Williston
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JUNE 8, 2023
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
Glaser subdivision forwarded to public hearing BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Williston Planning Commission is ready to hold a public hearing on land use regulation changes specific to the 97-acre Jack Glaser Glaser parcel at the corner of Old Stage and Mountain View roads that would enable a 109-home subdivision. Landowners Jack and Caitlin Glaser applied for the subdivision under the town’s rarely used “specific plan” process that requires a
multi-tiered review by a subcommittee of the planning commission, the full planning commission, the selectboard and finally the development review board. An approval would create site-specific zoning rules and accelerate the pace of construction beyond the constraints of the growth management caps the town currently has in place. In return, the Glasers pledge to give 53 acres to the town, including about 15 acres fronting Mountain View Road, that preserves views of the mountains to the east. The planning commission voted 4-2 on Tuesday to move the application along for a public hearing, which is planned for mid-July. The see GLASER page 5
Waterline break causes Industrial Ave. closures
Industrial Avenue is temporarily open this week after a waterline burst last Wednesday. The road will close June 14 to allow crews to repave the affected section. See story on page 24. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Community center vision comes into focus
A pool received the most requests in a survey of Williston residents that asked what recreational elements they would like to have in a future community center. COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF WILLISTON
A pool, a senior center and a community kitchen top survey results BY JASON STARR Observer staff
It comes as no surprise that a community pool tops the list of recreational elements Williston residents would like included in a future community center. That goal, long envisioned by community leaders, was evident in the Community Center Scoping and Library Assessment Steering Committee’s initial survey of res-
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idents this spring. The committee conducted surveys and interviews in March and April and summarized its findings in a report delivered to town staff in May. Of the roughly 270 respondents, about half requested a community pool. Other elements — such as fitness space, an ice rink, a walking track, turf and tennis courts — received less than 25 requests each. In addition to recreational elements, the committee organized responses in other categories, including “gathering spaces” where a kitchen was the top request; “centers” where a senior center was the top request; “art and technolo-
gy” where a makerspace was the top request; and “library” where more library space was the top request.
TAKE THE SURVEY Community center prioritization survey available online at www.willistoncommunity.com. Paper copies available at Town Hall, the library and the REC Zone. “People want an inter-generational community space where residents can meet and gather … as well as an expanded library,” the report states.
WITH A HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT.
Simultaneous to the committee’s survey, the Montpelier-based architectural company Black River Design created preliminary plans for a library expansion on the Town Green. “The desire for a community center and recreation space has been a longtime goal of the town,” Town Manager Erik Wells said. “Our library is a tremendous asset and serves as a community hub that is facing space challenges for the future. The goal of this project is to determine a pathway forward for these community spaces.” The committee’s report see COMMUNITY page 24
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