The Vermont trails community has important work to accomplish during the ’21 legislative session, starting with continuing our work on Act 250 reform. As many know, the Act 250 Bill was vetoed last fall. Immediately following the veto, the Governor issued an Executive Order that asked Forest Parks & Recreation (FPR) to produce a report outlining how an alternative to Act 250 would be developed.
The Trails and Greenways Council is working with FPR on the contents of this report, which will outline the eligibility requirements for the Vermont Trails System (VTS). The goal is for an exemption from Act 250 for all VTS trails.
The completion of the Best Management Practices (BMP) is still in process. Moving forward, VMBA will remain focused on ensuring Chapters are well supported and private landowners are well-represented.