Welcome to
Planner's Corner, a monthly update on the activities of the Williston Planning
and Zoning Department.
Topic of the Month: Growth Management!
As far as we
know, Williston is the only town in Vermont that regulates the rate of
construction and the location of new housing with a competitive “Growth Management”
system. The town plans on an average of
80 dwelling units per year, and within that 80-unit limit, awards approvals to
move forward to projects that best meet the town’s Comprehensive Plan Goals.
You can read all about it on the Planning and Zoning Webpage for the topic.
Growth Management
is our topic of the month for two reasons: first, it’s coming up. Very soon,
applicants who went through the first stage of review for new residential
projects will be receiving and completing surveys that will be reviewed by the
Development Review Board (DRB) in March. The DRB will then award “allocation,”
essentially the right to build units in new and existing projects, based on how
competitive each project is. It can get
a little complicated, but the focus of the system is to have most new growth in
the Growth Center (Taft Corners) and to encourage projects that protect open
space, provide paths or trails, add affordable housing to the town, or meet some
of the town’s other goals.
The other
reason Growth Management is our topic of the month is that there are some
proposed changes to the system working their way through review by the Selectboard.
The recommended changes come from the Planning Commission, who have worked
through several public information sessions and their own bylaw amendment hearing
process over the last 18 months. The draft changes proposed to the Selectboard
can be found in their December
18, 2018 agenda packet on the town’s website. The proposed changes maintain
the 80-unit per year cap, adjust some of the incentives, alter the timing of
the system to make it more consistent, and allow exemptions for some very
highly competitive projects and some types of perpetually affordable housing.
We’d encourage folks to check it out and give the planning office a call or
email with any questions.
As always, we
are also ready to assist with questions about our zoning rules, permits for
home projects, conservation lands, or long-range plans for the town. Our doors
are open, 8:00-4:30, Monday through Friday. We can be reached at 878-6704 or by
email.
Here’s a summary of what’s coming up for our boards in the next month.
Agendas, meeting minutes, and supporting documents for the items discussed
below can be found on the “Public
Records and Documents” page of Williston’s website.
WHEN: Tuesday, January 8,
7:00 PM and Tuesday, January 22, 7:00 PM
WHERE: Police Station
Meeting Room, 7928 Williston Road
WHAT: Global Partners requests a
discretionary permit to subdivide a parcel between two existing commercial uses in the GZDN. DP # 19-10
(1/8/19)
Riggs Properties,
LLP requests a discretionary permit to release emergency access easement across
a property in the GZDN. DP # 19-12 (1/8/19)
Cresta Nedde, LLC
requests a discretionary permit for conversion of warehouse space into office
space, a boundary line adjustment, and creation of additional vehicle parking
on a parcel on Hurricane Lane in the GZDS. DP #19-13 (1/22/18)
WHEN: Tuesday, January 15 (No Meeting
January 1)
WHERE: Planning and Zoning Conference
Room, 7878 Williston Road, 1st Floor
WHAT: Discussion regarding amendment to
bylaw.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 16, 7:00 AM
WHERE: Planning and Zoning Conference
Room, 7878 Williston Road, 1st Floor
WHAT: 1/16/19 – Pine Ridge Forest
Management Plan; Allen Brook 2018 water quality monitoring results and plans
for 2019.
WHEN: Tuesday, January 15 7:00 PM
WHERE: Planning and Zoning Conference
Room, 7878 Williston Road, 1st Floor
WHAT:
Discussion of impact fees and parking requirements
For more information about the DRB, HAAC, WCC, or PC visit https://www.town.williston.vt.us ,
click on the “Boards and Commissions” Tab on the left side of the page, then
click on the relevant board or commission link.
