East Randolph Housing
Act 250 Panel Is OK
With New Site Plan
By M. D. Drysdale

The most important stumbling blocks in the way of a proposed affordable housing development in East Randolph seem to have been removed as the result of a Act 250 hearing continuation that was held Oct. 29.

The District 3 Act 250 Commission agreed with changes made by developer Richard Dybvig that would reduce the amount of farmland actually to be built on from 7.2 to 6.2 acres. In addition, Dybvig would have to pay an "off-site mitigation fee" that would help preserve farmland somewhere else.

The adjustment will mean that the development would contain 22 houses, rather than the 24 originally proposed.

After a first Act 250 hearing, Dybvig was ordered to come up with a brand new site plan that would keep a larger percentage of the 20-acre property available for farming, though the land has not been actively farmed for years.

According to a "Recess Order" issued this week, the Commission seemed satisfied with the revised proposal, both in terms of its affect on "sprawl" and on prime agricultural land.

"The Commission has concluded that the proposed 22-lot configuration meets the ‘appropriate circumstances’ of 10 VSA Section 6093, namely that it is adjacent to a high density development and will contribute to the existing compact development patterns in the area," stated the Order, which was signed by Commission Chair Joshua B. Powers.

"In addition the Commission concludes that payment of an off-site mitigation fee plus preservation of 10.23 acres on the site will best further the goal of preserving primary ag soils."

Dybvig still must satisfy Act 250 on Criteria 1-4, which include water and sewer arrangements, but Dybvig said he did not expect that to be much of an issue.

He has, however, appealed an order by Randolph’s Development Review Board that he must provide underground electric, telephone and cable service to the homes, rather than stringing the service on poles.

He has said that might increase the per-home price by several thousand dollars. Originally, he hoped to make the homes available at $150,000.