Inaugural Williston Community 5K registration opens

The RehabGYM and Williston Recreation and Parks Department will be hosting the 1st Annual Williston Community 5K on Saturday, May 13 at 9:30 a.m.

Open to runners aged 12 and up, the race takes place at Williston Village Community Park. The course

Growth

continued from page 1 amount golf course on Mountain View Road. During Growth Management meetings in 2022 and 2021, the project received 76 units of allocation. In total, 141 homes are planned on 30 acres. The parcel is located outside the Growth Center area but inside the sewer service area. Last week, the board unanimously approved 15 units.

RICE SUBDIVISION

Another proposal within the sewer service area is known as the Rice subdivision: 30 homes on 10 acres owned by Cody Rice near the Winooski River on Essex Road. Tuesday was the project’s first at-

Necs

continued from page 1 nearby intersection of Williston and South Brownell roads, where the sidewalk would end. Two years ago, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) declined to support the sidewalk plan without the intersection improvements — input that was a key factor in the planning commission’s denial of the application.

“VTrans considered it a sidewalk to nowhere,” said Rick Hamlin, an engineer working with NECS on the application.

If new pedestrian accommodations are first installed at the intersection, VTrans would be willing to approve the sidewalk, according to Hamlin.

“Those two things will have to be built at the same time, otherwise VTrans won’t permit it,” Hamlin said, adding that a portion of private property would have to be acquired to improve the intersection.

How far does NECS have to go in terms of constructing all that public infrastructure in order to receive Specific Plan approval is accessible, and adaptive athletes are encouraged to participate. Sport chairs or racing chairs are suggested. The goals for the event are to bring the community together, support local businesses and organizations and (hopefully) enjoy some warm spring weather. All proceeds will tempt at Growth Management allocation. It received 13 units.

SHORTSLEEVE AND MAGUIRE SUBDIVISIONS

The board granted one unit to a two-lot subdivision on North Williston Road, allowing a second home to be built on a three-quarter-acre lot owned by George and Patricia Shortsleeve. It also granted two units to Jonathan Maguire for a new building on a 6-acre parcel on Mountain View Road. Both parcels are in the sewer service area.

TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH

Trinity Baptist Church has abandoned plans for a 58-home condominium development on its campus on Mountain View Road to expand? That was the central question up for discussion when Hamlin and company owner Pierre Simard met with the planning commission on March 21. According to Hamlin, the company is willing to acquire the land and engineer the sidewalk and intersection plans to VTrans’ approval, then hand over a “shovel-ready” project to the Town of Williston to apply for grants for the construction.

“Just getting the permits and the design is a very significant lift,” Hamlin said.

Simard said the company would fund all the required public improvements if approval of the expansion plans can be assured.

“If we have to pay for everything, that’s what we are willing to agree to, but we don’t have the ability to risk the money without the expansion,” Simard said.

Some members of the planning commission who were on the board when the 2021 application was denied said they aren’t willing to revisit it. Williston Planning and Zoning Director Matt Boulanger noted that plan- be donated to local, nonprofit organizations including The Kelly Brush Foundation, the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association (NDAA) and the Williston Recreation Fortin Memorial Scholarship Fund.

To register visit https://rehabgym.com/5K/

(see related story, page 1) but still plans to build one home on a twolot subdivision. The board granted the church the one unit of allocation it requested. The parcel is outside the sewer service area.

Olson And Boardman Subdivisions

The board approved one new home for the Olson family parcel on Snowdrift Lane and two for the Boardman family parcel on Ricky Vista. Both parcels are outside the sewer service area.

For all of these projects to retain the allocations the board granted Tuesday, final plans must be filed for Development Review Board consideration within one year.

ners’ main concern at that time was that the expansion would be approved without assurances that the pedestrian improvements and bus stop would be built. He also reminded planners about some of the concerns raised by nearby homeowners. Simard said he met with neighbors to address their concerns as part of the 2021 application.

“This is a challenging one,” Boulanger said. “It puts a very large industrial building in the backyards of a residential neighborhood.”

In an informal vote on March 21, a majority of planning commission members said they would be willing to take up a new Specific Plan application, and the main sticking point would be how to guarantee the public benefit infrastructure is built. Hamlin said the onus is on VTrans to approve the sidewalk and intersection plans.

“It seems most of the planning commission would be willing to review (it),” vice chair Cate Lamar said during the meeting. “That’s all we can give you tonight.”

Cookie store starts mixing things up at Finney Crossing

In six years, Crumbl Cookies has grown from a single shop in Utah to roughly 700 locations in 45 states.

The company is opening its first Vermont location this week with a store at Finney Crossing in Williston. The store is next to Jersey Mike’s and Men’s Wearhouse, both of which opened last year in the building anchored by L.L. Bean.

According to a news release, the owners and manager of the Williston store come to Vermont by way of New Hampshire.

Crumbl offers new cookie flavors every week from a menu of about 300 varieties, while regularly bringing back old favorites. In its first week of operation, the Williston store will have on hand carrot cake, iced oatmeal, double fudge brownie, lemon bar and classic milk chocolate chip cookies. The store is open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-12 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.