Land Use & Zoning

Vermont's Act 250 Criterion 9 requires that a proposed development not cause:

AMore than 5% increase in local property taxes

BUnreasonable burden on the educational or governmental services of the municipality✓ Correct

CAn increase in traffic of more than 10%

DLoss of more than 2 acres of prime agricultural soils

Explanation

Act 250 Criterion 9 requires that a development not place an unreasonable burden on the ability of the local government to provide educational or governmental services. This criterion protects municipalities from rapid growth that outpaces their service capacity.

People Also Study

Key Terms to Know

Zoning

Local government regulations that control land use by dividing areas into zones specifying permitted uses, building sizes, and densities.

Proration

The division of ongoing property expenses (taxes, HOA dues, rents) between buyer and seller at closing based on their respective days of ownership.

Variance

Official permission to use land in a way that does not conform to the applicable zoning ordinance, granted by a zoning board when strict enforcement would cause undue hardship.

Eminent Domain

The power of government to take private property for public use, with the requirement to pay the owner just compensation.