Dear Editor, We needed Act 250 in 1970 because most small towns did not have sufficient regulations or the capacity to effectively administer the sudden flood of applications for large development projects.  But, as with all bureaucracies, the administrators of Act 250 became seduced by thei r power and came to believe they knew best what was best for Vermont.  The process of Act 250 requires an applicant to work through a district coordinator. Not a bad idea in theory, but once you become locked into their process, you lose all control and, even more critically, predictability. The time you thought your project would take inexplicably expands; a day here, a day there, and soon your eight-month project becomes a 12-month one. All on your dime.  Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend is a gem, widely admired and beloved by that small town and the area communities that it serves. They are still waiting to break ground on a new primary care clinic first proposed in 2023. What was meant to be a roughly $20 million project has grown to a $24 million one — and the projected start date has slipped from 2025 to 2027 — in part because the Act 250 permit process alone took more than two years to clear. One hears that a lot. READ MORE So, come on, legislators, check your political ideologies at the door and cut the fat out of the Act 250 process so it enables new construction in Vermont rather than hinders it. It will be a great step in building more affordable homes and expanding businesses as they grow.   Lyman OrtonManchester, Vt. Read the story on VTDigger here: Cut the fat out of Act 250. ...read more read less