It’s chaos!
It’s Ugly time
Author finds success with new kids’ book
Popular fun run returns for charity
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South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
the DECEMBER 7, 2023
Commission looks to align zoning laws with new HOME bill
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VOLUME 47, NO. 49
New graduates
COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
The South Burlington planning and zoning department has begun work aligning the city’s zoning laws and subdistricts with the new HOME bill passed by the Legislature this year that reforms local and state land use regulations to spur housing development. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott in June, mandates that municipalities allow certain density requirements if the area is served by water and sewer infrastructure. Since the bill took effect on July 1, the city’s development review board and the planning and zoning office has had to “look to two, sometimes conflicting, sets of regulations to review development applications,” Kelsey Peterson, the city planner, said in a memo to planning board commissioners. “It’s a challenging position for our DRB to be interpreting how the new state law should apply, or must apply to our local regulations,” Paul Connor, the city’s direcSee BILL on page 12
COURTESY PHOTO
South Burlington police celebrated Justin Maki and officer Lucy Creedon who graduated from the 116th session of the Vermont Police Academy, flanked by other officers in the center. The class also honored Lt. Chris Bataille, second from left, with the Rod Pulisfer Instructor Award.
United Way, other nonprofits look to put volunteers to work OLIVIA WILSON COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE
With the holiday season underway, many Vermonters are asking themselves what they can do to give back to their communities. Sonja Paulson with United Way Northwest Vermont is herding volunteers in the Chit-
tenden, Grand Isle and Franklin counties. “Vermonters really care about each other — there is such a large sense of community, and everyone just wants to be a team and help each other,” Paulson said. She said she’s received an influx of inquiries asking about opportunities to give back.
“Let’s find something that fits your needs as well as helps out whatever nonprofit you want to work with,” she said. Whether you’d prefer to sell raffle tickets, cook holiday dinners or bring kids some holiday cheer, there are opportunities everywhere, she said. Santa might be a little busy this year —
that’s why they need as many elves possible at the station when the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation’s Polar Express arrives at the Wing building at the bottom of King Street. Volunteers can dress as elves and See UNITED WAY on page 12