Williston Recreation & Parks
Fall/Winter Program Guide
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Permit #15 Williston,VT 05495 POSTAL CUSTOMER
AUGUST 15, 2019
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
Stalled Route 2A widening project restarts
WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
Community Bank invests in Cottonwood Crossing
By Jason Starr Observer staff
Having repaved Route 2 through Williston Village in July, the Vermont Agency of Transportation now refocuses on Route 2A from Bittersweet Circle to the Essex town line at the Winooski River. The work plan is multi-faceted, including widening the route from two lanes to three to create a center left-turning lane along a stretch that is home to businesses like ReStore, Eco Car Wash and Agway. The project was delayed this spring when Consolidated Communications got behind on a requirement to move utility poles to accommodate the road widening, Vtrans Project Manager Erin Parizo said. “They may have underestimated the amount of work they had to do,” she said. “We had to wait for the poles to be out of the way … and it ended up just running over schedule.” Vtrans has contracted with ECI of Williston on the project. Crews completed preliminary drainage work last September before halting work for the winter. Instead of restarting as planned in April, crews got back to work this week. Vtrans remains hopeful that the project can be completed before winter. “If we can’t, we’ll leave it in a suitable place over the winter, then come back in the spring,” Parizo said. In addition to the new center lane, the project includes an upgrade of the traffic signal at the James Brown Drive intersection, as well as creation of a left-turn lane and pedestrian crosswalks there. The intersection with Bittersweet Circle will receive a new pedestrian crosswalk activated by a push-button flashing beacon, and a sidewalk will be built along the east side of the road from Morgan Parkway to Eastview Circle. New curbing, drainage, signage, striping and stormwater mitigation are also part of the plan. Crews are first focusing on the traffic light at James Brown Drive. Underground drilling began Monday to accommodate electrical wiring, Parizo said. The project was fast-tracked by the Vermont Legislature for $2.5 million in federal funds as a “circ alternative” — to make up for the demise of the once promised “circumferential highway” through suburban
Observer photo by Al Frey
Phase one of Cottonwood Crossing is under construction next to Maple Tree Place.
Regional headquarters planned for Route 2 development By Jason Starr Observer staff
Cottonwood Crossing has landed an anchor business. Community Bank plans to locate its regional headquarters and a drivethrough branch in the mixed-use development that is under construction on Route 2 next to Maple Tree Place. Project Manager Brian Bertsch, representing landowner Allen Brook Development, presented plans for the bank building Tuesday to the Williston Development Review Board as part of a pre-application review of phase two of the 17-acre development. Phase one, with three mixed-use buildings and a new road, was approved in 2017 and is currently under construction. Five
phases are planned on the parcel, which was once a golf driving range and later a construction staging area for Vermont Gas’ southern pipeline expansion into Addison County. Bertsch said Community Bank will own the lot and its two-story building in a subdivision of the overall Cottonwood parcel. “I think that says a lot about their commitment to Williston,” he said. Approximately 70,000 square feet of commercial space and 200 residences are planned over five development phases. Landowner Al Senecal said he is in talks with businesses about leasing some of the retail space, but no deals have closed. “We have to be really aggressive with our pricing,” he said. “We’ve been talking to a restaurant,” Bertsch added. “I wish I could say who that is, but they are not ready to announce anything yet … There are
a lot of (businesses) that want to be in this part of Williston.” The board unanimously approved the phase two pre-application, allowing Allen Brook to proceed to the next step of review — a discretionary permit application. Board chair Scott Rieley recused himself from the hearing because of his investment in Finney Crossing, a mixed-use development about a quarter-mile away from Cottonwood. Rieley has recused himself from all Finney Crossing hearings as well. He said he recused himself Tuesday to avoid affecting the outcome of a development that is in direct competition with Finney. Community Bank is working with Burlington architecture firm TruexCullins on design of its building. Architect Dave Epstein noted there will be some changes from what Allen Brook originally envisioned for the 20,000-square-foot building. He see COTTONWOOD page 3
see ROUTE 2A page 3
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Waterfront Park, Burlington
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