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APRIL 16, 2026
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
Vermont State eliminates residential option in Williston
WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
New partnership houses VTSU students at St. Mike’s
Casella loses Act 250 appeal against recycling center
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Williston campus of Vermont State University has never been known for its residential experience. An administrative decision this spring to convert its lone dorm building into classroom space will eliminate any residential option on the campus.
Casella Waste Systems has lost an appeal in Vermont Environmental Court of the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s exemption from Act 250 land use review for the construction of its new recycling center on Redmond Road. The Vermont District 4 Environmental Commission Land Use Review Board issued an opinion in 2025 exempting the project from Act 250 review. The project, which is currently under construction, is designed to replace the district’s existing recycling center on Avenue C, expanding its capacity to handle residential and commercial recyclables in Chittenden County. Casella, a publicly traded company based in Rutland, operates the current recycling center as a contractor for the district. The Land Use Review Board determined that the project is exempt from Act 250 because of the district’s status as a public municipality and the fact that the project disturbs less than 10 acres of land. “The parcel is not considered involved land under Act 250 …. and the project does not require an Act 250 permit,” the board’s May 2025 decision states. In an October, 2025 appeal, Casella argued that the recycling center should not be considered a municipal use, rather a profit-generating see CASELLA page 24
“I think this is going to be a good thing for the more traditional collegeaged students at Williston. It expands their peer group and gives them a more traditional campus experience and campus environment.” Katherine Levasseur Vermont State University spokesperson
Through an agreement with Saint Michael’s College, Williston’s residential students — of which there are currently about 20 — will live in the dorms at St. Mike’s, roughly 5 miles away in Colchester. The decision solves two issues for Vermont State, university spokesperson Katherine Levasseur said. First, it opens up “Williston Hall” — the three-story dorm building that sits across Helena
Williston Hall, the lone dorm building at Vermont State University’s Williston campus, will be converted to classroom space this year, with students offered dorm rooms at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Drive from the main campus — for additional classroom space. Second, it gives residential students a more traditional college campus experience. The decision will affect only about 5 percent of Vermont State’s Williston students. The vast majority of those enrolled are older than traditional posthigh-school college age and commute to classes — such as adults taking individual classes or seeking second degrees. For those living in Williston Hall, the move to St. Mike’s will open up a suite of new opportunities and amenities. Most essential, perhaps, is access to a meal plan and on-campus dining. “I think this is going to be a good thing for the more traditional college-aged students at Williston,” Levasseur said. “It expands their peer group and gives them
a more traditional campus experience and campus environment.” Vermont State students will also have access to the St. Mike’s gym, library, student center and chapel. “We’ve gotten feedback and requests for a more vibrant residential environment,” Levasseur said. The commute to Williston takes about 15 minutes by car. It can also be done by bus: Green Mountain Transit’s Route 15 bus picks up in front of St. Mike’s. The trip requires a transfer in Essex Junction to the Essex-Williston bus. The Williston campus is one of five in the Vermont State University system, which was created in 2021 as a unification of Vermont State Colleges and Vermont Technical College. Post unification, the see VTSU page 10