Housing 9/23/25

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Housing Committee meeting of 9.23.25 - minutes 105 KB

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Town of Richmond Housing Committee Meeting Minutes
Date: September 23, 2025
Time Started: 7:03p
Time Ended: 8:39
Present: Virginia Clarke, Mark Hall (Chair), Andrew Mannix, Connie van Eeghen
Absent: Nick Blanchet, Mairead O’Reilly
Committee is approved at 5 members, 2 alternates (5/16/22); quorum is 3
1. Welcome and troubleshooting (0:11:00)
2. Adjustments to Agenda – add update to Town Plan
3. Approval of the September 2, 2025 meeting minutes - Accepted as written
4. Review Updates to the Strategic Plan (0:12:00)
a. Based on suggestions from Keith Oborne, Town Planner, Mark updated the SP document:
i. richmondvt_my.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/personal/koborne_richmondvt_gov/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx
B310EDF6B-0C80-4FEB-A2B5-69503BB67B1E%7D&file=Strategic%20Housing%20Plan%2025-DRAFTMASTER%20COPY.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true
b. Suggestions included:
i. Add that Committee advocated for Tier 18 Exemptions for housing; work into Zoning 
Recommendations.
ii. Emphasize goal of making zoning processes more user friendly rather than using the term 
“streamlining,” which may imply shortening steps in the process which may be legally required.
1. Virginia provided specific examples of how the process could be made more user friendly, 
such as revising zoning and subdivision regulations
2. Consider adding that the DRB strengthen its procedures through site visits and preview of 
materials
3. These recommendations will also appear in the Community Development section of the 
Town Plan
iii. State and Federal subsidized housing assistance programs section starts with a “background” 
section that sets the stage for the subsequent recommendations for this section.
1. Tone of the narrative could be interpreted as evaluative, instead of contextual. Revised 
accordingly. 
2. Changed title to “Successfully Funding Affordable Housing Projects” 
iv. Accepted all changes suggested in “Development of Community Support and Outreach” and “Water 
and Sewer Regulation/Policy Revisions” sections
c. Committee members agreed that the items in the SP are not necessarily actions that the Housing 
Committee can take, but can support in order to achieve the goal of its charter
d. Discussed whether to include this document in the Almanac of the Town; agreed, once it has been 
presented to the Selectboard (SB)
5. Prepare for Strategic Plan presentation – Oct 20th SB Meeting (01:26:00)
a. Goal: Presentation of the Committee’s Strategic Plan for our future actions
i. Presenter: Mark, Connie via Zoom, possibly Andrew via Zoom; Virginia might be available
6. Other business, correspondence, and adjournment (01:35:00)
a. Discuss Recruitment of new members/Committee Chair
i. Connie: follow up with Mairead
ii. All: internal networking to find new Committee members
iii. Mark: will post on FPF
b. Next meeting: October 28, 7p
c. Proposed agenda to include: Follow up on SB presentation of Housing Strategic Plan; updates on the 
Housing section of the Town Plan, especially data section (Virginia); recruitment efforts
d. Agreed to adjourn at: 8:39
Recorded by Connie van Eeghen