Williston Recreation & Parks Spring/Summer Program Guide pages 9-16
FEBRUARY 13, 2020
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Planning director’s blog post sows confusion, spawns citizens group By Jason Starr Observer staff
Williston Planning Director Matt Boulanger was hoping to spark interest in the local land development process when he published a blog post in January and posted it to Front Porch Forum. But the way it happened, with multiple people misled into thinking an enormous new housing development was on the horizon at Mountain View Road, was not his intention. “500-unit project proposed at Mountain View and Old Stage Road” the headline reads. “Six new major streets and 21 cul-de-sacs will be built on both sides of Mountain View and Old Stage Roads,” the post begins. “All the open lands in the southwest corner of Mountain View Road will either
be developed or planted with tall screening landscaping, obscuring the view of Camel’s Hump from Mountain View Road.” Wait, what? The post goes on to explain that the project was proposed in 1983 and never built. Boulanger’s point in the blog post is that many of the development issues of the past — pressure on roads, schools and infrastructure, for example — remain today. The post drew dozens of concerned responses from citizens, who apparently did not read the piece entirely. And the alarming headline — “500-unit project proposed …” — was the headline for each response. “I wouldn’t use that type of a headline in Front Porch Forum again,” Boulanger said. “The headline was repeated over and over, without the explanation.” see GROUP page 3
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Weekly food truck night in the offing at Adams Farm By Jason Starr Observer staff
Observer photo by Al Frey
Developer and Philanthropist Bobby Miller — 1935-2020 Legendary Chittenden County land developer and philanthropist Bobby Miller died last Tuesday in Burlington at the age of 84. Miller is the founder of Williston’s REM Development, which built the business parks on Industrial Avenue and Marshall Avenue. See Miller’s obituary on page 2.
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Timing coincides with new Isham farmers’ market
The full moon rises over Mount Mansfield on Sunday evening after the biggest snowstorm of the season pasted the landscape. See page 24 for more scenes from the storm.
Univer si 155 Do ty Mall r So. Bur set St. lington
Tuesday nights will be hopping in Williston this summer. In addition to a new weekly far mers’ market at the Isham Family Far m, a weekly night of food tr ucks and live music is pla n ne d for Ad a m’s Fa r m Market. Both are envisioned as family friendly gatherings, a chance to enjoy food and live music outdoors. Their simultaneous timing, from 5-8 p.m. each Tuesday late spring through mid-August, is a coincidence. The Observer detailed plans for the Isham farmers’ market in a Jan. 16 article. “Neither one of us knew the other was doing it,” Adams Farm Market co-owner Kim Antonioli said. “We know there are plenty of people in the area that will enjoy both. We’re hoping that it works out to draw more people into the town in general, and really promote agriculture and what we do. “ We a r e excit e d for t he m . We’re not looking to compete.”
Antonioli and her brother and co - ow ne r Scot t Ad a m s have a l r e a d y l i ne d u p t h r e e fo o d trucks for what they are calling “Truckin’ Tuesdays.” They are aiming for a roster of up to 10 food trucks that rotate from week to week, with at least three on site at the Old Stage Road property each week. Trucks already committed include Baba’s Tacos, Don’t Be A Meanie Panini and Four Quarters Brewing. Antonioli hopes to supply the trucks with Adams Farm produce. Music will be hosted on a front porch facing Mountain View Drive. Dotty The Bookmobile — the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library’s mobile library — will be on site as well. “We’re really looking to have something that allows people to have a bigger sense of community,” said Antonioli. “Williston is growing so exponentially right now with everything happening at Taft Corners. We just want people to remember, ‘hey, get outside, get some fresh air. If you are in a neighborhood nearby, use the bike path. Walk, come listen to some music.’” The Adams Farm Market will stay open with later hours on Truckin’ Tuesdays.