Ep 7: The high stakes of land use and zoning

In this quicker update type episode, I share a bit about the contract that Rethink Local just started over the last couple weeks in Randolph Vermont, where my company was brought in to provide planning and zoning services, as well explore some opportunities for shared services in the future. I'll be serving as Randolph's Zoning Administrator under the title of Director of Planning, Zoning, and Regional Partnerships. In this episode, I wanted to share why local land use and zoning is so critical. Not just about "housing" as we typically think about it, which is already a major priority in our region, but how it is a bedrock to some themes around community and belonging that our country is struggling so much with in 2025, and which housing is one of the early-chain contributors to. We also cover some thoughts and opportunities for people to plug in at the local level to be involved in helping ensure local policies and practices support creating diverse, resilient communities.  For more information about the work between Rethink Local and Randolph, visit rethinklocal.us or randolphvt.org.  Additional resources:  "I voted, now what?" about specific ways you can get more involved locally: https://rethinklocal.castos.com/episodes/ep-5-i-voted-now-what  Rethink Local: https://rethinklocal.us/  Randolph, VT website: https://randolphvt.org/  Brick and Mortar Substack: https://brickandmortar.substack.com/  My Substack: https://alextorpey.substack.com