Hotel nixed
Years-long plans for 117room building scrapped
3
City council revisits seat expansion talks
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
South Burlington residents may see a vote at next year’s Town Meeting Day that looks to expand the seats on the city council.
The conversation has been nearly two years in the making, since the city’s charter committee was tasked in late 2021 to recommend potential changes to South Burlington’s governing bodies in an effort to increase participation and better geographically represent the state’s second-largest city. That includes working to increase diversification in its political
process and ensuring that residents with varying backgrounds can participate in local politics.
Throughout the years, the committee has investigated switching the city’s at-large voting to a ward system, implementing a mayor and expanding both the school board and city council.
While the ward system conversation — which was arguably the most debated discussion by the committee — and adding a mayoral seat to city hall was ultimately punted by the charter committee last year,
See CITY COUNCIL on page 12
Market Street targeted for school safety fixes
LIBERTY DARR
STAFF WRITER
Rick Marcotte Central School, a South Burlington school district middle school located at the heart of City Center on Market Street, has for years been the topic of conversation over safety concerns related to traffic, as the state’s second-largest city continues to grow.
Now, as the South Burlington school district prepares to welcome students back to school, the city is again looking for ways to support a safer school environment.
The city has moved to contract with a consultant to study a better design for bus access in and out of the school’s entrance, which often adds to congestion in the area. But discussion around the pervasive safety problem remain at a crossroads.
“This is a really challenging thing because we are revisiting conversations the council and the school have had time and time again,” city manager Jessie Baker said at a meeting earlier this month.
See MARKET STREET on page 13
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Hazy
What’s the buzz?
A tree that came down on the path between Szymanski and Overlook parks in South Burlington during recent heavy winds imperiled a bee colony that had called the tree home. Austin Wright, pictured at work, along with a friend, managed to safely relocate the bees, thanks to a “hive mind” of helpful advice givers in a local online forum.
YOUR TEAM
PHOTOS BY DUNCAN SCOTT ADAMSON AND LEEANN WRIGHT
Hotel project at Burlington airport
falls apart, 7 years after efforts began
JUAN VEGA DE SOTO VTDIGGER
On the lot just north of the parking garage at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, developers have imagined a hotel for years.
The latest plan, a five-story building with approximately 117 rooms, fell apart this past June, according to airport director Nic Longo. Early next year, Longo said, the airport hopes to field bids from new developers interested in leasing the land to build and manage a hotel.
This latest contract between the airport and two developers — known jointly as BTV Hotel LLC — stipulated certain financing requirements for the project to move forward. That contract expired in early June with the requirements still unmet, according to Longo, who said the developers decided not to renew it.
“The economics of the project did not make sense at this particular time,” said Longo.
BTV Hotel LLC was composed of Colwen Hotels, which manages hotels across New England, and DEW Construction, a Williston-based company. The 62,000 square foot hotel would have cost the group between $28 million and $29 million, “including permits, furnishings, and interest carried over” during construction, according to Don Wells, DEW Construction’s chief executive officer.
Wells cited interest rates — which are at a two-decade high — as the main reason why building a hotel “just doesn’t work” at the moment.
“We don’t have a bank right now that says that it would loan us the money,” said Wells.
The deal’s collapse is just the latest in a series of attempts that have never broken ground. Officials have long recognized that Vermont’s biggest airport needs a hotel for travelers to stay overnight — especially since many flights leave early in the morning or arrive late at night. But the history of the project has been marred by bad luck.
Efforts began in earnest in 2017, when DEW Construction first signed on to the project. Back then, plans called for a 104-bedroom hotel to the south of the parking garage. There was talk of construction starting as soon as early 2018.
The moment of optimism was brief. Objections to the proposed site from the Federal Aviation Authority shut the project down in February 2020. Developers soon set their sights on the lot north of the parking garage, began re-submitting permit applications, and set a groundbreaking date for the summer of 2020. A month later, the Covid-19 pandemic slowed flights to a trickle and tabled any thought of building a hotel.
In the seven years of failed efforts to build an airport hotel, DEW Construction had remained a constant, though two hotel management companies dropped out before Colwen Hotels joined in 2023.
Together as BTV Hotel, the two companies signed a contract with the airport that set permitting, branding, and financial contingencies that, if reached, would trig-
ger a ground lease. This contract — called an option agreement — expired on June 6, according to Longo, and shortly after that, he said, the airport received a letter from BTV Hotel indicating that they were “not seeking an extension.”
“All the way to the end it was a really great relationship, a great partnership,” said Longo. “It came down to the nuts and bolts and ones and zeroes.”
He continued: “The economics of building a massive capital project like that didn’t work out for us this year.”
Nevertheless, Longo was adamant that the dream of an airport hotel is “not done yet.”
There is a huge demand for a hotel at this airport. And a niche in the market for folks from further away to spend a night at least,” he said.
Longo said the airport would be “reevaluating through the end of the year” and “hopefully” launching a public bidding process early next year, inviting new developers to “show their interest and showcase their companies.”
He indicated that the airport’s role will remain the same — not putting any funding into the project, but merely offering “contractual lease terms” for “a developer and management company to host a hotel” on the north parking lot.
Longo acknowledged that other development companies might face the same financing difficulties, but said that the airport had “already received queries from
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
A private jet taxis away from the Heritage Aviation terminal at the Burlington International Airport in South Burlington on Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
South Burlington Police Blotter: Aug. 13-19
Total reported incidents: 240
Arrests: 10
Accidents, property damage only: 13
Alarms: 6
Assists, agency: 9
Assists, public: 6
Directed patrols: 33
Disturbances:17
Field contacts: 7
Foot patrols: 13
Found/lost property: 5
Larceny: 8
Motor vehicle complaints: 9
Patrol operations:7
Retail thefts: 15
Suspicious events: 10
Traffic stops: 16
Trespasses: 7
Welfare checks: 14
Arrests:
Aug. 7 at 2:35 p.m., Scott J. Brunetto, 58, was arrested for leaving the scene or a crash, with injury resulting, and gross negligent driving, following a crash near the corner of Tilley Drive and Hinesburg Road.
Aug. 14 at 10:04 a.m., Eric J. Bessette, 55, of Essex Junction, was arrested for retail theft on Hannaford Drive.
Aug. 14 at 11:42 a.m., Anastasia M. Rose, 36, of St. Albans, was arrested for violating conditions of release, on Williston Road.
Aug. 14 at 5:35 p.m., Jamie T. Jennings, 46, of Middlebury,
the
close to everything you need in Spear Meadows. It offers more than just homes; it’s a gateway to a lifestyle where modern convenience harmonizes with Vermont’s natural beauty.
was arrested for retail theft, following a July 29 incident at the University Mall on Dorset Street. Jennings was also cited on three in-state arrest warrants.
Aug. 15 at 3:17 p.m., Danielle Peno, 35, of Georgia, was arrested on an in-state warrant after being seen at the University Mall.
Aug. 15 ay 3:36 p.m., Yesi Garelnabi, 33, of Burlington, was arrested for identity theft, also at the University Mall.
Aug. 16 at 9:47 a.m., Joshua M. Cole, 42, of Barre City, was arrested on an in-state warrant near Dorset and Market streets.
Aug. 17 at 1:49 p.m., Steven Blair, 57, of Shelburne, was arrested for retail theft at the Dorset Street Hannaford. Aug. 17 at 4:17 p.m., Kayley M. Francis, 31, of South Burlington, was arrested for first degree aggravated domestic assault, following an incident on Market Street.
Aug. 18 at 11:29 a.m., William T. Harris, 65, of Winterville, N.C., was arrested for stalking on Farrell Street.
Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
The South Burlington Police Department last week bid farewell to a six-legged partnership, as Cpl. Sarah Keller and her K-9 partner, Rush left the department. The department stated, on social media, the two “worked tirelessly” for the city and Chittenden County as a whole, helping find people, detecting drugs and protecting officers.
OPINION
Olympics, American politics offer exuberance over past weeks
Guest Perspective
Walt Amses
Any outrage over the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony’s Last Supper-themed gender reveal party was all but forgotten as Paris closed up shop with a spectacular incendiary display and a march of ten thousand athletes as a perfectly ageless Tom Cruise rapelled from heaven itself, seizing the Olympic flag and mounting a motorcycle, riding it onto a transport plane and eventually parachuting down near the hilltop Hollywood sign, where he transformed the Os into Olympic rings, theatrically claiming the 2028 games for Los Angeles.
As the scene shifted to the Red Hot Chili Peppers gyrating in concert on a sun-bleached southern California beach, followed by Billie Eilish, Snoop Dog inexplicably showed up, mainly because he is Snoop Dog
and Snoop Dog is everywhere.
After a stint with the Crips and a career as a gangster rapper, if there still is such a term, the hip hop icon has morphed into an omni-present teddy bear, famously collaborating with Martha Stewart over mashed potatoes, brownies (of course) and, these past two weeks, garnering accolades as a kind of roving Olympic super fan, delivering observations, commentary and a whole lot of fun.
Other than a few minor glitches, Paris pulled off a joyous midsummer celebration of athleticism, sportsmanship and international competition largely without the divisive politics that has marked previous Olympic games.
Even American politics has experienced a moment in the sun as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz barnstorm the country to raucous rallies and exuberant crowds, seemingly liberated from the anticipation of a last stand battle
Letters to the Editor
Senate candidate: primary journey brings it all home
To the Editor:
Primary day in Vermont was a long one for many. Poll workers, town clerks, candidates and supporters put in many hours so that voters could engage and vote. I am grateful to all who worked and voted. I was able to visit all 11 towns and cities in the Chittenden Southeast Senate District including Charlotte, Hinesburg, South Burlington and Shelburne.
It was a long day; lots of miles and smiles, lots of conversations and concerns. There was the lifelong Bolton resident afraid she was going to have to sell her home and leave Vermont as taxes and utility prices continue to rise.
There was a young voter in Shelburne struggling to see a path to staying in Vermont and owning a home. There were the many citizens who just wanted to thank me for running and offering a choice. I was humbled they took the time to share with me and my supporters their concerns and priorities.
To the point, I ran across the district all day, voting location to voting location on a beautiful Vermont summer day. I was hot and tired and ready to be home.
between two aging candidates, each of whom engenders fear for decidedly different reasons.
The upbeat, optimistic messaging from Harris and Walz seems to be resonating with enough voters to move the needle in important swing states according to a number of polls. However, seething offstage, out of the spotlight he so covets for an extended period, confined to the ever-darkening shadows of his own morbidly vacant emotional life, the former president rages at any glimpse of sanity threatening his
carefully fabricated, apocalyptic narrative.
American politics has experienced a moment in the sun as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz barnstorm the country to raucous rallies and exuberant crowds.
Depicting Walz as capable of releasing “hell on earth” or Harris as only recently “turning Black” specifically for political purposes, goes over about as well as Donald Trump’s list of grievances punctuated by increasingly longer episodes of incoherent gibberish — ancient, worn-out attack lines, elementary school name calling and a series of lies so outrageous that, rather than motivate supporters or inflame the oppo-
sition, they register simply as desperation.
The racist dog whistle of questioning Harris’s “Blackness” is a reprise of the former president’s years-long “birther” campaign, questioning Barack Obama’s citizenship and impugning his legitimacy as president while green-lighting white supremacists coming in from the cold, clearly indicating they’d have a friend in the Oval Office.
Attacking Walz as a radical is just dumb. By any measure the Minnesota governor is a staid Midwesterner who likes to hunt and fish, has coached high school football and spent a quarter century in the Army National Guard.
See AMSES on page 7
We all know the feeling.
But, to my surprise, home came to me. I ended the day in a camp chair underneath a shade tree with a slight breeze, during the last few hours of primary voting at the Guard Armory in my hometown of Williston. I was sitting next to my beautiful and supportive wife of 20-plus years, joking with the town clerk as she started to shut down operations, and thanking one of the last voters who exclaimed, “I’m glad I made it in time, I came here to vote for you.”
The moment was perfect. The day wasn’t quite over, but I truly was home. I was balanced and content, cherishing small town Vermont life under a quiet shade tree. There was no place I would have rather been.
This is why I am running for the Vermont Senate. All Vermonters deserve this kind of moment. I am committed now more than ever to making sure “the 14th star continues to shine bright” for everyone.
Bruce Roy Williston
Wilson is a Republican candidate for the Chittenden Southeast Senate district.
WELCOME TO THE SOUTH BURLINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION SERVICE
DEAR PARENTS & STUDENTS:
The South Burlington School District Transportation Department is excited to welcome you back for the 2024-25 school year!
SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Please assist us in stressing safety by reminding your child to:
1. Dress appropriately for the weather.
2. Maintain polite and proper behavior while at the bus stop and at all times while riding the school bus.
3. Stand 10 feet from the curb.This ensures visibility and traffic safety.
4.Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop with flashing red lights and STOP sign extended.
5.Wait for the driver’s signal to cross the street.
6. Make sure you can always see the driver while walking near the bus.
7. Store backpacks in the overhead compartments and watch for any loose items that could get caught.
8. No eating or drinking on the bus.
9.Take a seat promptly and remain seated during the entire ride.
10. Use an “inside” voice while on the bus, and comply with any reasonable request of the driver.
11. Be kind and courteous at all times to the driver and fellow passengers.
ROUTES ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE SBSCHOOLS.NET (ALL BUS SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.)
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS regarding your child’s transportation needs, please feel free to contact Stephanie Hyatt 802-233-0673. We look forward to serving you and your child!
SINCERELY,
The Transportation Department, South Burlington School District
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First or Last — What’s in a Name?
In Musing
Carole Vasta Folley
Lately, I’ve been thinking about women politicians and how they’re often called by their first names. Think Hillary, Nancy, Geraldine and Kamala.
Meanwhile, male politicians are more frequently referred to by their surnames, like Biden, Trump, Obama and Bush. Then I noticed the same elsewhere. Take tennis, there’s Nadal, Federer and McEnroe, while women superstars are Serena, Martina and Billie Jean. Or in car racing, it’s not Mario or Patrick. It’s Andretti and Danica.
I looked further and realized how often great actors are simply called De Niro, Pacino and Brando, (kind of sounds like a law firm, doesn’t it?). At the same time, often in the same conversation, it’s Meryl, Judi and Jodie.
Now and then acclaimed women are referred to by both their names, like Marie Curie, Emily Dickinson and Mary Cassatt. Still, it’s not their last names that define them like their male peers Darwin, Dickens and Degas, (jeez, another law firm).
In the arts, Picasso shares museum space with Frida. And in the sciences, Einstein, Hawking and Tesla share recognition with … well, the truth is that women scientists have rarely been given the notoriety they deserve, let alone becoming household names. A topic for another time.
men, it contributes to the continuing gender pay gap where women today earn 84 cents for every dollar a man makes. Spanning a 40-year career, that’s a loss of over $407,000 compared to her male counterpart, solely because she’s a woman. That’s income that could help her pay for education, health care and retirement.
The wage gap for women of color is much worse, 56 to 70 cents for every dollar a man makes. Sure, anyone can find exceptions to the above. Unfortunately, the overall result will be the same: the unconscious “lessening” of women.
There are an untold number of women who are not treated the same as their male counterparts. Just like President Biden earned his title, so did Vice President Harris. For her current campaign, Harris has embraced the use of her first name, Kamala. Countless candidates have done so. But we can’t forget that for many women, of all professions, it is not a choice. They are part of a system that reflects society’s biased norms regarding gender and power.
In today’s news, Harris’ male opponent, who’s almost always called by his last name, continually mocks and mangles the vice president’s first name, adding, “I couldn’t care less if I mispronounce it.” A clearly derogatory tactic, it’s a way to “other” Harris, to suggest she is less of an American and unworthy of the respect of her position as vice president.
Sadly, I wonder how and if we can ever stop the incessant institutionalized sexism, discrimination and disrespect that plagues our country.
Whether on the world stage or in our everyday lives, misogyny and bigotry is hard to stomach. One thing we can do is stay aware. Be mindful of how we address women in professional positions, especially if that differs in how we address their male counterparts.
Chances are what you need is available through local online ordering and curbside pickup or delivery. Our entire community is depending on your support.
This trend continues. The Mayo Clinic reports female doctors are twice as likely as male doctors to be called by their first name. And academia? According to Cornell University researchers, students were far more likely to call a male professor by only his last name. Further, research in the Psychology of Women Quarterly stated, “the probability of being addressed by title was significantly greater for male professors than female professors.”
In addition, during this campaign season, pay attention to the media. According to research across eight studies, pundits and commentators were more than twice as likely to use a last name when talking about a man than when speaking about a woman. This inequity is on top of the gendered derision and hostility women candidates usually face.
Studies bear this out, showing that people are more than twice as likely to describe a male professional by their last name versus a female professional. This was true in politics, science and literature.
Further and importantly, those professionals called by their surname were believed to be more eminent and deserving of an award. Simply put, this is another way our culture inequitably bestows a greater respect towards men.
Not only does this translate into more confidence, promotions and prizes for
Take, for example, Hillary Clinton and the 2016 presidential election. She was scrutinized for her clothing, hair, ankles, voice and laugh. Needless to say, not one of these points were issues for her male opponent. Sadly, I wonder how and if we can ever stop the incessant institutionalized sexism, discrimination and disrespect that plagues our country.
Who knows, maybe it begins with a name.
Carole Vasta Folley is an award-winning columnist and playwright. Visit carolevf.com.
Shop local and please remember our advertisers!
Carole Vasta Folley
AMSES
continued from page 5
Things got even worse for Trump during an off-the-wall Mar-a-Lago press conference where he waxed nostalgic over sharing a hard helicopter landing with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who dated Harris three decades ago and, according to the former presi-
HOTEL
continued from page 3
other developers, asking us what the status is and the potential to partner with us.”
And, Longo added, past partners are always welcome to bid again. Wells confirmed that DEW Construction had held talks with the airport about a new bid, but that it all depends on whether the economic landscape improves.
“I don’t know what the timing is for interest rates to get to a point where it would
dent, told him “terrible things” about the vice president: “He was not a fan of hers very much at that point.”
The trouble is that Brown was never on a helicopter with Trump and unequivocally denied ever having said any “terrible things” about Harris: “Hell no,
work,” Wells said.
That the north parking lot remains just that — after seven years — is “very disappointing,” said Wells, adding that there was nothing to do but “wait patiently” for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.
Longo was a little more glass-half-full: “Disappointment? No, I wouldn’t say disappointment. That excitement, that opportunity is what I hold onto the most.”
I wouldn’t say anything bad about any woman to him.”
While campaign staffers praised the former president’s “discipline” after the presser, National Public Radio reported there were at least 162 lies and distortions which have become even more commonplace since the tide seems to be turning. Americans are getting used to any mention of the Trump name being preceded by “without evidence” or followed by “falsely claimed” to characterize any statement he makes about anything.
In one of the weirder moments of a thoroughly weird two-hour interview with Elon Musk last week, Trump paused in mid-ramble to say of Vice President Harris: “I saw a picture of her on Time Magazine today. She looked like the most beautiful actress ever to live … She looked very much like our great first lady, Melania.”
Objectifying in order to diminish powerful women is nothing new.
We should know by now there is no bottom for Donald Trump. With a “resume” like his, getting a job flipping burgers would be a challenge. He is not well and has not been well for a very long time. But he’s still out there, vicious, wounded and angry, unable to face being irrelevant. He’s already laying the groundwork for Election Denial 2.0 in the event he loses in November.
His grotesque groveling for attention is like watching an aging Borsht Belt comedian, never that funny to begin with, still in the Catskills milking laughs with a tired, old repertoire as plates and silverware clatter in the background, without realizing the crowd is there for the early bird special and it’s already getting late.
Walt Amses lives in North Calais.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SOUTH BURLINGTON LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
Public Hearing, Monday, September 16, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, September 16, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. to consider amendments to the Land Development Regulations. The amendments affect all parts of the City unless otherwise specified below. The hearing will be held in person and remotely via GoToMeeting. Participation options:
•In Person: City Hall Auditorium, 180 Market Street
•Interactive Online: https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/citycouncilmeeting09-16-2024
•Telephone: (408) 650-3123; Access Code: 972-024-453
The purpose of the hearing is to consider the following:
•LDR-24-01 EV Charging. Require parking spaces required to be electric vehicle-capable under the 2024 Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards and 2024 Residential Building Energy Standards to be electric vehicle-Ready as defined therein and apply to all such buildings regardless of size; limit Level 3 charging substitutions (Sections 2.02, 3.18)
•LDR-24-02 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Transportation Level of Service (LOS). Update transportation LOS standards and review thresholds in two geographic tiers; establish TDM standards for medium and large development projects; eliminate Traffic Overlay District (Sections 3.01, 10.01, 13.01, 13.18, 15.A.14, Appendix B, Overlay Districts Map 2)
•LDR-24-03 Low-Scale Residential Infill and Thriving Communities. Replaces Residential 1, Residential 1 with Planned Unit Development, Residential 1 Lakeshore, Residential 2, Residential 4, Lakeshore Neighborhood, Southeast Quadrant-Neighborhood Residential, Southeast Quadrant-Neighborhood Residential Transition, Southeast Quadrant-Neighborhood Residential North, Southeast Quadrant-Village Residential, and Southeast Quadrant-Village Commercial zoning districts with new Low-Scale Neighborhood District. Establish allowed low-scale building types; set minimum lot sizes and dimensional standards by building type; eliminate density as an independent standard. Modify lot frontage, existing small lot, and accessory structure standards. Exclude 3-4 unit residential buildings from site plan review. Allow multiple principal buildings on a lot if lot standards per building are met. Allow neighborhood-scale commercial uses along collector and arterial roads (Sections 3.01, 3.03, 3.05, 3.06, 3.09, 3.10, 3.15, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 4.07, 14.03, 14.11, Article 9, Appendix C, Zoning Districts Map)
•LDR-24-04 Medium-Scale Residential Infill and Thriving Communities. Replace Residential 7, Residential 7 with Neighborhood Commercial, and Residential 12 with new Medium-Scale Neighborhood District. Establish allowed low- and medium-scale building types; establish minimum lot sizes and dimensional standards by building type; eliminate density as an independent standard. Modify lot frontage, existing small lot, and accessory structure standards. Allow multiple principal buildings on a lot if lot standards per building are met. Remove height waiver allowances; replace with Inclusionary Zoning / TDR allowances to maximum. Allow neighborhood-scale commercial uses along collector and arterial roads (Sections 3.01, 3.05, 3.09, 3.10, 3.15, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, Appendix C, Zoning Districts Map)
•LDR-24-05 Higher-Scale Mixed Use area. Replaces Commercial 1-Residential 12, Commercial 1-Residential 15, Allen Road, and Swift Street districts with new Higher-Scale Mixed Use District. Update Commercial 1 –Auto, Commercial 1- AIR, Commercial 1-Limited Retail districts to have residential building types and dimensional standards match Higher-Scale Mixed Use District. Establish allowed medium- and higher-scale building types; establish minimum lot sizes and dimensional standards for medium-scale building types; remove minimum lot sizes for large residential building types; eliminate density as an independent standard. Remove height waiver allowances; replace with Inclusionary Zoning / TDR allowances to maximum and compatibility standards for bordering Low-Scale Neighborhood District. Allow multiple principal buildings on a lot if lot standards per building are met. (Section 3.01, 3.07, Article 5, Article 6, Section 19.03, Zoning District Map)
•LDR- 24-06 Reorganize Subdivision, Master Plan, and PUD Standards. Streamline and clarify processes, phasing, and applicable standards of review. Grant authority to Administrative Officer for approval of minor subdivisions. Consolidate context analysis, alternative compliance, and modification and waiver review into Subdivision standards. (Articles 15.A, 15.B, 15.C)
•LDR-24-07 Consolidate similar commercial uses, define veterinary hospitals and allow in Form Based Code T4 zone, consolidate Airport and Airport-Industrial Zoning Districts, and general update to Table of Uses. (Sections 2.02, 3.01, 6.01, 6.02, 8. 8.09, Appendix C, Zoning Districts Map)
•LDR-24-08 Conservation Land Use Updates and Transferable Development Rights. Includes the following related subjects: (a) Remove Conservation Planned Unit Development (PUD) tool and adjust boundaries of Southeast Quadrant Zoning Districts to include additional land in Natural Resources Protection Zoning (NRP) District in instances of contiguous NRP land; (b) Define location of development area on lots with more than 70% Habitat Block / Habitat Connector coverage and Hazards; (c) Update the Transferable Development Rights program to have “receiving” areas be allowed within all higher-scale mixed use and commercial/ industrial zoning districts and removed from the Southeast Quadrant District, and define density increases for building height, lot coverage, and building coverage; (d) Change the zoning district for City-owned properties purchased or offered to the City for park spaces to the Park District, adjust the boundaries of the Natural Resources Protection (NRP) district to reflect actual conservation / development restrictions and areas outside the water and sewer service areas. (Sections 3.01, 12.04, 12.05, Article 19, Zoning Districts Map, Habitat Block & Habitat Connector Overlay District Map)
•LDR-24-09 Inclusionary Zoning Updates. Rework inclusionary zoning standards for compatibility and alignment with statutory incentive thresholds. Set requirements for inclusion of permanently-affordable homes for projects of ten (10) or more dwelling units, incorporate density and height bonuses granted for state-defined Affordable Housing Developments, and provide incentives for mandatory inclusionary units. Coordinate maximums of building height, building coverage, and lot coverage with those in the TDR program (LDR-24-08). Update reporting requirements. (Sections 2.02, 18.01, 19.03, Appendix C)
•LDR-24-10 Minor and Technical Amendments. Includes the following:
o Updates to definitions (Section 2.20)
o Remove redundant Satellite Dish standard (Section 3.06)
o Updates to Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards to align with Statutes (Sections 3.11, 14.11)
o Updates to non-conformities to match other amendments (Section 3.15)
o Clarification to Institutional & Agricultural District Purpose and Standards (Section 7.01)
o Rename Southeast Quadrant-Natural Resource Protection District to “Natural Resource Protection District” and update allowed housing to comply with Statutes (Sections 9.01, 9.12)
o Update parking standards to comply with Statutes and provide waiver authority to DRB for multi-family housing (Section 13.02)
o Update Fence heigh standards resulting from zoning district consolidation (Section 13.11)
o Update / consolidate alternative compliance and waiver authority for site plan review to align with subdivision authority (Section 14.04)
o Update notice & procedures (Section 17.08)
o Update terminology to refer to City Plan and for gender neutrality (throughout)
o Relocate standards to different parts of LDRs for clarity (throughout)
Note: principal sections / articles affected or modified by each amendment are listed above; however, amendments are located throughout the regulations. A complete table of contents of the proposed articles is as follows: 1 Purpose and Title; 2 Definitions; 3 General Provisions; 4 Residential Districts; 5 Commercial Districts; 6 Industrial and Airport Districts; 7 Other Districts; 8 City Center Form-Based Code District; 9 Natural Resource Protection District; 10 Selected Overlay Districts; 11.A Street Types; 11.B Civic Space and Site Amenity Types 11.C Building Types; 12 Environmental Protection Standards; 13 Supplemental Regulations; 14 Site Plan & Conditional Use Review; 15.A Subdivision Review; 15.B Master Plan Review; 15.C Planned Unit Development; 16 Construction and Erosion Control Standards; 17 Administration and Enforcement; 18 Housing Standards; 19 Transferable Development Rights; Appendices; Maps
Copies of the proposed amendments are available for inspection at the Department of Planning & Zoning, City Hall, 3rd Floor, 180 Market Street, and on the city website at www.sbvt.gov.
Tim Barritt, South Burlington City Council Chair
22, 2024
Lifelong learning group hosts fall lecture series
Education and Enrichment for Everyone (EEE) is excited to begin its fall lecture series on Sept. 6 with Rodney Smolla JD, President, Vermont Law and Graduate School, whose topic is “The Ever-Changing Face of American Constitutional Law.”
Education and Enrichment for Everyone is a non-profit, lifelong learning organization founded
Community Notes
in 1990 and open to all. Weekly lectures are held on interesting and diverse topics each fall and spring on Fridays from 2-3, both live at Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington and on Zoom Webinar.
For more information, visit eeevermont.org, email info@eeevermont.org, or call 802-343-5177.
To enroll for the fall, mail a check for $55 per person, payable to EEE and send it c/o Cathy Chamberlain, 2504 Brand Farm
Rd., South Burlington, VT 05403. Include your email and mailing addresses and phone number. Memberships will also be accepted at the church. Non-members are welcome to attend at the church for a fee of $8, cash or check, payable at the door. Here are the fall speakers and topics.
• Friday, Sept. 6, Rodney Smolla, JD, President, Vermont Law and Graduate School, “Everything You Need to Know about the U. S. Supreme Court”
• Friday, Sept. 13, Thomas Denenberg, John Wilmerding Director and CEO, Shelburne Museum, “The Railroad in American Art”
Cub Scout pack looking for new cubs to join ranks
Pack 678, South Burlington’s Cub Scout organization, is looking for kids to join the adventure.
The pack’s programming is for all children, boys and girls alike, in grades K-5.
The Cub Scout program provides kids with a positive environment to learn new skills, make friends, and have fun.
Pack 678 is hosting a BBQ/”Raingutter Regatta” on Aug. 29 and an open house on Sept. 5. Both will feature for fun-filled chances to meet the pack
COURTESY PHOTO
South Burlington swore in three new officers last month. Back row from left, Chief Shawn Burke along with new officers Lucas Petruzziello and Brant McCarron, and Aaron Schwartz, newly promoted to sergeant. Front row from left, new officer Timothy Zaleski and new dispatcher Callie Walker.
High school Japanese class visits sister school
Soon after graduation day in June, a group of fourteen South Burlington High School students and two chaperones traveled to Japan and spent two weeks having a once-in-a-lifetime experience with The International Experience (TIE).
Although Japanese sister school, Futaba High School, students visited South Burlington in 2023 as part of the TIE exchange, this was the first time that South Burlington students had been able to resume the exchange program since 2018.
However, during the six years of hiatus, South Burlington High School Japanese program students maintained the connection with Futaba High School via video and letter exchanges.
“This exchange program has been ongoing for more than 20 years and has been truly precious
COMMUNITY NOTES
continued from page 8
and learn more about Cub Scouting.
Both events will take place at 6 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park. Visit pack678vt.org for more information.
for both the schools and their students. I have witnessed our SBHS students’ tremendous excitement about being able to travel to the other side of the globe and experience Japanese culture and communicate with our sister school students,” South Burlington High School Japanese instructor, Sinyoung Ra Evans, said. “They worked hard developing presentations about Vermont and US life to show their Japanese counterparts, and after the exchange experience, they were clearly motivated to study Japanese further and continue communicating with their new Japanese friends.
Thanks to the outstanding efforts of our school principal, Mr. Burke, and our TIE coordinator, Ms. Mazza, our students were able to participate in this extraordinary exchange program in person.”
Gallery puts on sport exhibit
Visions of Vermont Art Galleries in Jeffersonville presents “The Sport of the Spirit,” running
through Sept. 15. The exhibit captures the viewpoints both painters and outdoor recreationists share as they explore our local Vermont landscape. From gravel riding in Pleasant
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Valley to fly fishing in the Brewster River, these scenes capture the distant trait that unites plainair artists and outdoor adventurers alike: the act of finding our line in the outdoors.
The exhibit runs Aug. 17- Sept. 15 at the gallery, located at 100 main Street, Jeffersonville. More information, vision sofvermont.com.
COURTESY PHOTO
Fourteen South Burlington High School students with their counterparts in The International Exchange in the city of Otaru, in Japan’s Hokkaido region. The students made the trip earlier this year, for the first time since 2018.
Vermont celebrates 100 years of Mt. Philo
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
For freelance writer and unofficial historian Judy Chaves, the 968-foot climb to the summit of Mt. Philo has been a meditative practice for most of her adult life.
Walking five days a week up and down one of the state’s most popular hiking spots can really begin to reveal the working landscape of a place, while also simultaneously revealing a lot about people in general.
“I’ve hiked here with just about everybody in my life. I’ve got a close friend, we meet here at least every other week, and we just yak our way up and yak our way down. We hardly even know we’re hiking. And that’s true for so many people,” she said.
Chaves was in graduate school some 30 years ago the first time she visited Mt. Philo State Park in Charlotte, and she’s just never stopped visiting. For her, Mt. Philo, and the experience it brings, is personal. So personal that her love of the mountain began a decade-long effort to unravel the history behind one of Vermont’s most beloved peaks. That work is the basis for her book, “Secrets of Mount Philo: A Guide to the History of Vermont’s First State Park.”
The story, as told by Chaves, is one that began 100 years ago this year with a single act of generosity. The prevailing message, she said, is that this state’s beloved mountain is proof that just one action can have a lasting effect for years to come.
“To me, it’s an example of foresight and that way of loving a place by giving it to the public. That to me is a remarkable aspect,” she said, sitting at a picnic table that rests at the entrance of the park. “It’s a real lesson that this place has for us. It’s not just something that should just stay in the past but needs to continue.”
Her historical treasure hunt began simply by noticing changes on the mountain that, to any passersby, would appear insignificant. Like, for example, when state park officials began replacing the metal iron railing at the summit with a chain link fence.
“I went up and they were ripping out the old iron railings at the main viewpoint, and they replaced them with a chain link fence that I thought was inappropriate for this beautiful park. A chain link fence, I think of as sort of urban,” she said.
Through some early research, she found that this metal railing, installed in 1902, was exactly one of the reasons the mountain was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Through some dedicated campaigning on the part of Chaves, officials ultimately resorted to replacing the chain-link fence with a replica of the original railing.
“That got me going on the whole history of the park. Reading the nomination papers for the National Register was full of absolutely fascinating information. I just then got a little bit obsessed,” she laughed.
Through a decade of research, she’s found that the mountain’s history is really just a microcosm of the history of the entire state of Vermont — Indigenous people hunting and gathering the land; the first European settlement in 1786 and a Connecticut-born farmer who settled at the base of the mountain; the 19th-century Merino “sheep fever” craze; and the earliest inceptions of Vermont’s agritourism economy.
“Everything that happened on Mount Philo is a little miniature version of what happened throughout the entire Northeast,” she said.
According to her research, the landscape of the mountain would have looked much different than it does now, and early photos and postcards show most of the mountain completely void of the lush vegetation that inhabits it now, mostly due to deforestation and the rise of the forestry industry, she said.
As landscapes changed and time passed, sheep were soon replaced with dairy cows and the start of Vermont’s burgeoning dairy industry.
“One of the ways that dairy farmers could pad their income was to open up their farm in the summer to tourists,” she said. “This was the middle to late 19th century, and wealthy urbanites would come up from Boston and New York and spend part of the summer up north. Vermont was marketing itself as a place to come and have a farm life.”
The Mount Philo Inn, a byproduct of this exact type of agritourism, began when farmer Frank Lewis converted his 1880s farmhouse to accommodate more guests. Two regular Vermont vacationers from Massachusetts, James and Frances Humphreys, fell so deeply in love with the experience that they began buying land and would continue to visit Vermont summer after summer.
After James died in 1924, Frances gifted the land that is now known as Mt. Philo to the state, thus creating Vermont’s first state park.
“There is something in the world besides money. If the people of Vermont appreciate the privilege of riding up Mt. Philo or walks through its paths, that is all that is asked by its honor,” Frances Humphrey wrote of the mountain in 1924.
Chaves has spent a good amount of time since finishing the book hosting book talks and guided hikes to the peak, pointing out other historical facts like where the original Carriage Road would have been and how the mountain has changed over the years.
While Chaves recounts often the generosity of Frances that began the state’s park system, the work she has done to compile centuries of history marks a new era of Mt. Philo’s story, 100 years later.
Although she has no plans to continue her historic pursuits, there are still certain mysteries that encompass the mountain, like where exactly it got its name. Many speculate, but no one quite knows for sure, she said.
And that mystery — and others — is exactly what keeps Chaves coming back.
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PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR
Judy Chaves stands at the base of the House Rock Trail at Mt. Philo State Park in Charlotte.
State urges families to fill out school meals applications
School is starting back up for Vermont students and the Agency of Education is encouraging all families with school-aged children to “Fill the Form.”
By returning the Household Income Form, or School Meals Application to their child’s school, families can help secure important funding that benefits Vermont students and schools.
The data collected by school districts and reported to the agency is used to draw down the maximum federal funding for the state’s Universal Meals program. This not only reduces the program’s cost to taxpayers, but also helps to secure and equitably distribute tens of millions of dollars in other federal funding to Vermont schools for a
broad range of education programs.
“The information collected through these forms is a critical part of how we guarantee a 21st-century education system,” interim Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders said. “Family income data is used by nearly every federal education program to provide the funding that Vermont school districts rely on. That is why we’re asking all families to do their part by returning the form requested by their child’s school.”
Beyond supporting Universal Meals, the data helps schools qualify for other funding such as “Title” programs, afterschool and summer programs, broadband access, special education, and more. The information also
supports the Agency in federal reporting requirements for student performance and helps determine how much funding schools receive from the state’s education funding formula.
The Agency is providing training and support materials to school district staff. Schools have additional resources available to guide families in accessing and completing the form. Families are encouraged to reach out directly to their schools with any questions. The Household Income Form is available in multiple languages and can be filled out online or by hand. The information families provide is confidential, and the data are securely collected and stored to protect student and family privacy.
ISSUE DATE: Thursday, Sept. 5
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Display Ads and Classified Ads are due Friday, Aug. 30, at Noon.
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The way home
A South Burlington community watch Facebook page is seeking help in finding the owners of this brown female Australian shepherd mix with white markings and a pink harness that had been chewed through. The dog was found around the 100 block of Walnut Street in Burlington. Anyone with information is asked to call the Burlington Police Department at 802-658-2700.
The Town of Hinesburg, Vermont seeks qualified applicants for the following positions:
Highway Foreperson
This is a supervisory position that is responsible for overseeing and participating in the maintenance of the town’s highway infrastructure. A valid VT issued CDL Class B license is required. Required skills include proficient operation of a road grader, excavator, front-end loader, backhoe, and tandem plow truck. Starting pay is $34.00 - $40.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.
Highway Maintainer
This is a semi-skilled position of moderate complexity in highway maintenance and equipment operation. A Highway Maintainer performs a wide variety of manual and automotive equipment operation tasks involved in municipal road maintenance. Work extends to responsibility for maintenance and servicing of assigned automotive equipment, requiring strong mechanical and trouble shooting skills. A valid Vermont issued Class B CDL is required. Starting pay is $25.00 - $28.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.
Both positions provide health, dental, vision and disability insurance; paid time off; pension plan; and 13 paid holidays. Detailed information and an application form can be found at www.hinesburg.org under the employment tab. Applications can be mailed or delivered to Todd Odit, Town Manager, 10632 Route 116 or emailed to todit@hinesburg.org.
The Town of Hinesburg offers a comprehensive benefits package and very competitive pay. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed as received and accepted until the position is filled.
CITY COUNCIL continued from page 1
school board seat expansion was put to the voters last Town Meeting Day. That vote, which asked voters to approve two additional seats on the five-person board, passed 3,815 to 977.
While split on some of the decisions, the committee voted unanimously to expand the city council, although the exact number of additional seats was not recommended by the committee.
The committee explained in its report that having additional councilors “could increase demographic representation, allow councilors to mentor newer members, permit more councilors to have discussions without violating the open meeting law, and enable retention of more institutional memory when there is turnover in the council.”
that, in listening to the previous council’s conversations, it sounded clear that the decision to not act on the seat expansion was deliberate.
“It seemed that this has already been litigated once,” he said. “I’m not opposed to considering it, but I would like to either postpone this or reserve judgment. I think that we need to look at what the priorities are for the council and how we decide how to move forward. I’m nervous about having to work with a seven-person council.”
“I’m nervous about having to work with a seven-person council.”
— Laurie Smith
The committee argues that, beginning with its incorporation in 1971, South Burlington has had a five-member city council. But the population of the city has since doubled, while the number of councilors has not changed.
The charter committee also engaged in community outreach to determine the views of South Burlington residents on the governance structures the group was considering with a community survey and two community forums. The survey, which had 177 respondents, showed 54 percent preferred a five-member council and 46 percent wanted to increase that number. For those wanting to increase the number, many comments suggested seven councilors, while a few mentioned up to 10.
But councilors remained slightly split on a decision at Monday night’s meeting, ultimately pushing the committee to study further nationwide data with some fearing that a seat expansion will prolong council meeting times with less efficient outcomes.
“I’ll start by saying that we can’t even get our meetings over by 11:30 with five people,” chair Tim Barritt said. “There’s already a lot of time spent here, and I think more people means more comment, more verbiage. More representation? I understand that and I respect that.”
Councilor Laurie Smith said he felt
Councilor Andrew Chalnick also said he didn’t find the pros of the report compelling enough to voice support for the move, saying he felt that the “cons are more serious issues than the pros.”
Prior to her time on the council, Elizabeth Fitzgerald had been a member of the city’s charter committee and was among those who unanimously voted to support the expansion recommendation to the council. The move, she said, would increase inclusivity while also meeting goals and directives laid out in the city plan.
“I think that decision is ready for prime time with the voters,” she said. “I think the voters will weigh in as to how effective we are now, and whether or not there’s a perceived advantage to expanding the council.”
Mike Scanlan agreed with Fitzgerald and voiced support for putting the question out to voters.
“At the end of the day, we are a legislature. We are the house of the people,” he said.
After the discussion, Barritt agreed that putting the question to voters would garner more of a consensus with the city’s voters than the survey, but the council ultimately directed the charter committee to investigate further data on how councils across the country operate.
The charter committee is expected to bring those findings back to the council at their September retreat, with enough time for members to make a decision for the Town Meeting Day ballot.
COURTESY PHOTO
MARKET STREET
continued from page 1
At the request of the school board last February, the city council moved to implement a school zone and a four-way stop near the school’s entrance. The concern now is that buses simply do not have enough room to navigate the school’s entrance effectively without encroaching on traffic. It’s a situation that volunteer crossing guard Sue Connelly said has become increasingly dangerous.
“It’s too dangerous. The road rage is bad.”
— Sue Connelly
reconfiguring bus routes in and out and creating a nearby bus drop-off and having children walk the rest of the way to the school. Councilors ultimately directed staff to prepare a request for proposals for a more comprehensive study focused on reconfiguring the intersections, parking lots and access driveways.
“It has gotten to the point, the traffic and the road rage and the lack of respect is just stunning out there,” Connelly said. “We have people on their cell phones not only going into the school, but we have people that just go right through the stop line. I can be in the middle of the road, and somebody will go around me.”
Connelly said that, with the city in a constant state of expansion, the traffic is only expected to increase as new buildings pop up every year.
“It’s too dangerous,” she said. “The road rage is bad.”
However, residents and city officials have said that changing the culture in City Center is a major piece of the solution. The safety situation ultimately spurred the city to form a Safe Routes to School task force that has been looking at solutions to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment within the city.
“I don’t think it’s okay to say the drivers are bad, they’re just going to be bad. I think that we have to do better for one another,” Baker added. “I think, regardless of what solution we identify, it’s going to require a culture change for the drivers in these very particular windows of time at this intersection.”
A few solutions laid out in a memo from city staff include
While the city council approved allocating roughly $30,000 to support the school district in hiring traffic monitors during the last budget cycle, the South Burlington police department said that it will do its best to have a police
presence at Market Street during school drop-off.
Because the city has not yet been successful in hiring traffic monitors, the city is also looking to support the school with an additional request to contract security companies to provide non-police support.
“I’ve seen probably more than half a dozen staff members that have to manage the loading of the buses and things like that,” councilor Elizabeth Fitzgerald said. “There definitely has been a tax on school resources associated with the traffic patterns that have developed because of the city center. Coming up with a solution that really sets the tone sooner versus later, I think, is really incumbent on us as a council to support that.”
CLIMATE ACTION MANAGER
JOB SUMMARY
Are you passionate about environmental sustainability and ready to lead the charge in climate action? The City of South Burlington is seeking a dynamic and innovative Climate Action Manager to join our dedicated team. This is your chance to make a tangible difference in our community and help shape a greener, more resilient future.
As the Climate Action Manager, you will be at the forefront of our city’s strategies and programs addressing climate change and promoting sustainability. You will report directly to the City Manager and will be a member of the Leadership team.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Public Policy, or a related field required, plus at least 3 years of professional work experience in climate action planning, sustainability, or a related field required, equivalency considered. Master’s degree and professional accreditation are preferred.
SALARY RANGE: $70,000-$80,000 (annually)
APPLY NOW
Review of on-line applications will begin September 16, 2024.
To apply, learn more about the position, and see a complete job description and our Climate Action Plan, please visit: government jobs.com/careers/southburlington. The City of South Burlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The City of South Burlington has several exciting positions openings:
Climate Action Manager
Highway Maintenance Worker Highway Mechanic Police Officer
To see detailed job descriptions and to apply, please visit our job opportunities website at governmentjobs.com/careers/ southburlington. The City of South Burlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Controller/Accounting Lead
Concept2, the market-leading manufacturer of stationary fitness ergometers and composite racing oars has an opening for a Controller/Accounting Lead to join our Global Finance organization in our Morrisville, VT headquarters.
Primary Responsibilities
• Provide day-to-day support for operational accounting, treasury, and tax reporting requirements of the Company.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and drive documentation and narratives to ensure consistent performance of the department’s duties.
• Prepare financial statements in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and ensure timely completion of month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close functions.
• Facilitate monthly P&L reviews to identify trends and opportunities for the business.
• Assist in the development and implementation of forecasting and analytics processes, including preparation of management reports capturing key performance indicators.
Required
Qualifications
Buying
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, with 8+ years of progressive accounting experience in public accounting or a similar work environment, including 3+ years of leadership experience.
• Master’s degree and CPA preferred.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and automation skills.
• Detail-oriented with good organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to cross-train and develop team members.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Excel.
Successful Concept2 employees combine self-sufficiency and personal accountability with strong teamwork skills. Concept2 has an informal setting, flexible work schedule, and excellent compensation and benefits, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees and their families.
To apply, submit a resume and cover letter online at: https://concept2.bamboohr.com/jobs
-Equal Opportunity Employer-
»
557-7492
HONORING OUR VETERANS
