For the long-term future

CVU students invite community to Family Formal — Make-aWish fundraiser Champlain Valley Union High School’s Principles of Business class is hosting the 13th annual Family Formal, a friendly and fun dance that brings families together.

Observer file photo The 13th annual CVU Family Formal will take place March 21 to raise funds for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Vermont.

The event is primarily targeted toward children in kindergarten through fifth grade (older and younger children are welcome), who will attend the dance with a significant adult in their lives or with their family.

The dance will be held in the CVU Cafeteria from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 21. Tickets are $25 per adult, $10 per child.The class goal is to raise $5,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Vermont.

To order tickets, visit www. tinyurl.com/familyformal2020 or contact Principles of Business teacher Tamie-Jo Dickinson at tdickinson@cvsdvt.org.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont is a non-profit that grants wishes to children between the ages of 2 and 18 years old who are dealing with life-threatening medical conditions to enhance optimism, strength and happiness. An average wish costs nearly $10,000. The organization is solely funded by donations from individuals, corporations, small

businesses and special events. Attending the Family Formal will help make a child’s wish come true. The Principles of Business class at CVU focuses on building students’ management and business skills.A major part of the class is developing a sense of social responsibility in future business people. The Family Formal is the result of the work and commitment of the Principles of Business students: Aiden Achilles, Gregory Bliss, Kayla Carroll, Sophia Channell, Lizbeth Cintron, Tyler Diemer, Ty Dousevicz, Ryan Eaton, Liam Heininger, Jessica Ke, Finnegan Lahey, Emma LaPierre, Alex Leonard, Jack Mahar, Cameron Martin, Joey Merola, Emilio Paredes-Gutierrez, Donovan Richardson, Giacomo Sinopoli, Andrew Strobeck, Courtney Vincent, Dylan Walker, Cassandra Woodson and Olivia Zubarik.

Eagle Scouts honored Four Williston Troop 692 Scouts — James Eustace, Micah Rieley, Reid Zuwallack and Cole Zuwallack — were honored at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday at Eagle Scout Recognition Day. They each achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 2019.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting

Observer courtesy photo Local Eagle Scouts, from left, James Eustace, Micah Rieley, Reid Zuwallack and Cole Zuwallack, were honored at the Statehouse on Friday.

program; only 4 percent of Scouts worldwide reach this rank.A community celebration was also held at theOld Brick Church in Williston.

Two nights of music theater on tap at Brick Church The Williston Brick Church Music Series continues this Friday and Saturday with two nights of music theater.

Cast members of Lyric Theatre will perform “The Story of Love —A Lyric Theatre Cabaret” with 7 p.m. shows both nights. The performance features takes on the greatest hits from Broadway and beyond. It is directed by Sabrina Sydnor with musical direction by Grace Chris. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Old Brick Church in historic Williston Village. Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door ($11/$13 for seniors and children under 12). Advance purchase is available at the Williston Town offices at 7900 Williston Rd., or online at www. town.williston.vt.us.

The evenings’ beneficiary is the Lyric Theatre. The featured visual artist on Friday is Allison Cranmer: “Hey, look at that!” and on Saturday, the artists are Maria and Justin McQuiston with “Observations.” The series acknowledges the continued support from the Williston Observer, the Town of Williston and AdAstra Recording. The series continues March 21 with The Small Glories. For more information visit, www.town.williston.vt.us.

Explaining Williston’s growth and development regulations

By Chapin Kaynor Special to the Observer

There have recently been some comments on Front Porch Forum about development in Williston.As chair of the Williston Planning Commission, I’d like to provide some general information about our function and some specific information on how citizens can participate in defining Williston’s future by working with the planning commission.

The planning commission consists of seven volunteers appointed by the selectboard to staggered four-year terms. Our function is long-range planning, which includes preparation of the town’s Comprehensive Plan and related zoning and subdivision regulations. Planning and Zoning Department staff provide vital support to our activities.

We seek and receive input from residents of Williston and put the collective vision of our residents into words (the Town Plan) and regulations (the Unified Development Bylaw) while remaining consistent with state and federal laws. For instance, changing zoning density may be for the common good, but it can greatly affect the value of someone’s property, so it must be done with respect to individual property owner rights as well as the common good.

In brief, we must be judicious and balanced.

The Town Plan and any of the regulations that implement it can only be changed through a public process that starts with the planning commission drafting the change, then holding public hearings on it. After any revisions are incorporated into the plan, we submit the draft change to the selectboard, which may send it back asking for further revisions.

If the selectboard decides to proceed, it will also hold public hearings before deciding whether to adopt the changes. This process is designed to be deliberate (i.e. regulations that govern development. We do a better job when we hear more perspectives, so we encourage public engagement.

There are several ways citizens can become involved: 1. For projects under review by the DRB, learn about them and represent your views at the hearings. Keep in mind, however, that the DRB is bound to implement the existing bylaws. The DRB meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m. in the town hall meeting room. represent your vision for the future in a balanced way. 4. The Planning Commission invites you to a forum on growth in Williston, March 17 at 7 p.m. The forum will start with a presentation by planning department staff followed by open discussion. Please look for details in the coming weeks, and come share your vision for the future of our town.

I hope this background on the

ALPINE SHOP

Planning Commission is helpful. The Town Plan will be reviewed and updated over the next couple of years, so it is a great time to provide input. It was by participating in the last round of Town Plan updates that I found myself interested in joining the planning commission in 2018.

Chapin Kaynor is chair of the Williston Planning Commission.

slow) so that it fairly applies to all who may be in the same situation now and in the future, rather than to individual interests.

This long-term planning process seems far removed from the construction you see today, but it is the basis for what can be developed and how.Projects being built today were typically proposed one to five years ago, and evolved to fit the development bylaw requirements, most of which date from the 1990s and 2000s.

A different selectboard-appointed body, the development review board (DRB), reviews applications for developments. The DRB’s role is to apply current zoning and subdivision regulations to the projects that come before them.

In summary, the planning commission is citizen volunteers who represent the will of the citizens of Williston into the future, especially through the Town Plan and related 2. For the long-term future, participate in the upcoming round of Town Plan revisions or attend any of the open houses, forums and meetings advertised by the planning and zoning department. The planning and zoning staff do a great job of providing information any way possible, including on the town website, phone, e-mail or in person.

The planning commission meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the town hall annex at 7 p.m., and we always reserve time on the agenda for public input.Our agendas are published the week prior, and the draft minutes are available shortly after each meeting. 3. For more about the process, visit the town website (www.town. williston.vt.us) or talk with planning and zoning department staff, or with one of us, your planning commissioners. We do our best to

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