Op-Ed: Better (not bigger) Vermont challenges the Vermont Futures Project

September 26, 2025  |  By John Bossange

Better (not Bigger) Vermont is a nonprofit organization that works to promote steady state economies in Vermont. We want Vermonters to recognize the need for an ecologically sound economy and the need to balance our human population and consumption with our region’s limited resources.

Recently the Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted a conference in Burlington titled “Vermont Solutions Summit: Actionable Economic Strategies.” The program focused on workforce growth, housing expansion and community revitalization.  

Kevin Chu, from the Vermont Futures Project, was a keynote speaker and presented four “Myth Busters” slides, attempting to “debunk common myths and equip audience members with data to become ambassadors for growth.”  Everything written on his slides is true, and reflects the beliefs of Better (not Bigger) Vermont, except for the one word: “myth.”

Vermont Future’s Slide #1: “Population and housing growth is going to turn Vermont into New Jersey while ruining our rural character and small-town feel.”    

Almost no one sitting in a weekday traffic jam leaving the Burlington area could be faulted for shouting at their dashboard, “What is this?  New Jersey? South Burlington and Williston are ground zero for the housing push and Exits 12, 13, 14, and 15 along Interstate 89 each have the eerie look of a New Jersey exit. Tafts Corners in Williston, U.S. Route 2 in Winooski and South Burlington, Vermont Route 15 in Essex Junction and beyond are filled with sprawling subdivisions, mega stores, malls, and terrible traffic congestion. Our quality of life there has been diminished. Other rural roads and highways in Vermont around cities and towns like Rutland, Barre, St. Johnsbury, Manchester, and Brattleboro, are well on their way to what is experienced in Chittenden County. 

Why not be honest with Vermonters? The rural character of our state from these areas and in many other towns is being destroyed by sprawl, and they have certainly lost their small-town feel. Tell Vermonters that the loss of our small-town rural character is the price you believe we must pay for economic growth and development. Stop selling the lie that growing the population and building more homes will not have an impact.

Vermont Future’s Slide #2: “Vermont doesn’t have the ‘carrying capacity’ for more people. It’ll overburden the state and increase costs.” 

No one enjoys paying their taxes, especially those who are paying for the new and extended “carrying costs,” now reflected in recent property tax bills. For all year-round Vermonters who pay taxes, new sewer and stormwater systems, fresh water lines, wastewater treatment plants, additional road maintenance projects, expanded police and fire services, more public works machinery and personnel, and of course, additional classrooms and teachers for the new students living in the subdivisions and town centers in our communities all cost money, and lots of it. It’s been long proven that growing the grand list and impact fees never come close to covering the long-term impacts of “carrying costs” on resident taxpayers.

Why not be honest with Vermonters and tell us that is the price and burden we will need to pay to cover the “carrying costs” of more people living in our communities? Stop selling the lie that there will be no burden and an increase in our property tax bills.

Vermont Future’s Slide #3: “Vermont’s population is not growing, so we don’t need more homes. Building new housing will increase costs for Vermonters while benefiting developers and out-of-staters.” 

The population has been growing very slowly during the past 10 years. The weather is too harsh for many, and the cost of living in Vermont is more expensive than in many cities and urban centers south of Vermont. For that reason, families have not moved here. 

Complicating this factor is the greed from developers who continue to build homes and condos now being built in Chittenden County ranging in price from $600,000 to $1.2 million. In 2024, the state saw an increase of 38% in out-of-state investors. Over 58,000 homes in Vermont are now either unoccupied, rentals, B and Bs, or partially occupied for less than 180 days by out-of-state residents. Out-of-staters are the only people who can afford to purchase homes priced for the open market.

Why not be honest with Vermonters and leaders in the business community? Tell them that constructing moderate and affordable homes for those already here and for those looking to relocate and work here will not happen because it is not profitable enough. Stop selling the lie that new homes will attract more people.

Vermont Future’s Slide #4: “Growth and Development are a threat to Vermont’s environment and beauty.”

Vermont’s greatest asset is its environment and beauty. It’s what drives our largest industry -- tourism. There is no beauty in Tafts Corners or surrounding the major exits along the interstate and along overdeveloped major road corridors that take tourists into our mountains and lakes.  Visitors can get that experience in New Jersey.  

In addition to the loss of natural beauty is the disastrous loss of natural lands, open spaces, meadows, wetlands, and forested areas that we desperately need to combat the climate crisis. These undeveloped lands provide a variety of climate mitigation forces that are critical to maintaining our clean water, clear air, and unpolluted soil.

Why not be honest with Vermonters, our environmental agencies, and the captains of our tourism industry? Tell them that our environment and beauty, the signature assets of our state, will need to be sacrificed in the name of economic growth, and that you want to create a new image for Vermont as a place for businesses to grow. Stop selling the lie that development will not threaten the environment and our tourism industry.

The Vermont Futures Project’s mission has never addressed economic sustainability. Instead, the organization continues to promote its own myths of population, housing, and workforce growth. The four slides are their attempt to bury the truth by calling our position statements “myths.” They are not. They are the uncomfortable truths that reflect the beliefs of Better (not bigger) Vermont, and many other environmental and civic organizations today.  

A retired Vermont middle school principal, South Burlington resident John Bossange is president of the board of directors of Better (not bigger) Vermont.