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A solution for last-mile broadband
with the selectboard on Tuesday to urge the town to consider working with neighboring municipalities to form a CUD. “I see this as an issue of equity and access,” BY JASON STARR selectboard member Greta D’Agostino said, Observer staff “and an opportunity for our town to be a leadChittenden County is the most internet-en- er.” The board plans to vote in July whether to abled region of Vermont, and yet, there remain put a CUD question on the November general pockets of rural neighborhoods that are either election ballot. A positive townwide vote is renot connected or connected at impractically quired from at least two municipalities to form slow speeds. a CUD. Once a CUD is formed, other municiAbout 4 percent of the homes in Williston palities can join by selectboard vote, Fish said. fall into this category, according to the Chit“It is important that the region move on tenden County Regional Planning Commisthis quickly because the Vermont Communision. These 138 homes are mostly at the end of ty Broadband Board may various roads in the southreallocate the broadband ern part of town. It’s about ‘I see this as an issue of funds for the Chittenden the same percentage of County municipalities to equity and access, and unserved and underserved other regions if a good homes countywide. an opportunity for our faith effort is not made toMost have some intown to be a leader.’ ward using these funds in ternet connection, but not Greta D’Agostino the region by November,” enough to effectively work Williston Selectboard Mahoney wrote in a June or attend school remotememo to the selectboard. ly, or consistently stream There is no other viable video, especially if there path for unserved and underserved residences are multiple members of a household online in Chittenden County to get high speed interat the same time. The CCRPC estimates that net, she said. The formation of a CUD would there are eight Williston homes without access to internet at all. Meanwhile, the vast majori- also benefit those currently served at broadty of Williston homes are served at adequate band speeds by bringing everyone up to the broadband speeds, while a small minority (35 fastest (fiber) level of service. “We hoped we wouldn’t have to do a CUD, homes) are served at next-level fiber speeds, but we’re at the point where it really doesn’t according to the CCRPC. seem like there is a different solution. (It) is poCCRPC Planning Program Manager Regitentially the only way to get the public dollars na Mahoney is attempting to organize municto our communities to make this broadband ipalities to create a “Chittenden County Comexpansion work,” Mahoney said. munications Union District” (CUD), a new Fish assured the selectboard that grant shared governing entity that could accept state funding and revenue bonds would fund the and federal grants and lure an internet provider CUD, while shielding property taxpayers from to build out service at the highest speeds to evexpenses and liabilities. It would operate simiery home in the county. Nine such entities have formed in Vermont, larly to other multi-municipal districts, such as encompassing 208 member municipalities that the Chittenden Solid Waste District, he said. Still, town leaders do not take the prospect are lining up for $116 million of broadband lightly. infrastructure funding that the Legislature au“Forming a new government is no small thorized in Act 71 last spring. The legislation feat and being a town that steps forward to do created the Vermont Community Broadband it brings a lot of responsibility,” Town Manager Board to help form and fund CUDs. Erik Wells said. The board’s deputy director, Rob Fish, met
Planners urge formation of communications district
What’s hatching in Williston?
A bird’s-eye view of a baby robin newly emerged from its shell taken on Tuesday. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JUDSON KIMBLE
Board seeks public comment on rezoning Taft Corners The Williston Selectboard invites public comment July 5 as it attempts to decide whether to enact a Planning Commission-recommended rewrite of the land use regulations for Taft Corners. The “form-based code” was written with the help of a consultant and input from the public over the past two years, and submitted for selectboard consideration in the spring. At its June 7 meeting, the board voted 3-2 to advance the adoption process by holding the public hearing. The regulations would move Taft Corners toward a more pedestrian-friendly and less car-centric neighborhood by prescribing a block-style street layout and dense, mixed-used buildings. The three largest property owners/developers in the district have urged the board not to adopt the regulations. The July 5 public hearing will begin at 7:15 p.m. at Town Hall and virtually via video-conference. Written comments can be submitted prior to the hearing to Town Manager Erik Wells at ewells@willistonvt.org or mailed to his attention at Williston Town Hall, 7900 Williston Road, Williston, VT 05495. After the public hearing, the board could change the regulations or decline to enact them. If the board votes to enact the changes, they would go into effect 21 days later, unless a petition is filed for a townwide vote to repeal the amendments before they take effect. — Jason Starr
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