Welcome to
Planner's Corner, a monthly update on the activities of the Williston Planning
and Zoning Department.
Winter is a time of year when the Planning Office
often receives questions about tree removal and logging. Frozen ground and the
lack of leaves makes midwinter a good time for forestry activities like this, so
there is usually an uptick in cutting activity and calls to our office asking what
is going on and who needs a permit.
Sometimes tree removal requires a permit and
sometimes it does not. Clearing more than ¼ acre requires a permit. Where land
clearing of any size (even less than ¼ acre) is in anticipation of a development
that will require Development Review Board approval, the clearing itself also
requires review and approval by the Development Review Board as part of a Discretionary
Permit. Clearing less than ¼ acre (for example at an existing home to expand a
lawn or make room for an addition) only requires an Administrative Permit, the
kind that can be applied for at our office and approved by the Zoning Administrator
without a trip to the DRB.
Removal of selected trees on an existing
developed site may not require a permit, but it is always wise to check with
our office first. Some trees may have been required as part of a landscaped
buffer or as street trees, and some developments within town have specific
clearing limits or trees that are required to be retained as part of their DRB
approvals. Our staff can help you identify those requirements. Tree removal
within 50 feet of wetlands and 150 feet of the Allen, Muddy, and Sucker Brooks
is also generally prohibited.
How Williston regulates and requires permits
for tree removal and clearing is limited by state law, which protects forestry
activities (logging) and prohibits towns from regulating forestry through
zoning. For the rules and requirements pertaining to forestry that may be
exempt from zoning requirements, please contact the Chittenden County Forester
at 802-585-9099.
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. [MB1]
Development Review Board (DRB)
WHEN: February 12, 7:00 PM (No applications submitted for February 26 hearing)
WHERE: Town Hall Meeting Room, 7900 Williston Road, 2nd
Floor via rear entrance
WHAT: DP 19-14 VIP Tires &
Service requests a discretionary permit for a master sign plan in the GZDN.
DP 19-06 HJ
Properties, LLC requests a discretionary permit for commercial site development
in the IZDW.
DP 19-15 New England
Federal Credit Union requests a discretionary permit for building additions and
site improvements at existing facility in BPZD.
Historical
and Architectural Advisory Committee (HAAC)
WHEN: February
5 and February 19, 5:30 PM
WHERE: Town
Hall Annex, 7878 Williston Road, 1st Floor
WHAT: Draft
bylaw revision language, continuing research on Vermont regulations re:
historic buildings
Williston
Conservation Commission (WCC)
WHEN: February
6 and February 20, 7:00 AM
WHERE: Town
Hall Annex, 7878 Williston Road, 1st Floor
WHAT: Mud
Pond Conservation Area Management. Plan, Allen brook water quality. monitoring
results, , discuss Williston Energy Plan
Planning
Commission (PC)
WHEN: February
5 and February 19, 7:00 PM
WHERE: Town
Hall Annex, 7878 Williston Road, 1st Floor
WHAT: Vote on Work plan, discuss energy plan, final
impact fee project list
For more
information about the DRB, HAAC, WCC, or PC visit www.williston.vt.gov, click on
the “Boards and Commissions” Tab on the left side of the page, then click on
the relevant board or commission link. Our staff is ready to assist you from
8:00-4:30, Monday through Friday. We can be reached at 802-878-6704 or by email.
