Entrepreneur Will Raap closes on the sale of Nordic Farms
One of the most ambitious endeavors in Vermont agriculture, the redevelopment of the iconic Nordic Farms on Route 7 in Charlotte, took several defining steps forward this week.
Zoning board loses two members, third departure possible
The future of Charlotte’s zoning board is unclear after two board members announce their departure and Frank Tenney, who is both the vice chair of the town selectboard and head of the zoning board, is being pushed to step down from his zoning board role.
Guns or butter?
Two articles in New York Times issues near the end of last month caught my eye. One happened to be in the sports section; the other was a column by writer Roger Cohen.
Flushing out the details: Selectboard moves closer to wastewater decision
The Selectboard is working its way toward a decision about wastewater and septic usage in the West Village; as the process moves closer to resolution, however, the issue is still misunderstood by many in the community. The board plans on two more public discussions of the matter before voting on the municipal septic system’s future and, by default, on the future of the Charlotte Children’s Center and the Charlotte Family Health Center.
Selectboard approves library addition bond for $600,000
The June 10 Selectboard meeting began with Vice Chair Frank Tenney calling the meeting to order, three members were present. Chair Matt Krasnow and Selectboard member Louise McCarren participated by phone. Similar to the June 3 meeting, agenda items centered on the Charlotte Library addition. Selectboard member Fritz Tegatz said the library building committee was in the process of reviewing the ReArch contract and did not have a draft ready to present at the meeting. Members of the public, many who attended the previous Selectboard meeting, again raised similar concerns about specific line item costs, site work and sketch plan review, as well as library matching funds and the memorandum of understanding.
Planning Commission Discusses Old Town ROW
The Thursday, March 7 Planning Commission meeting included a sketch plan review for a right of way (ROW) located at 95 Inn Road and reconsideration of boundary adjustment for 4190 Mt. Philo Road, adjourning after lengthy discussion with both applicants.
Around Town – Feb. 20, 2019
Sympathy is extended to family, friends and community members as two of Charlotte’s historically prominent agriculturalists, Theresa L. Knowles and…
East Village proposal needs a wall
At the end of January, the Charlotte Planning Commission discussed changing the village boundaries for East Charlotte to include setbacks of 400 feet in all directions from the intersection of Spear Street and Hinesburg Road.
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.
Town Meeting Day
Town Meeting 2019 will be on Tuesday, March 5, at the Charlotte Central School Multi-Purpose Room.
Planning Commission tackles subdividing and boundary adjustments
Boundary adjustments and lot-splitting were on the agenda at the January 17 Planning Commission meeting at Town Hall. The commission met for two sketch plan reviews and a request for reconsideration on a previous decision.
Library asks for bond support
The Charlotte Library is ready to grow, and after three years of planning, supporters are ready to shift their efforts into high gear. At the request of the Selectboard, the library’s Bond Committee presented a proposal to the board on Dec. 17 to secure support for a $700,000 municipal bond, which would be presented to voters on Town Meeting Day in March.
Results of Town Recreation Commission beach survey
The Recreation Beach Survey has been circulating on Front Porch Forum for the last two weeks and the results are in. Thanks to everyone who responded to the survey—over 225 returns. The results were presented to the Selectboard on November 26.
Around Town – Nov. 28, 2018
Former Charlotte resident Erica Heilman created a podcast titled “Rumble Strip Vermont” five years ago, and through it she has gained a wide reputation. She currently is leading a seven-part series exploring the state of mental health care around us. Erica moderates the series with episodes using personal stories from inside the state’s mental health care system to look at a variety of topics, such as home environments, parenthood (particularly of adult sufferers living at home), the community, supervised housing such as “My Pad,” how it feels to get back to normal, the role of work in recovery.
A change of scenery
I have a different view now. I moved to Grand Isle three weeks ago (and until I sell my house, I plan on continuing this column), and I am slowly finding my eyes. Views, I think, are often taken for granted if they’re our daily companions, as my Charlotte view was for 22 years. They comfort more than they amaze. But having all new views from the entire house is letting me see again.
Beach planning open meeting
Greetings from Charlotte Recreation. I think we can all agree that living where we do is a privilege and having access to the lake is a wonderful resource. Charlotte is blessed with a 20+-acre waterfront parcel we affectionately call “the beach,” and the Recreation Department is charged with managing this and other parcels for the town, including the rink, Whiskey Bay and Lanes Lane access.
Strong showing for incumbents in Vermont statewide races
Cool, seasonal weather welcomed residents to the polls at Charlotte Central School on Tuesday November 6. Shaking off rain showers, 73.70 percent (2,382 of 3,232) of current registered voters cast their votes for several contested statewide races.
Editor’s Letter – Oct 17, 2018
Here is a beautiful word I learned this past summer: deliquescence. It means having a tendency to melt or become liquid, to dissolve. I love it, the way it sounds, the idea, the imagery that comes with such a word. That something could kind of dissolve slowly, disappear … deliquesce.
Around Town
to Deb Smith of Charlotte who participated in a workshop at Dartmouth College titled “The School of Ice: Ice Cores and Climate Change” that ran from July 29 through August 2. The program was developed by the U.S. Ice Drilling Program Office, a part of the National Science Foundation, which provides oversight of U.S. scientific drilling efforts in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Deb spent two summers in Antarctica in the early 2000s. The four-day residential course focused on the role of proxy records to help expand current understanding of Earth’s climate, with a special focus on ice-core data.
Affordable housing issues discussed at July Selectboard meeting
The July 23 Selectboard meeting was a lengthy one, with over an hour of discussion dedicated to the issue of affordable housing. The town agreement with Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services, as well as the town’s hazardous waste ordinance, were also big-ticket items.