Williston
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
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Town makes play for state police building A potential site for community center, Wells says BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Town of Williston seeks a right of first refusal to buy the Vermont State Police barracks near the Exit 12 interchange of Interstate 89. Town Manager Erik Wells made a formal request last Friday at the Statehouse in Montpelier, testifying in front of members of the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions. The roughly 3-acre site, he said, could serve as the location for a future town community center — a gym, senior center, pool project that a citizens committee recommended for Taft Corners last November. Alternatively, Wells said, the town could use the parcel to create affordable housing. “There exist many potential options for the property, and if granted the option to acquire it, the town could have a thoughtful conversation about its potential uses,” Wells said. The property is currently appraised at $2.6 million. It has a 30,000-square-foot building on it that the Vermont State Police used as a regional headquarters up until last November, when it moved about a
original plans due to construction cost overruns, leaving nowhere to move the state police’s marine division equipment. The department is looking into short-term storage alternatives as well as the construction of a new storage facility. “The current plan is to continue to use the Williston police barracks to house that equipment,” Fitch said. “Once we can move the marine division out and it becomes vacant, we plan to put it on the market.” For Williston to be offered a right of first refusal, the House committee would have to amend its capital bill legislation, which would then need full House and Senate approval and the governor’s signature. That would allow the town to initiate a public conversation about the option, Wells said. Any acquisition would require The roughly 3-acre parcel of the former Vermont State Police barracks on Route 2A is soon to be up for sale. OBSERVER FILE PHOTO voter approval to borrow funds, he said. If quarter-mile south to a newly constructed for sale … I believe we would get into a the town refused the option, the state could headquarters on the other side of the in- bidding war, so who knows where that will then sell the property on the open market. Lawmakers have in the past given muterstate. Vermont Department of Buildings lead. It hasn’t been listed. The offers and nicipalities right of first refusal to purchase and General Services Director of Planning solicitations will only get larger once we state property, but House committee memand Property Management Eric Pembroke go down that road.” bers said none had the potential windfall said he gets frequent inquiries from land One caveat with the sale is that the state for state coffers that the Williston property developers in Vermont and out of state police are still storing boats and snowmohas. who are interested in purchasing the prop- biles there, according to Jennifer Fitch, “Are we shortchanging Vermonters erty. He expects the state would generate the commissioner of the Department of if we don’t seek the highest bid?” asked more revenue if the parcel were sold on the Buildings and General Services. In testicommittee member Michelle Bos-Lun of open market, rather than to Williston. mony to the committee, she explained that Westminster. “This is going to be a very “It’s a very attractive piece of proper- storage capacity at the newly constructed difficult decision for us.” ty,” Pembroke said. “Should we put it up headquarters had to be pared down from
Court: Dog rescue can’t operate from home
Neighbors win case against Lamplite Lane nonprofit BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Vermont Environmental Court has ruled in favor of a group of 18 Lamplite Lane residents hoping to rid the neighborhood of a nonprofit dog rescue that operates out of a home there. The legal dispute started with a 2022 Notice of Violation issued by the Town of Williston that prompted rescue founder Dawna Pederzani to scale back the organization’s operations. Called Vermont English Bulldog Rescue, the nonprofit receives a variety of breeds of homeless dogs from out of state and pairs them with people looking to adopt. It has been based out of Pederzani’s Lamplite
Lane home since 2010. Pederzani received a town permit to run the rescue last January after paring down the operation, including setting up an off-site location to receive vanloads of homeless dogs. It remains a subject of dispute between the neighbors and Pederzani how many dogs are still received and kept at the house, let into the backyard, and walked around the neighborhood by volunteers, the court noted. Led by Kim Butterfield, the neighbors hired an attorney to appeal the town permit with a hearing in front of the Development Review Board. Last March, the board overturned the permit approval. Pederzani then appealed the board’s decision to the Vermont Superior Court’s Environmental Division in Burlington. This week, Pederzani said she is considering an appeal of the Environmental Court’s
“(Pederzani) is not entitled to an administrative permit for a home business for the rescue’s current operations.” Vermont Environmental Court
decision to the Vermont Supreme Court. The Environmental Court’s decision, issued Jan. 31 by Judge Thomas Walsh, noted that, while home businesses are allowed in residential areas under Williston’s zoning regulations, operations must remain inside the home. The court rejected Pederzani’s argument that walking rescue dogs around the
neighborhood and letting them use the backyard is akin to how other residents walk and care for their dogs. “The rescue’s use of the neighborhood is an integral part of its operation,” the court ruling states. “The Williston Zoning Ordinance is clear and unambiguous: home businesses are to occur inside in the Residential Zoning District,” the court concluded. “(Pederzani) is not entitled to an administrative permit for a home business for the rescue’s current operations.” Williston Zoning Administrator Matt Boulanger said, unless an appeal is filed, the dog rescue will be required to cease operation. “If it does not, it is in violation and the town can pursue enforcement,” Boulanger said.