge
2. Attachment B - Meeting 2 Discussion Topics
3. Environmental Justice - PowerPoint Presentation
4. Coordination vs. Consolidation of Appeals
5. Environmental Division Disposition Guidelines
6. NRB Necessary Updates to Act 250 Study Report - FINAL (excerpts)
7. Ed Stanak - Memo to NRB - 07/12/21
8. H.492 - Chris Roy - Potential Changes to Act 250 Presentation - 01/27/22
9. H.492 - Ron Shems - NRB Reconsideration of District Environmental Commission Decisions - Draft Outline - 02/02/22
10. Liam Murphy - Appeals Process Models
11. Ron Shems NRB Reconsideration - Draft Outline 12/28/14
12. VNRC Act 250 Valuable Citizen Role
13. VNRC Policy Position (see pages 10-11)
14. Testimony:
    • Annette Smith - Testimony - 12/14/02
    • David Mears - Testimony - 12/04/17
    • H.492 - Annette Smith - Written Testimony - 01/27/22
    • H.492 - Billy Coster - Written Testimony - 01/27/22
    • H.492 - David Mears - Written Testimony - 01/27/22
    • H.492 - Ed Stanak - Written Testimony - 1/18/22
    • H.492 - Peg Elmer Hough - Testimony Notes - 02/02/22
    • H.492 - Ron Shems - Written Testimony - 02/02/22
    • H.492 - Tim Taylor - Written Testimony - 01/18/22
    • H.687 - Jon Groveman - Written Testimony - 02/06/24
    • H.687 - Ron Shems - Written Testimony - 02/02/24
    • HNRC - Stephanie Kaplan - Written Testimony - 05/13/21

Meeting 3 (date to be finalized, 1:00-4:00 pm)

Location: TBA

Meeting 4 (Monday, June 9, 2025, 1:00-4:00 pm)

Location: TBA

More information coming soon on future meetings in May and June. Check back often.

Materials and Resources

Act 181 Legislative Charge

Stakeholders 

More information coming soon. Stay tuned.

Comments and Contact

Board Member and Appeals Report Lead - Brooke Dingledine - 802-480-1878