WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Hartford’s committee on emergency shelter is tabling its initial plan to create a campground of micro-dwellings, citing regulatory costs.

After reviewing more than 100 town- and privately owned locations, the committee determined that purchasing and developing land under the current regulations is too expensive for community philanthropic support. The committee ran into particular difficulty with the cost of obtaining an Act 250 permit and the development of the requisite water and septic systems.

“It was certainly not our hope to come to the realization that there is too much regulatory tape to affordably build the type of campground that we were envisioning,” Bryan Luikart, an associate professor at Geisel School of Medicine who chairs the committee, said during a Tuesday Selectboard meeting.

The Selectboard created the Hartford Ad Hoc Committee on Emergency Shelter in December 2020 to research the regulatory obstacles that make creating emergency shelter for the homeless difficult in Hartford. It also was intended to submit recommendations to the Selectboard regarding the creation of more permanent solutions to support people who are homeless year-round.

At the Tuesday meeting, the Selectboard unanimously confirmed the extension of the committee to June 1, or until the committee brings forth a charge for a standing committee.

“It’s an important issue, and I think having a standing committee would be very valuable,” said Selectboard member Michael Hoyt. “As for the current ad hoc committee, I would support keeping it in place until there’s a resolution from Planning & Development.”

The committee is currently working with Hartford’s Department of Planning & Development and the Planning Commission on a second potential solution: the use of recreational vehicles (RVs), which would be paired with a “host building” like a church or shelter, as emergency housing.

“As of now, the goal is to make the town of Hartford’s regulations about the number of days someone can stay in a recreational vehicle equal to what the state of Vermont dictates, which is essentially that there is no limit on the number of days,” Luikart said. “When I think about it, I imagine something that costs way less than the voucher program, where we can look at the building regulations, put up a campground, and begin seeing people move forward.”

Vermont’s voucher program began in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, and provided hotel and motel vouchers to individuals who were regularly unhoused. It is set to expire on March 1.

Luikart hopes that if approved, a standing committee could begin approaching the broader problem of affordable housing in the Upper Valley while continuing to investigate the regulatory obstacles that prevent having a standing campground in Hartford.

Noting that there are no funds allocated to the committee, one of its members, Scott Sablan, took to the podium.

“I don’t see how a committee of dedicated volunteers who want to take this on and look for every possible solution is a bad thing,” Sablan said. “The cost of housing is skyrocketing, and this is all the more reason that we need to get creative.”

The committee has been the source of some controversy in town. January saw the removal of huts that had been constructed without permits with help from committee member and former Selectboard vice chair Simon Dennis. This was a lingering problem for Selectboard member Lannie Collins.

“We cannot have a committee that the Selectboard put in place with individuals that are openly violating Hartford ordinances on it,” Collins said. “Although they might have the best intentions, which I believe they are.”

Further, residents at the meeting voiced their concern about the extension of the committee’s charge, feeling that Hartford shoulders unequal burden in its efforts to create shelter for the Upper Valley’s homeless population as compared with neighboring towns.

“Why aren’t they doing more to help over in Lebanon?” asked Hartford resident Heidi Duto, who also was frustrated with the position of residents from other towns on Hartford committees, noting that Luikart himself is a resident of West Lebanon.

“I know of camps that have popped up in Lebanon and West Lebanon. So I would agree it’s not a Hartford-only problem,” Luikart said, praising Hartford for nevertheless taking an active role in solving the issue. “Hartford has been the compassionate pioneer.”

Frances Mize can be reached at fmize@vnews.com.