MONTPELIER, Vt. -
As Jack Fountaine walks around a Colchester, Vermont lakefront property, he's reminded of what it looked like in spring of 2011.
"Some of them it was like the end of the world, some of the houses were completely destroyed," said Fountaine.
Lake Champlain flooded Fountaine's home.
He says it's a danger he faces living next to the lake, but he also does his part, including leaving tree roots in the ground, to make sure the flooding doesn't get worse.
"You can't remove too many of them or you'll tumble into the lake," said Fountaine.
Now some Vermont lawmakers want to make sure others act like Fountaine by focusing on future lakeside development.
Originally lawmakers wanted to crackdown on any disruption within a hundred feet of water that included putting in a small garden, but after getting a number of complaints lawmakers backed down.
"We're going to lighten up significantly on how intrusive the state will be," said Vermont State Rep. David Deen.
The revised house bill would still prohibit some work within a hundred feet of water and prevent new construction within 250-feet.
It also allows communities with existing policies to keep them in place.
But in order for it took pass this year the house fish and wildlife committee must approve it by Friday
Chair Deen says that won't be a problem.
"We're doing nothing but this bill for the rest of the week," said Deen.
If you want to give your input on the issue, there's a public hearing on this Tuesday at the statehouse until eight.
If the bill passes, homeowners and businesses would have a few years to finish projects, but would need to get approval from the state after 2015 for any new development.
