Williston Observer

Boutin Farm first in Williston to offer CSA program

March 27, 2008

By Tim Simard
Observer staff

Lisa Boutin had something of an epiphany while working several farmers' markets last summer with her husband, Kevin. So many people enjoyed their fresh vegetables and berries, why not have more community members actually become part of the farm?

"We had so much fun at the farmers' markets meeting so many new people," said Boutin, the co-owner of Boutin Family Farm. "It's great to be part of something the community can really get behind."

The Boutins also set up a makeshift farm stand at the farm's location on the corner of South Road and Christmas Lane. Many locals stopped to buy vegetables at the farm stand, Boutin noticed, and the idea of becoming more community driven grew increasingly attractive.

"We thought it would be great to have people come to our farm and be part of a community," said Boutin, who also works as a teacher's aide at Allen Brook School.

The Boutins decided to turn their small farm into Williston's first Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, program, which allows people to buy so-called "shares" in the farm before the growing season and then get bags of vegetables throughout the summer and early fall. The upfront money allows farms to cover early operating costs and focus on planting and growing for "shareholders," Boutin said.

The CSA concept has existed for more than 20 years in Vermont, but has gained in popularity recently as people have become more concerned about where their food is coming from, said Jean Hamilton, the farm share coordinator for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont.

"It's an investment in the whole season and allows for a sense of community to form," she said.

Hamilton said there are 13 CSA farms in Chittenden County and 67 statewide. One of those in Chittenden County is Goose Creek Farm in St. George, started by Lisa and Greg Beliveau 15 years ago. Goose Creek and Boutin Family Farm offer the only CSA programs in their respective towns.

"Right from the start, we've had a lot of members," Lisa Beliveau said, estimating the farm currently has 30 to 40 shareholders.

Goose Creek is located right off Route 2A with a permanent farm stand in the summer on the road. The farm has 4,000 square feet of greenhouses and more than eight acres designated organic certified.

Boutin spoke with Beliveau when developing the Boutin Family Farm CSA approach, even modeling her share program after Goose Creek's.

Beliveau told Boutin to be aware of how much customers will get per share. She stressed not to give too much so as not to waste vegetables.

"It's a way to get people connected to their food source," Beliveau said. "It doesn't matter how you buy locally, just that you do buy locally."

How it works

At Boutin Family Farm, customers will be able to pick up their vegetables once a week for 12 weeks. Boutin said   a full share, for $325, should feed a family of four for a week. A half share, for $225, should feed two adults for a week, but Boutin warned what feeds a family of four may only feed two vegetarians. The costs are cheaper if customers sign up before June 1.

In addition to the CSA program, the Boutins have instituted a debit share program where individuals can pay $100 or more up front and shop the farm stand until the money runs out. Anyone participating in that program will get 10 percent off vegetables.

Vegetables will vary throughout summer and fall. Vegetables including lettuce, scallions and summer squash will be available in the early season; carrots, tomatoes, beets, cucumbers, corn, onions and broccoli during mid-season; eggplant, sweet peppers, pumpkins and winter squash in the late season.

Boutin said customers would be able to pick up their shares on Mondays or Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

So far, the farm has seven members signed up. Boutin still plans to publicize the CSA program.

Boutin Family

The Boutin family has been farming in Williston for more than three generations. Much of the family continues to live around the rolling hills and patchwork fields of southern Williston.

"Everyone is very close with each other in this family," Lisa Boutin said. "We're pretty active with what's going with each other."

The Boutins will continue to sell at farmers' markets in the summer, including two in Williston and one in Richmond.

"People I've spoken with have become really excited about having a local CSA around," Boutin said. "Having someone local producing your food is something I think the whole community can get behind."

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New employee started this week

March 27, 2008

By Greg Elias
Observer staff

Lisa Murdock has spent much of her career helping developers with permits. Now she moves to the other side of the excavation.

Murdock started working for the town of Williston on Monday. She fills a new position that includes enforcing permit conditions and inspecting construction sites.

The job represents a change of perspective for Murdock, who for the past decade has worked as an engineer for private firms.

"It's completely the opposite side of the table," she said. "It's going to be different, but it's going to be interesting to see that side of it."

Her title will be engineering technician. She reports to Public Works Director Neil Boyden but will also work with the Planning Department.

Permit enforcement has been problematic in the past because of staffing limitations, Boyden said. Murdock will visit construction sites to ensure developers are following rules regarding storm water controls and other standards established during the town's permitting process.

The position will include a mix of office and field work.

"It's sure not going to be all glory here," Boyden said. "Sometimes she may need rubber boots to inspect a septic system."

Murdock will be paid $45,240 annually, according to Town Manager Rick McGuire. But Boyden said the position could actually save money in the long run.

Infrastructure such as septic systems and drainage pipes are buried, so without timely inspections substandard work may not be noticed until many years later, Boyden said. Then the problem can cost individual homeowners or the town thousands to fix.

Permit enforcement has been the subject of increasing scrutiny in recent years. A new study by the Vermont Natural Resources Council found permit violations at construction sites around Vermont that caused erosion and pollution of nearby waterways. Legislation being drafted in the Vermont House would stiffen penalties for such violations.

Boyden said state and local permits tend to mirror each other, so the new position will help ensure developers comply with rules designed to protect the environment.

Murdock, 36, was born in Burlington and grew up in the Lake Champlain Islands. She attended the University of Vermont, where she received a degree in civil engineering. She lives in North Hero with her husband, Michael.

Murdock has worked as an engineer for Llewellyn-Howley Inc. in South Burlington and for ESPC, a Williston civil and environmental engineering firm.

Projects she worked on included the Ice Barn in Milton and the Hampton Inn in Plattsburgh, N.Y. She also helped design sidewalks in Hinesburg and other Vermont towns.

That experience dovetails with her responsibilities in Williston. Part of the job involves helping develop the long-planned series of sidewalks throughout Williston. Voters approved $2.6 million in bond funding for sidewalk construction in 2004, but much of the work has stalled because of residents' reluctance to grant rights-of-way.

There were 20 applicants for the new position. Boyden said Murdock's experience with both field and design work made her the most well-rounded candidate.

Murdock is likely to encounter many of the same developers she used to work with in the private sector. Will she find it hard to enforce the rules when she sees a familiar face?

"Not at all," she said. "My responsibility is to look out for the best interests of the town of Williston."

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State says facility won't increase boat traffic

March 27, 2008

By Greg Elias
Observer staff

State regulators have approved a public dock on Lake Iroquois that was proposed by a Boy Scout as a community service but drew opposition from homeowners worried about boat traffic and the environment.

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation issued the ruling on Tuesday. The approval includes 18 conditions, most notably one that moves the structure from its originally proposed location and places it adjacent to the existing boat ramp.

Jeffrey Dumas, the Williston teenager who had proposed the dock to fulfill an Eagle Scout requirement, was pleased with the decision.

"It's great news," he said in a brief telephone interview between classes at Champlain Valley Union High School.

He said the dock is the final step he needs to complete to become an Eagle Scout.

The dock will be 50 feet long, with 40 feet extending into the water and the remainder on shore. Located at the northern end of the lake on land controlled by the state Fish and Wildlife Department, it is designed to be moved out of the water when the boating season ends.

The dock would ease access for people with handicaps by permitting them to step into their boats rather than clamber over the bow, the state's ruling said. It would also help those who tow their boats to the lake by allowing them to dock their watercraft while they park their vehicle.

Dumas had been working on the dock design for several months last year when word got out. More than two dozen people then wrote to the state to express reservations.

The opposition triggered a public hearing. About 40 people attended the meeting held in January.

Opponents, apparently all people who own property on or around the lake, said the dock would attract more boaters and so increase the chances of further infecting the lake with invasive aquatic life. The lake is already clogged with Eurasian milfoil.

They also warned that the lake was crowded on summer weekends, and adding more boats might lead to a collision. Others said the dock's location and size would impact shoreline habitat and harm the area's natural beauty.

But the meeting also drew supporters, some of whom said the dock would serve those not fortunate enough to own lakefront homes.

Some favoring the dock said they struggle loading small children into their boats when launching from the ramp. Others with physical limitations said the dock would help them board their boats.

Susan Lamb, who owns property along the lake with her husband, Tony, was one of those who expressed concerns about the dock's impact on natural habitat. The new location won her over.

"I think it's a nice compromise," she said. "I think it will open access to the lake for people who might have trouble otherwise."

Roger Crouse, president of the Lake Iroquois Association, said he has mixed feelings about the dock's approval. He emphasized that he was speaking for himself and not on behalf of other members of the nonprofit, which consists of property owners who want to protect and enhance the lake's ecosystem.

He was pleased about the state's decision to leave undisturbed the area where the dock was originally proposed.

"I like the idea of not mowing that area where they (were going to) put the dock," he said. "That's going to help wildlife, and that's good."

But he disagrees with the state's assertion that the dock won't increase boat traffic.

"I'm just not sure how they can make that statement without a scientific study," he said.

Opponents have 30 days to appeal the decision in Vermont Environmental Court. Crouse said it was too soon to tell if his organization will appeal.

Dumas said he still has to build the dock, a project he hopes to complete by summer. Several community groups and individuals have offered to help, he said, and his fellow Boy Scouts may also lend a hand.

The experience of hearing different views and dealing with opposition has been an eye-opener, Dumas said.

"I've learned a lot as far as how things work," he said. "It's been a great experience. It's been a light into the world."

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Parishioners say decision will add thousands to $400,000 renovation

March 27, 2008

By Tim Simard
Observer staff

It wasn't good news Tuesday night for the parishioners of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. The Williston Development Review Board told the church it must replace the vinyl siding on the rectory when planned renovations begin.

"It's disappointing," said Larry Assell, parish spokesman. "It's hard to believe the flexibility just isn't there. We didn't think we'd run into so much push back."

The board approved the overall application for the rectory's renovation, but would not allow the old, existing vinyl siding to be replaced with a newer vinyl.

The design review guide for the Williston Village Historic District states buildings should adhere to the historic nature of the original structure and fit with the architectural character of other buildings in the district. For exterior walls, the guide says, "Materials should be brick or narrow wood clapboard."

"We don't write the rules," said Kevin McDermott, chairman of the DRB, during the meeting. "We're here to enforce them, unfortunately."

Assell, who works on the parish's finance committee, estimated the total cost of the renovation at around $400,000 if the board approved the vinyl. He estimated the cost of using new clapboard to be close to $30,000.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church rectory is an Italianate-style farmhouse built in the 1870s. The building is listed on Vermont's historic registry.

Town Planner Lee Nellis said the DRB's motion on the siding may not force the church to use clapboard. Based on the conditions of approval, the church must remove a vinyl section of wall on each side of the house while a town staff member is present. If clapboard is present beneath the vinyl, the church must then replace or repair the wood siding; if the clapboard is not present, the church can use a cement-based fiberboard to replace the vinyl.

Assell said if clapboard exists underneath the old siding, the $30,000 cost of new clapboard might prohibit a continuation of the exterior renovations.

Yet McDermott argued the clapboard cost was less than 8 percent of the church's total renovation budget.

"In my humble opinion, 7.23 percent isn't a large proportion," he said.

About 20 people attended the meeting, and several parishioners who spoke disagreed with McDermott's assessment of the additional cost. Williston resident Kerry Enright explained churchgoers' wallets are already tight when it comes to money.

"We've all made financial sacrifices here," Enright said.

Caroline Harris, also a Williston resident, explained the upkeep of clapboard would require time and money and wondered if the town would rather see peeling paint than vinyl.

"I take offense that you don't like vinyl siding," she told the board.

Scott O'Neil, a parishioner from Richmond, said that since many of the churchgoers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary are older, they would have to pay an outside contractor to keep the wood siding freshly painted, never mind insurance costs if parishioners took up the job.

Parishioner George Gerecke said the rectory had vinyl siding since as long as he could remember. Assell added the church did not have records going back to when the original vinyl was installed, but he believes it happened more than 40 years ago.

"There has been a bias against vinyl by the town and I'm not sure why it exists," Gerecke said. "My argument is whether or not vinyl or wood even matters to the image for the buildings for the people coming into the village."

But McDermott said the board has not made exceptions in the past to other churches in the village that have wanted to include designs not in keeping with the historic code.

"I by no means want people to think they're being singled out like this is some sort of anti-Roman Catholic Church thing," he said. "It puts us in a tough spot."

Assell said the church wants to find a middle ground with the town so it can begin the planned renovations in May. Besides adding new siding, the church plans to turn the rectory's upstairs into a three-bedroom apartment for Rev. Donald Ravey, while turning the downstairs into a meeting place for parishioners.

The church now plans to weigh its options. Assell believes cement fiberboard might be something the church could work with, but it all depends on what lies underneath the old vinyl.

"This has been a much larger issue than we ever anticipated it would be," Assell said. "We'd like to see flexibility in our local government. It's OK to say things can change a little."

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March 20, 2008
By Greg Elias
Observer staff

Another round of revisions to Williston's zoning ordinance will be discussed during a public hearing next week.

The Selectboard hosts the meeting at Town Hall on Monday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. The session will cover 13 newly drafted chapters of the town's unified development bylaw.

The chapters address mostly routine administrative matters such as ensuring there is the proper parking and infrastructure for new development.

David Yandell is chairman of the Williston Planning Commission, which makes recommendations for zoning revisions to be adopted by the Selectboard. He said it is important for the public to pay attention to zoning changes, but acknowledged that most of the revisions involve rules that are as "dry as dust."

The new rules address two pairs of zoning districts. One is around the Interstate 89 interchange. The second includes Williston's aging industrial areas.

Development pressures have mounted in recent years near I-89. The new ordinance breaks the area down into two districts, gateway south and gateway north.

The Planning Commission tried to balance travelers' desire for amenities near interstates — hotels and gas stations, for example —
with homeowners' preference to restrict development, Yandell said.

The new rules attempt to limit the visual impact of proposed projects while still allowing development, Yandell said. Among the changes is a requirement that only 35 percent of vegetation can be cut on wooded sites.

Zoning revisions also involve Williston's industrial districts, which are along Industrial Avenue and Redmond Road.

Businesses and landowners have urged the town to be more flexible in the types of uses permitted to accommodate changes in the economy, Yandell said.

"We struggled with the boundaries and the types of uses that should be allowed as manufacturing leaves the U.S," he said.

The new zoning eases restrictions on the kinds of uses while trying to avoid conflicts, Yandell said. The idea is to maintain a healthy industrial base while ensuring neighboring businesses are compatible.

This group of zoning revisions is the second of three. The Selectboard previously passed altered rules governing big-box stores off Marshall Avenue and streamlined the permitting process.

The last group will include more controversial rules, such as those regarding outdoor lighting and signs.

Yandell said he is unsure when the final zoning revisions will be completed.
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