Join Us to Learn About 

• Highlights from the 2026 Legislative Session impacting planning and zoning 
• Best practices and legal fundamentals for Development Review Boards and Zoning Boards of Adjustment 
• Municipal Planning Grant funding opportunities 

See below for full session details. 

2026 Legislative Session
VLCT’s Municipal Policy Specialist will share planning and zoning highlights from the legislative session, including Act 181, agriculture and more. 

Presenter: Samantha Sheehan, VLCT Municipal Policy Specialist

Effective Development Review Boards 
This session will describe the legal roles and responsibilities of the DRB or ZBA and the legal requirements for governing their hearings, as well as share best practices for running effective hearings and issuing effective decisions. 
 

Presenter: Kail Romanoff, VLCT MAC Staff Attorney II

Municipal Planning Grants – Funding to Support Local Planning Initiatives
Discover funding opportunities through the Municipal Planning Grant (MPG) program and learn how to successfully apply for grants that support your municipality’s planning initiatives. Since 1998, the MPG program has awarded over $17 million in grants to 243 cities and towns across Vermont. Jacob Hemmerick and Jenni Lavoie from the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will share an overview of the program and describe success stories from past grant recipients.  
 

Presenters: 
Jacob Hemmerick, Planning and Policy Manager, Community Planning & Revitalization, DHCD 
Jenni Lavoie, Administrative Services Manager, Community Planning & Revitalization, DHCD