North Williston Road subdivision has 37 units

Dec. 17, 2009

By Tim Simard

Observer staff

The Development Review Board recently granted a pre-application permit for a proposed 37-unit subdivision off North Williston Road. With the board’s approval on Dec. 8, the development can move forward within Williston’s growth management system.

The project includes a mix of single-family homes and multi-family units built on nearly 23 acres across from the Williston Golf Course. The Snyder Group Inc. is the project’s applicant. Alden and Phoebe Bryan own the land, which sits across North Williston Road from their home.

The Snyder Group, along with J.L. Davis Inc., is also developing the Finney Crossing project in Taft Corners that is not yet under construction.

According to plans, the North Williston Road development would contain two entrance points: a public loop road accessing 32 units and a private drive for the remaining five single-family homes. In an earlier interview with the Observer, developer Chris Snyder said he plans to build the five units on the private road before tackling the loop road homes.

At the meeting last Tuesday, the Development Review Board questioned the locations of units within the project, said Senior Planner Matt Boulanger. Boulanger said such questioning is not unusual as plans tend to change with projects between the pre-application stage and the discretionary permit stage.

By receiving the pre-application permit last week, the project can vie for unit allocation in Williston’s growth management system next year. In growth management, landowners compete annually for available building units. The Snyder Group subdivision falls into an area of town that has few units available.

Only five units are available through 2015 and the Snyder Group subdivision would have to compete with other projects within its zoning district. Units are allocated based on a points system, where projects receive points for landscaping, environmentally friendly building and affordable housing, among other categories. After 2015, more units could open up throughout town. That decision is in the works with planning staff and the Planning Commission.

Next year’s growth management allocation meeting is tentatively scheduled for March.