Community Support Leads to Selectboard Compromise
by Robbie Stanley

William “Bid” Spear has a lot of friends. It seemed as if most of them showed up at last week’s Selectboard meeting to support proposed changes in the setback policy, and the size and permitted use of Bid’s property at the southeast corner at Ferry Road and Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7). The property includes a gas station now run by Steve Denton and Uncle Sam’s creemee stand.
A petition requesting an amendment allowing the changes to the Land Use Regulations was submitted to the Planning Commission last January. After holding a public hearing in May, the commission forwarded the petition to the Selectboard and recommended the approval of the amendment. The petition asks for a reduction in the town 100-foot setback, an increase in building size and the allowance of retail use.
Meanwhile, Bid Spear would like to sell the property to fund his retirement. Under the current restrictions, the property would have a sharply reduced value to potential buyers.
No one in the large audience voiced any opposition to the petition.
Under the current Land Use Regulations, the maximum building size on the east side of Route 7 is 3,000 square feet, although a building on the west side of the road can be as large as 10,000 square feet. One reason given for the discrepancy is to dissuade pedestrians walking from the town center across the busy highway.
The Selectboard explored the legal requirements and whether a public hearing would be required, after which board member Winslow Ladue maintained that, “It’s clear as mud but I understand it.” After a long discussion, the Selectboard agreed to recommend the following changes, and scheduled a public hearing for September 8 at 7:45 p.m. at Town Hall. At that hearing, the following changes will be discussed: reducing the setback to 20 feet, allowing retail use and expanding the maximum building size to 6,600 square feet.
The petition and related information is posted on the town’s website at charlottevt.org.

Sylvia Knight resigns from the Conservation Commission.
After eight years of service, Sylvia Knight resigned from Conservation Commission. Sylvia’s special effort in working with the Vermont Pesticide Advisory Council resulted in the development of an integrated vegetation management plan, adopted by most railroads in the state. Sylvia has also been the commission’s point person on the ecological impact of the VELCO transmission line. She urged continued follow-up as construction continues. Linda Hamilton expressed appreciation on behalf of the commission and read the text of the special Tough Cookie Award given her in 2006 that recognized her leadership and commitment.

There’s a new street in town.
Elfin Lane or Popcorn Drive were two names proposed by Jessica Donovan and Peter Schneider for the new road to their Pease Mountain housing development. The Selectboard decided on Elfin Lane.

We’re scrambling for salt.
The town currently has storage capacity for three loads of salt (at 25 tons per load). Road Commissioner Junior Lewis anticipates that we will need 500 tons for the next winter season. Junior is looking into buying salt now to both head off supply shortages and to get a better price, but storage needs to be worked out.
Last winter Junior Lewis waited two months for an order and paid twice as much. The town’s road crew used 17 loads, but, as Selectboard member Ed Stone pointed out, “We would have used 22 loads if we’d had it.” Meanwhile, Junior reports that the shale layer on Bean Road is done in spite of the frequent rain and work is proceeding well.