 Good afternoon. Welcome to the House Environment and Energy Committee. We are going to walk through H687 version 3.1 with our Legislative Council. Welcome, Council Chekowski. Hello Chekowski. Legislative Council, yes, Chapter 2.1, David Chase. I have a question from representatives. Yes, so how are we approaching this? Are we to. Remain silent and allow this walk through to happen or really ask questions as. Through the chase are going to ask our Council. How much yellow is in this version? So, in the excuse me, I don't think that was answered to any questions. I'm finding out more information before I could answer your question. Okay, just what how much new language is in this version. Versus stuff we can revisit and ask questions on. So, in the 1st, in the language that you have reviewed previously, there are a couple of. Small changes, so there is minimal yellow. Some of them were purely grammatical and then some of them are changes that sort of came out of last week's discussion. And then really starting on page 80. Sorry, page, page 92 through the last 40 pages of the bill is all new. And it's language related to the designated areas update report. Okay, so I'm going to suggest we start with that. Page 92 and hope, but you know, see how far we get. I don't know how long the floor is going to be a day. We may come back after the door. This is 3.1. This is 3.1 working my way to 92. 133 pages because representative was complaining about Lord too short. Yeah. And so, Amy and Leonard of a field day with this is more interesting. Orient us to what added, if you would please just big picture. Sure, so I think that you have heard testimony that there, there was a report that came out from the Department of Housing and Community Development. That report was requested in last year's legislation and year prior to update the designated area program. And those are the currently we have 5 designated areas that report. Recommended condensing those 5 designated areas into. 2 with an optional add on 1. And so this language broadly does. It gets rid of the whole the whole Trier program streamlines it down into a sort of main designation and then an add on designation of neighborhoods. It establishes the process for how those designations happen and then it establishes the sort of benefits ladder of what comes with the designations. It has some language regarding the mapping of those with the regional planning commissions. And then sort of overall, how that program will function moving forward. So, and then I will just also plug, I did do a section by section for today for this draft. The sections on this section are kind of sparse. Because writing a section by section takes a long time anyway. Right and we just added it. Yeah, thank you for doing the section by seconds at all of our whole bill. That'll be really helpful for us and public. And so just to sort of finish broadly what is done in these last. 40 pages of that it repeals all of chapter 76, a of title 24, which is the designated area program. And then it takes all of those sections rewrites the 1st view. The 2nd half of that chapter remains largely the same. So there's some language that is existing statute in law currently, but then the 1st part about the actual designations has been changed. Thank you for that. And we do have Jacob Hemmerk with us, which really appreciate so that when we get walking through it can help orient us and answer questions that we may have on it. So, I'd like to focus on that and when we have clarifying questions, he'll be here to answer them and so questions are welcome for a while. Yes. Alright, so on page 92. As I did just mention 1st thing that's happening is that chapter 76, I have title 24 is being repealed. Next section 44 is all of the new chapter I was just mentioning. So it would be chapter 139. So 1st is a new definition section. And then also a lot of what's happening here is changing the names of things that have already existed. So 1st, it's changing the name of this program to the state community of revitalization program. Which has previously been called the historic downtown program or the state designation program. So 1st, the 1st definition community revitalization program means the program established under this chapter as adapted from the former designated areas program formally in chapter 76 of this title. Statutory references outside this chapter referring to the former state designated village centers downtown and new town centers. Shall mean designated center once established. On to page 93 statutory references outside this chapter referring to the former state designated growth centers and neighborhood development areas shall mean designated neighborhood once established. Complete streets or complete street principles has the same meaning as in 19 vsa chapter 24 department means the department of housing community development. Downtown or village means the traditional and historic central business district of a community that has served as the focus of socioeconomic interaction in the community characterized by a cohesive core of commercial and mixed use buildings. Some of which may contain mixed use spaces often interspersed with civic religious residential and industrial buildings and public spaces. Typically arranged along a main street and internet interconnecting side streets that are within walking distance for residents who live within and surrounding the center and that are served by public infrastructure such as sidewalks and public transit. Downtown's are typically larger in scale than village centers and are characterized by a development pattern that is consistent with smart growth principles and that are served by complete streets. Industrial uses may be found within or immediately adjacent to these centers. Downtown center or village center means areas on the regional plan future land use maps which may be designated as a center. On to page 24 infill means the use of vacant land or property or the redevelopment of existing buildings within a built up area for further construction or land development. Local downtown organization means either a nonprofit corporation or a board council or commission created by the legislative body of the municipality. His primary purpose is to administer and implement the community reinvestment agreement and other matters regarding the revitalization of the downtown. Planned growth area means an area of the regional plan future land use maps which may encompass a downtown center or village center on the future regional future land use map and maybe designated as a center or neighborhood or bull. I'm going to pause quickly and say that this language will need to be harmonized with your language, but there are quite a few choices that you'll need to make regarding that. So this language is based on the designated area report and taken largely from what's in S 308 the Senate bill. So it doesn't necessarily neatly fit into your bill yet, like having this definition of planned growth area. So you'll need to make a decision. There's a proposal in this language about how to designate plan growth area. And so I included it in case you want to see some of that language on how it was proposed in that, but obviously you're working on a different concept. So. Great. Thank you for that orientation and that is it in any other housing bill like in our own on the house side. Yeah, um, so there is a standalone bill that representative bond guards introduced that has this line. It's very, the, let's see, how did this play out the bond guards bill standalone bill and designated areas. I drafted 1st and I took some of that language for the Senate version and then this I cleaned up some of it to put it in here, but I did leave some of the most of it intact. So you can when we when we don't see these clarifications or choices, you'll help us. Yeah, but no other no other move that has a language so on page 94, line 13, regional plan future land use map means the map prepared for students to 27 24, yes, a 43, 48, a, a, 2 smart growth principles means growth that maintains the historic development pattern of compact village and urban centers separated by rural countryside develops compact mix mixed use centers at a scale appropriate for the community and the regional planning commission enables choice in modes of transportation onto page 95 protects the state's important environmental natural and historic features, including rural areas, water quality, scenic resources and historic sites and districts serves to strengthen agricultural and forest industries and minimizes conflicts of development within with these industries balances growth with the availability of economic and efficient public utilities and services supports the diversity of viable businesses and downtowns and villages. Provides for housing that meets the needs of a diversity of social and income groups in each community reflects a settlement pattern that at full build out is not characterized by scattered development located outside compact urban and village centers that is excessively land, non-consumptive and inefficient development that looks transportation options, especially by cyclists, users and people with disabilities, the fragmentation of farmland and forest land development that makes inefficient use of land, energy, roads, utilities and other supporting infrastructure, or that requires the extension of infrastructure onto page 96 across undeveloped land lands outside compact villages, downtowns and urban centers. And that contributes to a pattern of strip linear development along well-traveled roads and highways that lacks depth as measured from the highway. And the negative. Right, that last, that last follow up. This whole section is on the negative, this whole definition. Yeah, just the last clause. Representative Logan. Just quick question. Where? Where does the definition of smart growth principles come from? So this, I was going to say that. Yes. So this definition exists currently in chapter 76 a and it has for a number of years. So it is not being changed from what currently exists. It's being moved here. And the other definitions, are they new? Are they also getting more? Getting more. So most of the other ones are new. So, I guess, just taking a step back, big picture. It was very difficult for me to draft this. And so this was the simplest way to draft it. It was to sort of start over and take some of the existing things. You could also, instead of repealing 76 a go back and amend large chunks of it, which is still an option. But most of the definitions, I think, probably all of the definitions. Are ones that are new to this. So community revitalization program. That's new, but complete streets and the department. Those things have existed. Downtown village and then downtown center and village. Those things are being sort of updated to reflect what's happening here. Same with infill. That's, that's new. And then local downtown organization is an existing. Concept, I can't remember off the top of my head if it was in this section, or if it was in another related section. Yeah, plan growth area is a new concept from the report situation. I don't think regional plan was defined previously, but it's using the existing concept of regional plan. Sure. And use that right and then smart growth is an existing definition. Uh, sprawl repair is new. Yes, so yeah, so I can point that out as I keep going, but. So, on page 96, so, um, do you know any of the history of how the. The smart growth principles were defined in 1st place might be a question for Jacob. Yeah, no, they predate me. Yeah, I'm just, I don't know for certain, but I suspect that they were. Yeah, I suspect that they. Could introduce yours. Can you introduce yourself for the record? Absolutely. I'm Jake camera planning and policy manager in the department of housing. Community development. I thought you were asking me to speak up. And I suspected that that that definition. And when the growth center was put into the chapter. In the probably late 90s or 2000s. Yeah, I think it was added in 2006. Smart growth have changed in almost 20 years. Alright, let's keep. So, sprawl repair. Means the redevelopment of lands developed with buildings traffic and circulation. Parking and or other land coverage and pattern that is consistent. With smart growth principles and by a complete street connecting to approximate center. And served by water and sewer infrastructure. State board means the Vermont community revitalization board established in. 50 to there has been a state board for a long time and. Currently called the state downtown board, so this is reflecting that the name there is going to be a name change to that board under this new program. State designated downtown or village center or center. Means a contiguous downtown or village area designated by the environmental review board. Under this chapter, which may include an approved pre existing designated. Village center designated downtown or designated new town center. Establish prior to the approval of the regional future land use maps. It shall encompass an area that extends access to benefits that sustain and revitalize existing buildings and maintain the basis of the program's original focus on revitalizing historic downtowns and villages. By promoting development patterns and historic preservation practices. Vital to Vermont's economy, cultural landscape, equity of opportunity and climate resilience. That is a new definition, though the existing program designated downtowns and village centers. Onto page 97 state designated neighborhood or neighborhood. Means a contiguous geographic area designated by the environmental review board under this chapter. That is adjacent and contiguous to a designated center. Which may include an approved and pre existing designated neighborhood development area or growth center established prior to approval of the regional future land use maps. It means an area that is compact principally walkable to a designated center. Principally served by complete streets primarily, including historic areas and may include areas transitioning to complete streets and smart growth through municipal capital planning, programming and budgeting in complete streets. In accordance with 44 30 of this title. So that is so state designated neighborhood is the new. Designation under this program under the existing designated area program. We have what's called neighborhood development areas. So those are transitioning to just neighborhood or designated neighborhood and they're contiguous to the core center, which I guess we're calling centers. Whether it's downtown or village. So, wine 12. Tier 1 planned growth area means a geographic area designated by the environmental review board. Under this chapter that overlays a designated downtown and village center. Or designated neighborhood it creates an area that can be applied to centers and neighborhoods in whole or in part within a regional planned growth area on the regional plan feature land feature land use map. The purpose of the designated plan growth area is to principally extend state regulatory and non regulatory benefits, including active 50 exemption. Delegation, jurisdictional ease presumptions of compliance or fee reductions to recognize local conditions and capacity and areas planned for smart growth development and redevelopment. So, the bold language there is sort of to point out that this, this is the sort of. Recommendation coming out of that report. Or as it was at 1 point communicated to me your. Your underlying bill age 67 has made a different choice, but the language in here is. To get tier 1, you have to have a designated center. So, I don't know if you're interested in sort of. How, or if you want to integrate those 2 things. Do we want tier 1 link to. The designated centers so on page 98. Vermont downtown program means the Vermont branch of the state coordinating program of main street America that provides technical assistance training. And funding incentives downtown organizations. This is something that's existing, but I don't think it previously had a specific. Definition on page 98 line for village area. Means an area on the regional plan future land use maps, which may encompass a village center. On the regional future land use map and which may be designated as a neighborhood. And may not be designated as a state planned growth area. Due to more limited water or sewer infrastructure. Or the absence of municipal plans and regulations. Crossroads that we need to uncross. Yes. So on page 98, the next section within this chapter is the Vermont community revitalization board. Which is currently called the Vermont downtown development board or the Vermont downtown or the downtown board or the state board. And it is an existing board and currently in statute. That is the board that issues designations for the designation program. So, a community revitalization board also referred to as the state board is created to administer the provisions of this chapter. The state board shall be composed of the following members or their designees. The secretary of commerce and community development, secretary of transportation, secretary of natural resources. Commissioner public safety, the state historic preservation officer. A person appointed by the governor from a list of 3 names submitted by the Vermont natural resources council and preservation trust of Vermont. Onto page 99 a person appointed by the governor from a list of 3 names submitted by the association of chamber executives. 3 public members representative of local government 1 of whom shall be designated by the Vermont League of cities and towns and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the governor. The executive director of the Vermont fond bank. The state treasurer a member of the planers associated designation by the association. The chair of the environmental review board. A representative of a regional planning commission designated by Vapta. Alright, so let me just stop there. This is the existing list of members of the board, except. The direct, the executive director of the Vermont bond bank and the treasurer. Are not currently on it. So otherwise this is the existing board. And then I did I do want to just flag the the chair of the NRB or their designee has been a member of this board. For a while and they are on this board as well. And you just want to track how this board may interact with the new board, depending on decisions you make. And if they should be. If there should be a member Jacob, can you speak a little bit to the kind of vision for reimagining this word? Yes, so the. The changes and visions here at the 2 positions treasure bond bank as well as the office of racial equity. The interest there are having more more appointees that. Are investing or making infrastructure investments or guiding municipal infrastructure investments. As well as environmental justice considerations related to land use. The board's function would change in that the board would be advising. The new environment review board on the recognition of the regional future land use maps. And so they wouldn't have a direct approval authority over the designated areas. And instead would be more focused on advising that board, but also coordinating across agencies and entities to. More investments in designated centers and a high level coordination. Recommendations to the, but then not where it not being involved in the actual designation process, but more of the oversight of the programs and how they get. How they can compliment each other, I'm guessing. Yeah, and, and continuing to confer certain benefits like making tax credit decisions. Representative Logan, thank you. Have you considered appointing someone from the. BHC be land access and opportunity board or the. Environment justice advisory council. These are new, you know, that are springing up now, but the office of racial equity interfaces with both of those. Um, but it does seem like they might be appropriate additions to. I don't know which frankly, but. Uh, because the environmental justice advisory council is more focused on a and R. Like the EC really, I don't know. Anyway. They're new, so it's hard to know what role there is the council and the land access and opportunity board are supposed to be playing. A lot of land use and environmental justice issues, but. Consideration is absolutely given that those organizations and I thought was is that the office of racial equity. The directors suggested that she would likely designate that somebody who is more interested in land use issues. And then it would probably play out functionally that way. Thank you so on page 99 line 14. The state board shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its membership. The department shall provide legal staff and administrative support to the state board. Shall produce guidelines to direct municipality seeking to obtain designation under this chapter. And for other purposes established by this chapter and shall pay per diem compensation for board members pursuant to 30 vs 32 vs a 10, 10, B. The board shall meet at least orderly onto page 100. The state board shall have authority to adopt rules of procedure to use for appeal of its decisions. And rules on handling conflicts of interest. In addition to any other duties confirmed by law, the state board shall have the following. Duties to serve as the funding and benefits coordination body for the state community revitalization program. To review and issue decisions on proposed region. Regional plan future land use maps prepared by the regional planning commission. And presented to the for designated center and designated neighborhood recognition under this chapter. To recommend conditioned designation approvals and modifications to the regional plan future land use maps presented for the designated areas. To recommend suspension or removal of a designation approved by the to award tax credits under 32 the essay 59. 30, which is the downtown and village center tax credit program. To manage the downtown transportation and related capital improvement fund program established. In 5808, it wasn't so much of a question. It's just to note that. I'm sure you've all of this because it's a force that we need to pay attention and we have to make sure it matches properly. Because as written, it's so not, not to jump in more the way he wrote it, but it gives this board a role that I don't think anybody's envisioning. So we need to. Figure out that shit, right? So currently, there's a few things happening on this page in general. So. Right now, the board is primarily focused on approving designations and then awarding the incentives under those designations. Like, I also just flagged about eels is in here too at the top of the page. I don't know if they currently do that actually. And then I do think there's some internal inconsistency with even within this language. That's also why it's bolded. Because I guess I didn't fully realize that this board was not making the designations. But the ERB under this proposal is making all of the designations. So you wrote an epic from what? Right. A lot of moving parts here. Yeah, so a lot of. They're like foundational decisions you'll need to make to get this and then I can kind of conform the language to that. And so at the bottom of page 100 to have standing and regional plan approvals before the ERB. And onto page 101 to review and comment on environmental review board guidelines rules or procedures as they may as they relate to the designations under this chapter. So, yeah, so some of this once you just make some decisions, I think you may want to read draft the list of duties because it also had on the prior page setting it. Does a guidelines for applications and if they're not, if they are the ones making the approvals, that would make sense. But if they aren't. Maybe don't want them to set the guidelines and then. Yeah, so then on page 101, the section 5803 is a completely new section and it may be this may be redundant to your bill, but it's about regional plan mapping. And specific to what's happening in this chapter. So. The regional plan future land use map developed per section 4348 a of this title. Shall delineate areas within the RPC's member municipalities that are eligible to be designated as centers and neighborhoods in consultation with the municipalities. The areas eligible for designation shall be identified on the regional plan future land use map as regional downtown centers, village centers, planned growth area and village areas in a manner consistent with this chapter. This methodology shall include all approved designated downtowns, village centers, new town centers, neighborhood development areas and growth centers existing on July 1, 2024. Unless the subject member municipality requests otherwise. Exclusions with the exception, so just to vote for us. This is something we really need to figure out because the way we're talking about 1. Is that it would require sewer or water plus a couple of things inside how this interfaces and really. Right, it's the fact that they are there now. And they show up in the future and use map doesn't mean that they are eligible to be tier 1, because there's a couple of additional requirements for what they seem to be doing. Or keep it all straight. And I think so far, actually that first paragraph doesn't necessarily conflict with anything you're doing. It may be slightly redundant, but also kind of boiled down what I think you are sort of doing in the other sections. So then down online 14 exclusions with the exception or pre existing non conforming designations approved prior to the establishment of the program under this chapter. The areas eligible for designation on the regional plan feature land use map for designation as a center. Shall not include leapfrog development that is disconnected from a center and that lacks a pedestrian connection to the center via a complete street or the following categories to find in regional plan future land use maps. Transition area onto page 102 unplanned expansions not served by infrastructure resource based recreation areas enterprise areas not part of regional planned growth area. And rural areas hamlets general farms forest conservation areas. A proposed plan growth areas for state designation may be mapped by a municipality in consultation with the regional planning commission pursuant to 5806 of this title. Vapta shall develop a standard methodology for the regional plan future land use maps that shall include the areas eligible for designation under this chapter, which shall integrate consistent elements in the municipal and regional plan. Honor before December 31, 2024, that shall develop standard methodology and process for the mapping of eligible areas eligible for designation to this chapter in consultation with the department and the environmental review board shall integrate elements in the regional plan and plan for a municipality. The methodology and process shall recommend streamlined procedure for minor amendments by the board to the boundaries of the approved designated areas on request by member municipalities to map eligible areas for designation under this chapter onto page 103. Thank you. Thank you again. From department thousands meeting development. These are these are sections that I think been deferred to the regional. Regional planning report language that are potentially redundant are already addressed by. RPC prepare sections. Any regional planning commission may issue independent comments to the panel or state board on a proposed regional plan future land use map. Baptist shall develop a pre adoption process by which the department and environmental review board can review the proposed regional plan future land use maps. And issue findings on conformance with the chapter and chapter 117 of this title. Regional planning future land use maps shall be submitted to the ERB for review and approval with the advice and consent of the department and state board. On those downtown and village centers and neighborhoods. Areas to death to be designated under this chapter. So and I meant to build this but it depending on you may want to take all this out but I advise and consent to the department and state board. I don't totally know what that means but some kind of consultation with them I guess. So. On page 103 the next section is 50 to four. So this is the designation of downtown and village centers. So designation established. A regional planning commission may apply to the ERB. For designation of all centers within the regional planning commission. By submitting the regional plan future land use map. Adopted by the region. The environmental review board shall seek the advice and consent of the department and state board. On areas eligible for center designation. I didn't under this chapter. Doesn't make sense to me. I mean, if you're doing it. They're doing it. Am I missing something? Yeah. So again, Jacob, I work department of housing. Initially it was thought that the designation. The approval of the regional plan of future land use map. Would come to the reform downtown. Questions were raised by the RPCs that doesn't make. Does it really make sense to have. Two approval processes one for the whole regional plan. Including the future land use map going to the ERB and then another. Going to the separate town board. So the thinking here was that the whole thing would go to the ERB. But the downtown board would still have an advisory. Roll to the ERB. For its focus on centers and neighborhoods. It's not what it says. So the goal is to. Take this language and to extend it remains make it advisory to the. An advisory role. Okay. Yeah. And so just to remind you currently under chapter 76. There are downtown's village centers and new town centers. And this bill is starting in this section. Condenses those three things into this centers, which are downtown and or village centers. Just calling them centers. And, and the proposal is that. The municipality doesn't necessarily have to make any separate application. It's just all is all happening primarily through the regional planning process. So online 18. Seem like the towns should have to be motivating it. I guess they'll be. They'll be motivating it through the regional planning process. I guess they will weigh in on it there. Yeah. And I guess just to say this. I'm comfortable with that with 1B. I think 1A needs to be on the map, but then get a separate approval by the board. So. So that's that we have it. So that's what we have attracted. Yeah. This is separate. This isn't jurisdiction. This is their program. Okay. This is not about it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I would just, I mean, noting representant bond guards comments. I don't have a lot of comfort with a lot of this at this point. So I mean, I think we're just kind of flagging ideas right at this point. So a pre application meeting shall be held with the ERB and department staff to review the program requirements at least 60 days prior to submission and review of the regional planning commission. Future land use map. And a joining regional planning commission review. On to page. 104. The meeting shall be held in the regional planning commission unless the regional planning commission agrees to another location. An application by a regional planning commission shall contain the regional plan future land use map that delineates all centers eligible for designation. Within the municipalities throughout the regional planning commission. Regional plan future land use map shall identify downtown centers and village centers as the downtown and village areas eligible for designation as centers. The application shall also include evidence that the municipalities have been notified of the regional planning commissions intent to apply. Evidence that the notice of its application has been submitted. So it has been published on the regional planning commissions website. And information showing the eligible regional land use areas. That the standards for designation. Sorry information showing that the eligible. Regional land use areas that the standard for designation established in this chapter. Well, that's not a complete sentence something is happening there about information. Information there needs to be information of the application. Inclusions. The areas designated by the regional planning commissions as a center shall allow for the designation of pre existing approved village centers downtown centers and new town centers. In existence on or before December 25, 2025. Approval. The ERB shall hold a hearing to approve of regional plan future land use map within 90 days following the receipt of a complete application and forward the application to the department within 15 days. The state board shall hold a hearing on the complete application onto page 105. To review the regional and future land use map within 60 days following the receipt of a complete application. The state board shall issue a written decision that the regional plan future land use map has met the requirements of at least one step. On the benefits ladder described in subsection E of the section and forwarded decision to the ERB. The ERB shall issue written shall issue specific written findings of its decision. Oh, if it's decision does not accept the state board's determination for community revitalization boundaries. So, I think as you work through this, you might want to just keep an eye on the timeline that's being established here. Transition. All designated village centers, new town centers or downtowns existing as of July 1, 2024 will retain current benefits until July 1, 2029. Or until approval of future of regional future land use maps by the state board, whichever comes first. All existing designations in effect. July 1, 2024 will expire July 1, 2029. If the regional planning commission does not receive state board approval of the regional plan future land use maps under this chapter. All benefits for pre existing designated centers of village centers, downtowns and new town centers. All applications that are removed under this chapter shall remain with the prior designations existing as of July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2032 during the period of transition. No renewal will shall be required for the pre existing designations. New applications may be approved by the state board prior to approval of this regional future land use maps under former chapter 76 of this title by the board for July 1, 2025. As you work on this program. Shifting from an existing state program to a new state program does require a transition period. It is very, it is not advisable to draft contingent statutes. So I haven't, I had recommended specific dates here so that there were sort of drop dead dates. You may want to consider if those are the correct dates, but saying something will exist until someone else decides it doesn't is not how the laws should be drafted. So I just want to flag that. That these might not be the dates you think will work for this, but you should have dates in mind for how that transition will happen. What's the rationale for online 13 July 129 date and then down at 17 July 132. I don't remember what the sense 2032 date is. It makes sense for that to be 29 as well. There's something about. If, if they don't get the new designation there has to also be a drop dead date. So my only question was, should they be the same both, both July 129. Yeah, if I could provide a variety of additional context there. So the 2032 date relates to lost. There are relates to regulatory benefits that are removed under the chapter and the thinking there was that there might need to be additional time. To get the plan growth or tier one or two, two one a or two one D in the eight year plan cycle. And so it's related specifically to that act to 15 exemption and providing a little bit more time to make that transition for those benefits. Thank you chair. In line 20. Is that normal to prefer to repeal section. So drafting all of this is sort of tricky. And I think it can be cleaned up. So. There isn't. I think I think it needs work on I do with how you when exactly 76 a is repealed. Especially if you're giving them another year to apply under it. So there should probably be a delay. I'd love. So anyway, structuring this legal has been a little bit of a interesting thought experiment because I haven't figured it out fully yet. So happy to hear thoughts on how to structure this transition. Well, it's interesting because in the very beginning, I'm very curious why we're striking that section and I thought that would be a digression, but maybe it's not what was behind the thinking of. I'm not feeling a section rather than just editing it. Because there's significant overlap with the old with the existing program, but your streamlining parts so you're shedding large parts of it. So how to structure. There would have been a lot of strikes really like we're getting rid of this. Yes. So. Honestly, it was just easier for me to write it from scratch. But I will. Yes. So. We I could potentially, but if you're. Yes, we could I but I would need to think of I haven't done one of these before where we like rebuild the program from from the top up so. Yeah, I'm open to suggestions on how to legally structure it. We're doing a lot here in this bill and I kind of keep going back to this. This is not as time sensitive as some of the other elements that we're trying to get going. I'm not. Yeah, I want to make sure we get it right and not complete too many things. See what else is in here. So on to page 106. Okay, the benefit reps. So a center may receive the benefits associated with the steps in this chapter by meeting the established requirements. The department shall review applications from municipalities to advance from step 1 to step 2 and from step 2 to step 3 and issue written decisions. If a municipal application is rejected by the department, the municipality may appeal to the administration to this. The administrative decision to the state board applications to the department will be reviewed and approved. By staff within 30 days following receipt of a complete application. Appeals will be heard by the state board within 30 days following an appeal. The department may issue guidelines to administer these steps. Question take of how often do people appeal this? How often is this controversial? There's no appeal. There's no ability to stay for decision is fine. It's up on controversy. I think there have been times where. Yeah, and so this is a setting up a sort of different process because it's one designation, but with. Increasing requirements gets you increasing benefits. So step one. Requirements. Step 1 is established to create an accessible and low barrier entry point for all villages throughout the state to access site based improvement supports and conduct initial planning. A municipality with an approved designated. Village center as of July 1, 2024, shall automatically receive one of step 1 upon approval of the regional plan future land use map by the environmental review. Regional plan future land use maps supersede pre existing designated areas that may already meet step 1 requirement. Benefits a center that reaches step 1 is eligible for the following benefits. Onto 107 funding and technical assistance for site based projects, including the better places grant program. Access to the downtown and village and a tax credit program described in 32 VSA 59 30 a and other programs identify in in the department's guidelines. And funding for developing or amending the municipal plan. Visioning and assessments. Step 2. Requirements step 2 is established to create mid level entry point for emerging villages throughout the state to build planning and implementation capacity for community scale projects. A center reaches step 2 if it meets the requirements of step 1. Or if it has an approved village center or new town center as of July 1, 2024. Has confirmed has a confirmed municipal planning process and has a municipal plan with goals for for investment in the center. Benefits. In addition to the benefits of step 1 a center that reaches step 2 is eligible for the following benefits. General grant priority for for bylaws and special purpose plans. Area improvement or reinvestment plans, including the better connections program and other applicable programs identified by department guidance. And for capital funds. 208. Funding for infrastructure projects scoping design. Engineering, including participation in the downtown transportation and related capital improvement fund program. Established by section 5808 of the title. The authority to create a special taxing district pursuant to chapter 87 of this title. For the purposes of financing both capital and operating costs of a project within the boundaries of a center. Priority consideration for state and federal affordable housing funding. Authority for the municipal legislative body to lower speed limits. Less than 5. 25 miles per hour within. The center under 23 vsa. When everyone really wants. It is a. Exciting opportunity. This is so rich creator. Yeah, I'm getting my transportation. And exemption from the land gains tax. Exemption from the land gains. Existing. Yes. Okay. Step 3. Step 3 is established to create the high, the higher level entry point for. Downtown throughout the state to create vibrant mixed use centers. A center reaches step 3 and achieve status as a downtown. If the department finds that it meets the following requirements. Meets the requirements of step 2. Or if it has an existing designated downtown in effect as of July 1, 2024. And to page 109 is listed or eligible for listing in the national register of historic places. Has a downtown improvement plan. Has a downtown investment agreement as a capital plan that implements the downtown improvement plan. As a local downtown organization with an organizational structure necessary to sustain a comprehensive long term downtown revitalization effort. Including a local downtown organization that will collaborate with municipal departments. Local businesses and local nonprofit organizations. The local downtown organization shall work to. Enhance the physical appearance and livability of the downtown district. By implementing local policies that promote the use and rehabilitation of historic and existing buildings. By developing pedestrian oriented design requirements. By encouraging new development and infill that satisfies such design requirements. And by supporting long term planning that is consistent with the goal set forth and 4302 of this title. Build consensus and cooperation among the many groups and individuals that who have a role in the planning development and revitalization process. Onto page 110. Market the assets of the downtown district to customers potential investments new businesses local citizens and visitors. Strengthened diversify and increase the economic activity within the downtown district. And measure annual progress and achievements of the revitalization effort as required by department guidelines. The downtown shall have has available water and wastewater service and capacity. Has permanent zoning and subdivision bylaws. Has adopted historic preservation regulations for the district with a demonstrate with a demonstrated. Commitment to protect and enhance the district character of the downtown through the adoption of bylaws that adequately meet the historic preservation requirements and subdivision 44 14 1. In F of this title. Unless recognized by the program as a preexisting as you need a new town center. I guess along the way here, how much of this is new versus pre existing. You want Jacob to speak to that or do you want to speak to that? I believe all of it is very existing, but there are some minor modifications to. Design and form based sections and this tool preservation sections and recognition that. New town centers would be moving into this framework. They would not have historic areas and so would need some give for design bylaws, but it's a big picture. The centers are recognized on the regional future of my news maps from the smallest. Smallest little village to the largest downtown. And then and then they're sorting. Into steps that way the smallest village. Could and maybe support just wants to fix up an old general store. They, they can do that with as low for lowest friction as possible on step one. And then there's an administrative process where staff at the DCD. Would look at the requirements. From the municipality and it recognized them as a larger village or downtown and they unlock those benefits. It's similar to what we do now, but with a lot less administrative process. So on page 110 line 15. Has adopted design or form based regulations that adequately regulate the physical format scale of development. Adequately. Downtown board decides what adequate. Or the ERB has to actually, I think it's the department in this case. In addition to the benefits of steps 1 and 2, a municipality that reaches step 3 is eligible for the following benefits. Funding for the local downtown organization and technical assistance from the Vermont downtown program. For the center on to page 111 tax increment financing location pursuant to 32 BSA 5404 a. A reallocation of receipts related to the tax imposed on sales of construction materials. As provided 32 BSA 98 19. Does that mean. That's an existing. Yeah, it's an existing program or buy a sales tax reallocation script support. So any construction material that's sold where in the town in the. Like to know more. What, what that is what it does. Please. So then this next language is also existing about sprinklers. A rebate on the cost of a qualified sprinkler system in an amount not to exceed $2,000 for building owners or less ease rebate shall be paid by the department of public safety. To be qualified a sprinkler system must be a complete automatic fire sprinkler system installed in accord with the department of public safety's rules. In an older or historic building that is certified for a state tax credit under 32 BSA 59 30 CC IRB. And is located in a center. A total of not more than $40,000 of rebate shall be granted in any calendar year by the department of public safety. If in any year applications for rebates exceed that amount the department of public safety. Shall grant rebates for qualified systems in accordance with the to the date the building was certified. For tax credit under. 59 30 CC IRB with the earlier date receiving priority. So that's pretty interesting. A signage options under 10 BSA 494 13 and 17. Certain appeal limitations pursuant to chapter 117 highest priority for local for locating proposed state functions by the commissioner of buildings and general services or other state officials in consultation with the municipality. The state board. The general assembly committees of jurisdiction for the capital budget page 112. The host regional planning commission. When a downtown location is not suitable the commission shall issue written findings to the consulted parties demonstrating how suitability of the state function to a downtown location that feasible. That is an existing provision that downtown skip priority and citing of state buildings. Until 2032 regulatory benefits under 10 BSA chapter 151. Which is act 250. Appeal a decision of ERB on regional plan future land use map approval for designation. Excuse me. That's the, is that extending the, what is that doing? So there are existing benefits under act 250. I can think of a couple off the top of my head. Though I don't necessarily know fully what's intended here. So, like, for example. Well, so right now, NDAs get 50% discount on application fees, but that wouldn't be applicable here necessarily. Okay. Maybe also downtown findings. What does that mean downtown findings? So there's an existing process under act 250 where this, the town can apply for. Or any, any project located within a downtown can apply for findings of fact, which is a simplified application process essentially for projects within downtown's. You also did recently create master plans for downtown's if towns want to apply for them. For findings downtown. Right. Yeah. No, are there, are there other. Benefits for downtown's right now under act 250. Or. There's a 50% fee reduction in downtown's already right now. NDAs. Yeah. And downtown findings don't have. Yeah. Yeah. And downtown findings don't have. Yeah. Representative bongards. Since I think for shake. When we talk about the purpose of this. Sex words. The purpose of this being to create. Vibrant downtown's. Especially to tier free. I'm thinking about. Why, why step three. Why is it necessary to be listed. On the natural registry of historic places because that will leave some out that aren't or can't be. And if we're trying to create uses for. Vibrancy. Why is that there? Yeah, I think, I think that's a legitimate question. The program has historically been rooted in. Historic places that's existing statute. And what it does is anchors the program. And in our historic centers and advances the planning goals. Compacts elements surrounded by. Historic compact settlements around. But for certain specs. So by removing that. Even the opening up. But eventually, depending upon how the regional people in its categories are brand. Designation to non-historic places. So that's a policy question for us to, because I found what I was looking for wouldn't we say that we. Step three is established to create the higher level entry point for downtown start to create. Vibrant. Use centers. So I would think you could be a, yeah, you could be a vibrant misuse center without being a historic district. So. Just want to, okay, just flag it. Okay. One more paragraph and then we're going to take a break. Appeal. A decision of the ERB on regional plan future land use map approval for designations under the section may be appealed to the environmental division of the spirit court within 15 days. Following the issuance of the written decision. Do you just want to flag this is new. About appeal. But it is tied. To the map. So I, I don't. I don't know if you have actually discussed that at all in regards to your. How much you have discussed appeals and how that will work for. Regional and apps. All right, let's take 5 minutes. We're going to read our meeting and continue walking through draft 3.1 of age 67. All right, so on page 112 line 11. So now this to the designated neighborhood. And so you will recall that currently under the program, there are neighborhood development areas and days. So this is the replacement for that. A regional planning commission may apply to the environmental review board for designation of residential areas. On the regional plan future land use maps within the regional planning commission within that regional planning commission. As a designated neighborhood. Areas eligible for designation include plan growth area. And village areas identified on the regional plan future land use map. This designation requires recognizes that continued reinvestment is needed to maintain the vitality of downtowns and villages. And their adjacent neighborhoods. And that the benefits structure must ensure that any subsidy for sprawl repair or infill development. Locations within a name within a neighborhood is second year of primary. Submitment to maintain the livability and maximize the climate resilience and flood safe infill potential of these areas. So on page 113. An application for a designated neighborhood shall supplement the original application for the associated designation. And follow the same application process. So just like with the existing NDA you have to have a center. Designated and then this is a supplemental designation. An application by a regional planning commission shall contain. The regional plan future land use map that accurately delineates the planned growth area. And plant and village areas. As the areas eligible for designation as neighborhoods. The application shall also include evidence that the municipalities have been notified of the regional planning commissions intent to apply. Evidence that notice of its application has been published on the commission's website. And information showing that the district meets the standards for designation established in subdivision subsection D of the section. Exclusion. Areas eligible for designation as a neighborhood. They will not include the excluded regional areas identified on the regional plan future land use map and flood hazard and fluvial erosion areas. Except those areas contain the same development in areas suitable for infill development as defined in section 2902201. At the Vermont flood hazard area and river corridor rule as determined by a and R. Approval. The environmental review board shall hold a hearing to approve a regional plan future land use map within 90 days following. The receipt of the complete application and forward the application to the department within 15 days. See board shall hold on to page 114. The state board shall hold a hearing on the complete application to review the regional plan future land use map within 60 days. Following the receipt of a complete application. The board shall issue a written decision that the regional future land use map has met. The requirements described in subsection D of the section and forwarded decision to the environmental review board. So I'm a little lost. So the name. First of all, what is the designated neighborhood? How does it fit into the. Step 1, 2, 3, it doesn't. Okay, so what is it? It's the adjacent residential neighborhoods to the center. And that still exists for what reason? What does it do? And you don't have to answer Jacob can answer it if that's for a benefit similar to. What growth centers and neighborhood development areas already so supports for housing funding. Supports for. Municipal planning. The benefits that are listed in this section. Where are the benefits listed? We haven't gotten there. Yeah, okay. And, but there's still. I mean, they're not, they're not related to a light. Tier 1 a. Or how are they related to be determined, but I think that they wouldn't be potentially eligible for a tier 1 a or tier 1 be classifications because the neighborhood designation is still derived from the regional. So the neighborhoods could include what the regions would be mapping as plan growth areas. Okay, so they could be part of a plan growth area, but they're still have separate benefits. Through through a CCD. Okay, and then why is there this approval process really am I lost in the bill like designated neighborhood areas were in 5805. And then there's a separate approval process. Why. It needs to go right like. Okay, we, we need to this. Am I right? I don't know. So current, so I, I still haven't fully digested this honestly, but currently. If you remember what we have in the existing program is the 3 core designations. And then there are the 2 overlay designations that are sort of around them and include them. And so the growth areas and the neighborhood development areas. And so the overlay districts to downtown's village centers, new town centers. And so it's a similar concept here where you have your core and then this is the residential area around it, but you are raising an interesting question of should those shouldn't those definitions happen at the same time. And it does, I guess, depend on what you want the requirements to be for the neighborhood. Thank you. So on page 114. I think we're online for good. I think we have a written decision that the regional future lead and use map has met the requirements described in subsection D. And forwarded decisions to the environmental review board. The ERB shall issue specific written findings. If its decision does not accept the state boards termination for community revitalization boundaries. Do we already, do we already have an approval section even in this section? So there's the language is very similar to the center designation. So it is similar language to the process. So we have had another. So you have them all separate as if the ERB is going to be approving these all separately of all across. Okay. Yes. I can't have them. And want to work it down to what you're thinking. Yeah, because if this is the case, this will be all the ERB does. That's definitely not our vision for that board. Transition. Any municipality with an existing growth center or neighborhood development area will retain current benefits until July 1, 2029, or upon approval of the regional plan future land use maps, whichever comes first. The existing neighborhood development area and growth center designations in effect July 1, 2024 will expire July 1, 2029. If the regional planning commission does not gain approval. All benefits that are removed from neighborhood development areas and growth centers under this chapter shall remain active with prior designations existing as of July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2032. Okay. So we're going to have to get a handle on. During the period of transition, no renewals shall be required for existing designations prior to the approval of a regional plan. Future land use map by the state board. Only neighborhood development area designations may be approved by the state board. On page 115. Okay. So now that I'm reading the timeline for the 2nd time. Jake, can I clarify? What do you mean by the 8 year planning period? The municipal regional development period. And so, if. To start in function or that would provide an 8 year. Period to update the municipal plan and pursue. At solving recognition of regional map. The 2, 1, 1, 8 or 2, 1, B. 250 benefits. So, there will be no municipal plans that will be approved after July 1, 2024. That won't include the new designation. There will be using the old designation. Categories. We're just wondering if 2032 is far enough out. Is basically the root of my question. Yeah, you know what I think. What probably what needs to happen here is to do a visual with the timelines. Once the dates get. Converge, because certainly the, I think you receive testimony from the regional planning commissions. They're looking at a much more advanced timeline. Then what's here now are going to need to wait for this information. Yep. That'd be true. Okay. So onto page 115 requirements. A designated neighborhood shall meet the following requirements. Has an existing growth centers and neighborhood development development. Areas as in effect July 1, 2024, or is an area located within a regional. And growth area or regional village area on a regional plan future land use map. I'm not sure what that's has an existing growth center. Yeah, yeah, so there's typos in this sentence, right? Those are should be singular. So they should either have an existing designated center. Or be mapped on the regional plan map. By a contiguous centered design under this chapter. Unless recognized by the program as a pre existing designated neighborhood development area or growth area. Or otherwise separated by a river corridor or flood hazard area. As a confirmed municipal planning process. The city has implemented the complete streets principles or has a capital plan under 44 30 of this title to implement complete streets principles. And has adopted permanent zoning and subdivision bylaws that adequately allow housing benefits. A designated neighborhood is eligible for the following benefits. General grant priority for bylaws and special purpose plans. And for capital plans. Funding for infrastructure project scoping design engineering, including participation in the downtown transportation and related capital improvement fund program established by 5808. Access to the downtown and village center tax credit program. Priority consideration for state and federal affordable housing funding. Priority for funding for neighborhood infrastructure. Authority for the municipal legislative body to lower speed limits to 20 miles per hour. In the neighborhood. It's getting better all the time. Application fee limit for state wastewater application. An exclusion from land gains tax. Provided. And 32. So a lot of these benefits are the same as the downtown. Similar similar. Well, it's the same. Yeah. As what is currently part of the NDA. Program. Yep. Any ones in there that we should be aware of. So I don't know what priority consideration for state and federal affordable housing funding is. Existing benefit. Priority consideration for state and federal affordable housing funding is. Existing benefit. From on housing conservation board from on housing finance agency. The community development program and the department housing. Community developmental incentivize affordable housing funding within designated areas. And just as an additional background that this version. Was posted today. I believe this tracks very closely as 308. Which was language. Senator brace. Bill on active 50 future land use and designation. It's about four weeks old and in that version, it just bridged. I think some language. That the regents had prepared some language, maybe from 687 and. Language that the department. That advised on for designations, but so I think. But as you're going through, there, there are definitely opportunities to think about the content in the designation section here. And moving that into. An active 50 lane or future regional land use line and then the designation line so that they're all discreet. Because otherwise right now it's a, I think these concepts are a bit. A bit overlapping. I think we're going to look for opportunities to streamline our language given that. So thank you for. Assuring us of that. Yeah, great. So this whole next section, essentially, we have a process already in our bill. So. This is what maybe you said we could not walk through. Well, I didn't know if you wanted to just to go through this language. Is. Yeah. I mean, are there. May help to read it works. Is that's what you meant that you just said, no, I was talking about the later sections, because it's also the language in here on the places program and the downtown transportation fund. Our existing programs that just got moved. Yeah. Okay. All right, let's walk through this section and just see if there's anything that we could benefit from. Do we need to walk through the designation for playing golf? We're doing that. Well, there may be something that we make sense to pick up. Okay. So a designation is at the bottom of page 11516 designation established a municipality by its legislative body may apply to the environmental review board for designation of an area. Within that municipality as a state designated tier one planned growth area. As an overlay to a designated center or neighborhood that can be implied in whole or in part to a center or neighborhood. So purposes of the designated plan growth area is to principally extend state regulatory benefits, including active 50 exemption delegation, jurisdictional ease, presumption of compliance or fee waivers from the requirements of active 50. So the recognition of local conditions and capacity in areas planned for smart growth development and redevelopment to recognize the municipal implementation of best practices supported by the center and neighborhood benefits. That support the designation of planned growth areas capable of supporting major development and redevelopment. The plan shall include the intention to apply for the designation of the plan growth area under the section and the plan shall explain how the designation would further the municipalities goals and the goals of 4302. Pre application meeting shall be held with the environmental review board staff to review the program requirements and to preliminarily identify possible designation boundaries. The meeting shall be held in the municipality unless another location is agreed to by the municipality. The application by municipality shall contain a map that accurately delineates the proposed designated plan growth area and is consistent onto page 118. With the eligible areas on the regional planning map for the municipality. The application shall also include evidence that the regional planning commission has been notified of the municipalities intent to apply evidence that the RPC through action of its board supports the boundaries of the area. The municipality has published notice of its application in a local newspaper of general circulation within the municipality and information showing that the district meets the standards for designation under subsection B of the section approval. The ear be shall hold a hearing on the complete application to review the regional plan feature land use map within 60 days following the receipt of a complete application. The ear be shall designate a planned growth area if the ear be finds in its written decision that the municipality has met the requirements of subsection C. Requirements. A municipality shall receive designation as a designated plan growth area and it's associated type of benefits if it meets the following requirements. Land development regulations, including addressing. In 9 L. Smart growth principles and elements in the existing neighborhood development area that designation onto page 119. Advanced development review administration as allowed under environmental review board rules. Enhanced energy plan and housing mitigation plan to advance the state's energy plan and climate action plan goals. Advanced capital planning that supports the smart growth principles complete streets and climate action. Maps of water sewer and storm water infrastructure and an ordinance on connections to public systems. And an improvement an area and improvement plan and capital investments for settlement expansion infill development or sprawl repair. Benefits. A municipality may receive the following benefits for designation of a planned growth area. Exemption from act 250 and tax increment financing. Appeal a decision of the year beyond designation of this section may be appealed to the environmental division of the superior court within 15 days. Is the tax increment financing. Where can you remind me where we're at with that we're still parsing those out pretty carefully right. Yeah, so that's that's a big chain. I actually don't know much about that statute and how it works. Jacob, can you tell us kind of where we're at with that. And this would be a pretty significant expansion to the tax increment. Yeah, okay. Thank you. All right, so. Transition. On or before July 1, 2029, the regional planning commission shall update the regional plan future news maps to delineate downtown centers. That's a page 120 village centers planned growth areas, which may encompass a downtown center and village area, village center and village areas. Until when until July 1, 2029, any municipality with an existing designated downtown village center or new town center may be granted a center designation by the state downtown and village board. Through the regional through approval of the regional plan future land use map. Until July 1, 2029, any municipality with an existing designated neighborhood designated neighborhood development area or growth center. Maybe granted a designated neighborhood by the state downtown and village board. Through the approval of the regional plan future land use map. Again, the date that comes from what logic. So I initially picked a date because the, I think the report. It's said. Five years from enactment. First report that designations report. Yeah. So, presuming that this bill passed on July 1. 24. But. That doesn't necessarily mesh potentially with what you're doing. Designation data center. The department shall maintain an online municipal planning data center publishing approved regional plan future land use maps and indicating the status of each approved designation. And within the regional planning commission and associated steps for centers. So that's new. And then municipal technical assistance is also new. The commissioner of housing and community development shall develop a procedure for providing interagency technical assistance to municipalities participating in the programs under this chapter. The procedure shall include interagency assistance and address the following. On to page 121. General project advising and scoping services, physical improvement design services, regulatory and policy making projects or project services, programmatic and project management services. And legislative recommendations to the general assembly to better align designation benefits with strategic priorities. Honor before December 15, 2026. The procedures and recommendations shall address statutory state agency plans with a focus on the following strategic priorities for municipal and community development assistance. Housing development growth and equity, climate resilience, coordinated infrastructure investment, local administration, administrative capacity, equity diversity and access, livability and social service and historic preservation. And this, what's happening here. I just want to hear what's happening. So, I think the department can speak more on this, but this, there is an interest broadly that the, this designated area program have greater technical assistance for municipalities. And so really, this is just directing DHCD to come up with a guide on this addressing some of these things. Why is it sort of repeated or like, why are there, let's see. The difference between the list under B and the list under C procedures. Yeah, so the list under C and those are these are strategic areas of priority that the outreach that designation 2050 outreach. Indicated our key priorities for everybody involved. So the focus on housing, climate resilience. And local administrative capacity, whereas the list under B is more than how, how can we, how can we better support municipalities across state agencies. Through this designation program with the state board to show measurable impacts on those areas. Thank you representative Logan and Clifford. Thanks. Yeah, I think in line 20. Maybe it's confusing. This section is a bit because it says address the following. Which seems like, okay, these are the issues we're going to address. And then C seems like, okay, these are what these are issues we're going to because they both say address procedures. And both say procedures and address. So I think the procedures, it seems to me like what is being what. The attempt is to say these are the different types of procedures that are going to be developed the 5 different types of procedures that are going to be developed. And they're going to be developed so as to make recommendations on everything in C. Is that correct interpretation and all this language is new. Is that also, okay. I think maybe it's just the wording in line 20. We're working. Thank you for helping to clarify representative Clifford. Thank you, Madam chair. How much more with this language, how much more. They have a bird with us be a new department. So, I think, well, what this is George Martin burst to make recommendations. So that's not, that's not burdensome. The recommendations that potentially come with. Staffing at this point. And then be under the. The direction of the commission. So this is also just to be clear representative Clifford from the department. This language, this idea. Thank you. So, um, 5810 11 and 12 are existing programs that exist and are not being changed. They're being deleted because of the way it's been written. And so then we would need to understand them and be able to answer questions about them. Great. Well, in terms of walk through, I didn't know if you wanted, I think we're going to not walk through them right now, but I do think that we will need to understand them. And so, if, yeah. Um, and then, so jumping ahead. Uh, using our handy dandy outline. So section 45 and 46 amend the downtown and village center tax credit program to reference. The new designated areas. So it switches out downtown village center, even development area for center or neighborhood. And then we have page 127 and 128. And then there are some. There's some new language at the bottom of page 108 on qualified flood mitigation project, which is part of the flood mitigation tax credit that's in this section. So a qualified flood mitigation project means any combination of structural and non structural changes to a building located within a designated downtown. And then we have a new area that is located within a designated village center or neighborhood development area that reduces or eliminates flood damage to a building or its content. Onto page 129. This may include, but it's not limited to the relocation of H back electrical plumbing or other building systems and equipment from equipment above the flood level. Repairs or reinforcement in of foundation walls. Further eligible projects may be defined by via program guidance. The project shall comply with the municipalities adopted flood hazard by law if applicable and a certificate of completion shall be submitted by a registered engineer architect. Qualified contractor or qualified local official to program staff. So that's a change expanding what is available. To for the tax credit. And then on the next page, it's increasing the amount that can be awarded under the tax credit. Oh, sorry, that's on page 30131. So section 47 is increasing the amount of eligible tax credits. First, for code improvement tax credits. Currently it's a maximum credit of $50,000. This increases it to $100,000. And then through the flood mitigation tax credit, reducing it from $75,000 to $100,000. And then finally, it's raising the cap on the overall program from $3 million annually in tax credits to $5 million annually in tax. Thank you so much Ellen walking us through that. We are adjourned for the afternoon.