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

UPCOMING MEETINGS

More information coming soon on meetings happening in June. Check back often.

Meeting 3 (Thursday June 12, 2025, 1:00-4:00 pm)

Location:
Vermont State University Randolph Campus
Langevin House
Furnace Street
Randolph Center, VT 05061

Meeting 4 (Monday, June 23, 2025, 1:00-4:00 pm)

Location: TBA

PAST MEETINGS

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

• AGENDA

1. Attachment A - Appeals Study Statutory Charge
2. Attachment B - Appeals Study Discussion Questions
3. Appeals Study Meeting 1 PowerPoint Presentation
4. Liam Murphy - Appeals Process Models
5. Flip Chart Notes

• Meeting #1 Notes

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

• AGENDA

1. Attachment A - Appeals Study Statutory Charge
2. Attachment B - Meeting 2 Discussion Topics
3. Coordination vs. Consolidation of Appeals PowerPoint
4. Flip Chart Notes
5. David Mears - Comments on Meeting 2 Notes

• Meeting #2 Notes

Materials and Resources

• Act 181 Legislative Charge
• Superior Court, Environmental Division
  • Statistics
  • Disposition Guidelines
• Board Models
  • Liam Murphy - Appeals Process Models
  • David Mears - Appeals Process Model
  • H.492 - Ron Shems - Written Testimony - 02/02/22 and H.492 - Ron Shems - Draft Outline - 02/02/22
• Environmental Justice
  • Environmental Justice - PowerPoint Presentation
  • VNRC Act 250 Valuable Citizen Role
  • Annette Smith - Testimony - 12/14/02
• Other Studies
  • NRB Necessary Updates to Act 250 Study Report - FINAL (excerpts)
• Testimony
  • David Mears - Testimony - 12/04/17
  • Ed Stanak - Memo to NRB - 07/12/21
  • H.492 - Annette Smith - Written Testimony - 01/27/22
  • H.492 - Billy Coster - Written Testimony - 01/27/22
  • H.492 - Chris Roy - Potential Changes to Act 250 Presentation - 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 - Tim Taylor - Written Testimony - 01/18/22
  • H.687 - Ron Shems - Written Testimony - 02/02/24
  • H.687 - Jon Groveman - Written Testimony - 02/06/24
  • HNRC - Stephanie Kaplan - Written Testimony - 05/13/21

Stakeholders 

See Agendas for the list of stakeholders.

Comments and Contact

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