TownBites
by Edd Merritt and Nancy Wood
April 8, 2010, pages 4 and 5.....

Gaujacs propose an inn by the Old Lantern.

Roland and Lisa Gaujac are proposing to add an eight-room inn and residence to the Old Lantern property on Greenbush Road. They met with the Planning Commission April 1 to review the site plan and present a preliminary plat plan for the “Planned Unit Development (PUD).” Their consultant David Marshall, showed maps of the area and sited the inn and roads to it for the commission. He emphasized that in developing the plan, the Gaujacs “tried to work with the land rather than against it.” He cited as an example their choice of parking locations, which were screened by trees west of the Old Lantern. The new building, he said, would encompass approximately 4,500 square feet of space and stand just less than 35 feet tall. According to Gaujacs, who showed the commission a picture of a similar structure, its design is intended to give it a “farmhouse look.” Neighbors raised questions about the proposal in light of its definition under the town’s zoning requirements. Karen Frost pointed to sections of the town plan about areas of high public value, trail easements and the inn’s relationship to conserved land. They also felt that the proposal contained excessive road access to the inn and questioned the location. The Gaujacs’ proposal places the building in an open area formerly used as a campground, while the neighbors suggested moving it east, closer to the Old Lantern itself. The commission wants to make another site visit in order to assess a possible change in location to address the concerns.

Habitat for Humanity has final plat hearing on Burns Development.

Switching hats to speak for the soon-to-be Old Lantern neighbors on the east side of Greenbush Road, David Marshall described where the Burns project for construction of three affordable houses stood. Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity will build the single-family houses with lots encompassing from .41 to .45 acres of land. Marshall addressed previous concerns, particularly about the septic easement across the Burn’s property. He said they are waiting for guidance from attorneys about whether they can build a driveway over the easement. He feels confident that it can be accomplished within regulations. With relatively little discussion, the commission closed the hearing.

The East Charlotte planning process moves ahead.

The oversight task force charged with establishing a process that will help create a plan for the East Charlotte Village and environs has met several times to make certain that it understands its charge and to move forward with it. A resource shelf will be set up in the Charlotte Library that anyone can access to see what the group has done as well as how other towns have approached their planning. So far, the task force has focused on its role in proposing a decision-making process for the project. It has discussed how it might incorporate other task groups and make available information they may need to operate effectively. In the relatively near future, the oversight group hopes to hold another open-community forum to assess options and steps the process should take next. Stay tuned.

Spear’s Corner Store celebrates its 9th anniversary.

Carrie Spear ( see photo right) took over the general store located in East Charlotte at Baptist Corners nine years ago last Saturday. As a thank-you she served all customers a free homemade cupcake, reminding them to mark October 10 on their calendars as the occasion of the tenth annual tractor parade – 10/10/10 she notes.

Selectboard mediates agreement among neighbors about dogs.

Ken and Julie Cartularo appeared before the Selectboard on March 22 to request an amendment to an order issued by the Selectboard on March 3, 2008, regarding the restraining of their dogs.

The Cartularos have two dogs that are required by the order to be restrained at all times with both leashes and an invisible fence with electric collars. The order resulted from an incident in 2007 when a neighbor on Blackbird Lane, Carol Miklos, was bitten by one of the dogs during a dogfight.

The Cartularos would like to be able to let their dogs off their leashes on their property while either Ken or Julie are in the yard with them. Ken Cartularo said he “can’t even throw a frisbie” for the dogs. He has five acres, and it is “not fair” that the dogs can’t enjoy them.

A neighbor, Tim Smith, commended the Selectboard on the original order and indicated it was “nice to not be chased, and to feel safe.” Yvonne Jackson, sister of Carol Miklos, also said it was a “relief not to be chased. I don’t trust the electric fence.” She is concerned about her children who walk by the property to and from the school bus. She said, “I am not a mean neighbor, I’m a scared neighbor.”

The Selectboard suggested a compromise that would allow the Cartularos to let the dogs off their leashes, with their electric collars on, when they are outside with them during hours of the day that children would not be walking by. Raising a flag when the dogs are out was another suggestion.

Other neighbors were to be notified of the proposal, which will be on the April 12 agenda for action by the Selectboard.

The Plouffe Lane Trail dispute still awaits resolution.

The Selectboard met on March 30 to, according to the agenda, “review and possibly approve settlement proposal for all appeals and suits filed by Gregg and Elizabeth Beldock associated with this use.” According to Charles Russell, chair of the Selectboard, there was no action taken after the board met in executive session.

The trail is on the town-owned land that used to be the town dump off Carpenter Road, owned at different times by Shelburne and Charlotte. Plans to add a kiosk and parking await the settlement of the litigation which has been going on for about two years.