Giviunigde G A Williston community philanthropy guide
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NOVEMBER 2, 2023
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
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Library expansion, Taft Corners community center recommended BY JASON STARR Observer staff
About 40 people attended a presentation Monday of a committee convened by the Williston Selectboard to determine how the town should proceed with an expansion of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and the construction of a community center. The committee met over the course of a year, collecting public sentiment and working with an architect to weigh different construction possibilities and cost estimates. Consulting architect John Hemmelgarn said during Monday’s presentation, which took place in the Williston Central School auditorium, that the committee coalesced around one concept among four possibilities considered: to build a two-story expansion off the back end of the library and build a community center in a to-be-determined location in Taft Corners. Other possibilities the committee discussed were co-locating the library and community center in one new building, building a new
Essex-based homebuilder files subdivision apps BY JASON STARR Observer staff Rivers Edge Building Development Company, which does business as Sheppard Custom
community center with a satellite branch of the library in it, and building both a new community center
The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library would double in size at its Williston Village location with a two-story expansion proposed by a citizens committee. OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
and a new library. Karla Karstens, a library trustee who served on the committee, said library leaders feel strongly about expanding off the library’s current location in Williston Village, rather than building a new library elsewhere. “If the library were to leave, that would be a real emotional and physical gap (in the Village),” she said. At the same time, a new community center makes most sense in Taft
Corners, the committee determined, where the majority of new home construction in Williston is expected to take place and where public transportation is available. Hundreds of residents offered opinions to the committee about the type of programs and facilities they would like to see in a community center. “A pool was the top requested item with nearly 50 percent of respondents mentioning a pool,” the committee’s report states. Other requests were senior center space with a kitchen, fitness class space, a gymnasium and indoor turf. There was also input specifically against a pool, citing cost, according to the committee. “Pools are not only expensive to build, but also expensive to operate,” said Hemmelgarn, an architect with Montpelier-based Black River Design who resides in Williston and serves as vice chair on the Development Review Board. The committee recommends splitting community center consee COMMUNITY CENTER page 4
Witch way to the treats Witches, goblins, gouls and gremlins crawled out from the attics and alleys of Williston at the Williston-Richmond Rotary’s Trunk or Treat event in the Williston Central School parking lot Sunday. For more photos, see page 3.
Glasers choose development partner
Homes, has filed subdivision applications ahead of the Williston Development Review Board’s Nov. 14 meeting for preliminary approval of home construction on the 97-acre Glaser parcel at the corner of Old Stage and Mountain View roads. The filings reflect an appar-
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ent partnership between the Essex-based company and landowners Jack and Caitlin Glaser. Glaser consultant Ken Belliveau said the Glasers have at least a “handshake” agreement with Sheppard, but he doesn’t know the particulars. Jack Glaser and company leader Tom Sheppard did not re-
November 3-4th at Lenny’s
spond to requests for comment. “That’s who, I believe, they are potentially looking to partner with on potential buildout of the development,” Belliveau said. Up to this point, the Glasers have been the lone applicant on the subdivision proposal, which they have applied for under the
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PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA LEWINTER
town’s lengthy and rarely used “specific plan” process. The planning commission voted in October to forward the proposal — 109 homes, two new roads and about 50 acres gifted to the town — to the selectboard for consideration. If the selectboard approves, then see GLASERS page 6 Barre, Williston, St. Albans, Plattsburgh M-F 10-6 Sat 10-5 Free gift with purchase while supplies last.