The Williston Selectboard will hold a public hearing to consider amendments to the Williston Unified Development Bylaw. These amendments address residential density, parking and loading requirements, and compliance with new provisions of 24 V.S.A. §§ 4412, 4413, and 4414, enacted under Act 181 (the BE HOME Act) in 2024. The proposed changes also include updates to the Village Zoning District and applicable design standards in other chapters of the bylaw.

The public hearing will take place on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 7:45 PM in the Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room at Williston Town Hall located at 7900 Williston Road with remote participation available using Zoom:

Zoom Meeting ID # 824 9232 2713 on www.zoom.us/j/82492322713 or by phone: 1-646-558-8656

Summary of Proposed Amendments

General Amendments:

• Aligning with state law (1) Amend accessory on-farm business definition; (2) appeal requirements, including “character of the area” appeals; (3) parking regulations; (4) height bonuses in Mixed-Use Commercial District
• Add 1) accessibility modifications and 2) hotels/motels converted to affordable housing to the list of partially exempted development.
• Multi-unit dwellings with 4 or fewer units require only an administrative permit.
• State-required stormwater treatment practices > ¼ acre require an administrative permit only, not a discretionary permit
• DRB hearing must be warned within 120 days of a complete application.
• Wetlands and steep slopes no longer excluded in density calculation
• Buildings with 4 or fewer dwellings are treated like single-household units in areas with municipal water/sewer.
• Increase Gateway Zoning District West density from 5 to 10 du/acre, with bonuses for affordable housing.
• Merge and rename various Zoning Districts for clarity purposes.
• Delete School Impact Fee chapter.

Village Zoning District & Associated Chapters:

• Completely revised Chapter 14 and eliminate Appendix H
• Process for determining contributing/historic and non-contributing/non-historic structures to guide design, redevelopment, and demolition.
• Standards for demolition and demolition by neglect.
• Residential density, dimensional standards, setbacks, parking, and private open areas.
• Allowed uses based on a two-tiered system: major uses along major roads and minor uses throughout the district.
• Standards for new development, including massing, scale, window placement, and roofing design.
• Adopt standards for materials, design, and modifications for all structures in the Williston Village Historic District and contributing structures throughout in the VZD, including replacement of windows, roofing, siding, and architectural details.
• Screening, buffers, and standards for mechanical equipment, utilities, and on-site energy generation.

If adopted, the amendments to the Bylaw will go into effect 21 days after adoption unless a petition is filed for a popular vote to repeal the amendments within 20 days of the adoption vote as provided for in 24 V.S.A. §4442.

The above is a summary. The proposed bylaw amendments and amended zoning map may be viewed at the Williston Planning Office, 7878 Williston Road or linked here: 

Contact Matt Boulanger at the Williston Planning Office at (802) 878-6704 or mboulanger@willistonvt.org for additional information.

PREHEARING INFORMATION

The Planning & Zoning Office will host two (2) hybrid pre-hearing informational sessions in-person at the Town Hall Annex Conference Room, 7878 Williston Road, and online at www.zoom.us/j/2031726412 or by phone by phone: 1-646-558-8656 and enter Meeting ID 203 172 6412

• Session 1: Monday, March 24, 2025 from 5-6pm
• Session 2: Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 12-1pm