Shelburne staff report O'Brien development delayed by wetlands; town likely to miss 2026 housing target

Shelburne staff told the Housing Committee on July 6 that the town is unlikely to meet its 2026 goal of 59 new homes because several projects remain in planning stages and one major development faces a wetland constraint.

Staff reported that the O'Brien development has not yet submitted plans to the Development Review Board and that a portion of the property is designated a Class 2 wetland, which could prevent implementation of the project's Phase 3 as currently proposed. The minutes record that plans may need to be reworked to address the wetland.

Committee members were told that a few other housing projects are nearing the application stage but staff do not expect groundbreakings before the end of the year. Given that timeline, the committee noted the town will struggle to meet the stated 2026 target of 59 new homes.

No formal actions or votes were taken on these development updates during the meeting. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 3, 2026, where members may receive additional updates.