Old Lantern Decision Appealed
by Nancy Wood
July 15, 2010, pg 1

Neighbors Michael and Karen Frost have appealed the Planning Board’s June 7 approval of the Gaujac Preliminary Planned Unit Development review and Site Plan review for an inn at the Old Lantern. The appeal was filed with the Vermont Environmental Court on July 2.

According to Town Zoning Administrator Tom Mansfield, due to a backlog of cases at the court it could be about a month to six weeks until the Town receives a “statement of questions,” and several months before the appeal is heard.

Karen Frost said they are not against an inn being built in conjunction with The Old Lantern, as long as it fits into the residential and conservation context of the neighborhood, and abides by the requirements of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and the Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Vermont Land Trust signed in August 2000. The Town received $120,000 from the non-profits toward the purchase of the Burns property in exchange for agreeing to a number of provisions that included conducting a Village Planning process, assuring public access to Barber Hill and providing for a recreation path from south of The Old Lantern to Ferry Road.

Frost described as “extremely large” the 5,000 sq. ft. inn proposed by Lisa and Roland Gaujac, and said that it would dominate rather than fit into the site on the side of Barber Hill.

At their July 12 meeting the Selectboard authorized the Town Attorney to enter an appearance in the appeal.