Burlington is planning for a lot more housing, and city planners want to hear from residents, builders included, about where it should go.
PlanBTV 2050 is a citywide effort to shape Burlington's future. For the first time, four major city departments are working together on one comprehensive vision, according to the city's planBTV 2050 page. The Office of City Planning is updating the 2019 Comprehensive Plan, Public Works is updating and expanding the 2011 Transportation Plan, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront is updating its 2015 parks plan, and the Community and Economic Development Office is developing a new citywide economic development strategy.
The housing goal is big. The plan is working toward "developing nearly 7,000 new housing units by 2050," according to the Office of City Planning's latest update, published by Vermont Business Magazine. Burlington is a city of just under 45,000 residents.
Since a kickoff open house in April, the city has run a statistically valid survey, hosted focus groups and workshops, met with stakeholders and set up tables at community events. Nearly 350 people attended the April 30 open house, according to the city.
Housing costs came out on top. Eighty-five percent of survey respondents called the cost of housing a very or extremely important issue, making it "the dominant concern for Burlingtonians today," the planning office wrote. Parks, nature and the lake rank as the city's top strengths, with 84% of respondents calling them extremely or very important to their decision to live or stay in Burlington.
Residents also raised concerns about crime and safety, public health, homelessness and downtown vibrancy. Resilience, including climate change impacts, runs through all the feedback, the office said.
The planning process kicked off in fall 2025 and will continue into 2027, the city says.
Upcoming dates
The next planBTV 2050 Community Open House is Thursday, Nov. 5, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the new Burlington High School, 52 Seahorse St. Residents can review and help refine the plan's draft vision and goals, share ideas about strategies, and react to scenarios for how Burlington could develop and grow to meet its housing targets.
Other planning work is moving too:
- Tier 1A: After a Sept. 28 work session, the City Council approved a resolution Oct. 5 authorizing the city to apply for Tier 1A status in eligible areas. Under Act 181, Tier 1A designation could give those areas a more streamlined state permitting process for housing and other development.
- planBTV New North End: After an Oct. 6 public hearing, the Planning Commission referred the neighborhood plan to the City Council.
- Mobility hubs: An Old North End Mobility Hub Workshop is set for Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the O.N.E. Community Center.
- Accessory dwelling units: AARP Vermont is hosting a virtual "Getting Started with Accessory Dwelling Units" workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. A two-session "Roadmap to Your Accessory Dwelling Unit Project" is scheduled for Nov. 11 and 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the BCA Community Room, 405 Pine St.
Why it matters for Contractors
Nearly 7,000 new homes by 2050 is a long-range target, not a building permit. But comprehensive plans shape the zoning, permitting and public investment decisions that come later, and those decide where and how much contractors can build.
The Nov. 5 open house is a chance to weigh in on growth scenarios before they're locked in. Builders know better than most what makes a project pencil out, from parking requirements to permitting timelines, and that perspective is useful to planners.
The Tier 1A application is the piece to watch in the near term. If the state approves Tier 1A status for parts of Burlington, projects in those areas could see a more streamlined state permitting path, which can mean shorter timelines and fewer unknowns.
The ADU workshops point to another steady stream of work. The Nov. 11–12 sessions will cover local rules, updated zoning changes to Burlington's Neighborhood Code, how long the process takes, and what to expect in design and construction costs. Homeowners who leave those sessions with a plan will need designers and builders to carry it out, and contractors who understand Burlington's ADU rules will be ready to help.