Montpelier’s Zoning Allows 6 Stories. Developers Keep Stopping at Less.
Montpelier’s Planning Commission is rethinking who gets to decide how tall buildings can go, and why a half-century of permissive rules hasn’t produced a single tall building. Planning Director Mike Miller told The Bridge that the city has technically allowed six-story construction in its downtown for 50 years. Not one developer has taken the city up on it.
50 years of six-story zoning allowances in Montpelier’s downtown, with zero six-story buildings constructed.
Planning Director Mike Miller, The Bridge, July 1, 2026
That gap between what zoning permits and what actually gets built is now driving a broader conversation about the River District, the stretch of land running from the Nature Conservancy up through Barr Hill.
The River District Is the Focus for New Height & Density
Planning Commission Vice Chair Maria Arsenlis wants the River District rezoned as an explicit pro-development zone.
“I would love to see that as kind of a pro-development area similar to the CCR. Kind of like, ‘Yes, please develop here. We want six-story apartment buildings here.’”
Maria Arsenlis, Vice Chair, Montpelier Planning Commission, April 2026
At an April commission meeting, Arsenlis went further, saying she would support 10-story buildings on Stone Cutter’s Way, the connector between Main Street and Granite Street. That level of density would be a significant departure from the city’s current built environment.
Zoning Alone Won’t Solve the Problem
Miller was direct: permitting height is not the same as building housing. The city’s existing rules already show that. Commissioners also discussed design review zones, which require additional approval for exterior changes to buildings. These zones can protect historic character but add steps that slow or deter projects.
Commissioner Sean Linehan noted at the meeting that development takes time regardless of how zoning is written. The policy question Miller posed is now squarely in front of the public, the Planning Commission, and the City Council: if the rules allow more, what will actually make development happen?
Vermont has a statewide housing shortage. Montpelier’s situation reflects a pattern seen across New England where zoning reform is necessary but not sufficient on its own.
What You Can Do Now
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Attend or submit comments to the Montpelier Planning Commission. The commission meets regularly and public input shapes rezoning decisions. Find the schedule at montpelier-vt.org and tell them specifically whether you support increased height limits in the River District.
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Contact Montpelier City Council members directly. Miller confirmed this is ultimately a City Council decision. Call City Hall at (802) 223-9502 and ask your council member to prioritize a vote on simplified zoning for the River District.
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Ask the Planning Commission to publish a written analysis of why 6-story development hasn’t happened. The 50-year gap needs a documented explanation, whether it’s financing, lot size, or permit costs, before the city can design a fix.
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Track Vermont’s statewide housing legislation. Vermont’s Act 47 (2023) and subsequent housing bills affect what municipalities can require. Contact your state representative through legislature.vermont.gov and ask what state-level barriers are blocking local housing production.
Sources
VTDigger: Montpelier Planning Commission Considers Taller Buildings and Zoning Changes Vermont Housing Finance Agency: Vermont Housing Needs Assessment National Zoning Atlas: How Exclusionary Zoning Limits Housing Supply
[Quote: “Yes, please develop here.
We want six-story apartment buildings here.”, Maria Arsenlis, Vice Chair, Montpelier Planning Commission. The Bridge, July 1, 2026]