LUR amendment discussion prompts conflict of interest charge

LUR amendment discussion prompts conflict of interest charge

The Oct. 1 Charlotte Planning Commission meeting started with confusion and contention, partly due to the perpetual challenges of holding municipal meetings via Zoom video call and partly because of another conflict of interest allegation against Planning Commission member Bill Stuono—this time by a meeting attendee.

On To the Next Phase

On To the Next Phase

The Thursday, February 21, Planning Commission agenda contained only three agenda items: a subdivision amendment for landowner Andrew Zins and sketch plan reviews for the Charlotte Library addition and for the proposed Charlotte Health Center (Mason-von Trapp application).

Informational session on Act 143 regulating on-farm businesses

Informational session on Act 143 regulating on-farm businesses

The Monday, February 11, Selectboard agenda focused primarily around a review of Act 143, “an act relating to municipal land use regulation of accessory on-farm businesses and to hemp cultivation.” This included an informational presentation from Zoning Administrator Aaron Brown, discussion from the Selectboard, and input from the public.

Discussions continue on Mason–Von Trapp sketch plan

Discussions continue on Mason–Von Trapp sketch plan

The Jan. 3 Planning Commission meeting focused primarily on the Mason–Von Trapp sketch plan agenda item, with Chair Peter Joslin opening with an explanation of the intent of the sketch plan discussion: to listen to the ideas put forth by the applicants with a resulting recommendation from the commission. After nearly two hours of discussion from various meeting attendees, the commission scheduled a follow-up site visit and will include the item on a future agenda in February.

Second open work session: Design of the State Park Road section of the Charlotte Town Link Trail

Second open work session: Design of the State Park Road section of the Charlotte Town Link Trail

The Charlotte Trails Committee, with Jim Donovan leading the effort, is continuing work on a detailed layout of the portion of the Town Link Trail that lies along State Park Road. The Trails Committee assembled a steering committee with representatives from the Selectboard, the Planning Commission, the Conservation Commission and the Trails Committee, as well as the road commissioner and the tree warden.

Turkey day game plan

Turkey day game plan

For the past 20 years, my sister Mary, her husband and three sons (as they came along) were hosted for Thanksgiving by our aunt Kay and Uncle Jim or Mary’s in-laws, alternating every other year. This year was their year to head to Mary’s in-laws. On a whim, she invited them to come spend Thanksgiving with her family in their new home. 

The importance of corridors

The importance of corridors

How would you react if you received a notice that said your home property would be bisected by a new highway? You would likely go to your town, county and state officials, hire a lawyer, form a neighborhood group to defeat this issue, and, in the end, maybe even try to physically obstruct the process. You have rights, and you voice your objections to this incursion. Now ask yourself, how can wildlife express their distress when their home and ability to survive is threatened by a new road, by developments that fragments forests with spread-out houses and by the addition of domestic predators? The unfortunate truth is they can’t. 

Town Plan proceeds

In a harmonious and productive first public meeting on the Town Plan on Monday, December 11, the Charlotte Selectboard and the town’s assembled citizens reached consensus that the plan would be voted on at Town Meeting, 2018.

Emergency planning update

Emergency planning update

With recent headlines describing hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, earthquakes, hazardous spills and a host of other natural and man-made disasters nationally, it is worth taking a moment to review what all of us can do to make sure that we are prepared for an extreme weather event or if a small-scale disaster hits us here in Charlotte. As a town we are required to have an emergency plan that provides the Selectboard, fire and rescue services and the road commissioner with a check list for procedures and resources they may draw upon should a major event affect our town.