Black history curriculum
CVU sports nets weekend wins
Clemmons farm spotlights Black History Month
Athletes in three sports bring CVU victories
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February 9, 2023
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Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg
thecitizenvt.com
Hinesburg village’s housing boom 40 years in the making
Full speed ahead
But concerns over density, floodplains remain COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
In 1988, when the Lyman Meadows condominium development was built, the population of Hinesburg’s village area almost doubled, by some estimates. That housing buildout, one of others to come, may have been the starting point for a plan of growth in the town village — 40 square miles of land off Route 116, wedged between the LaPlatte River and Patrick Brook that for decades has been targeted for economic
growth in the town. Now, those plans are quickly beginning to materialize — seemingly all at once. In the next six to 10 years, more than 400 units of residential housing are set either for approval or construction — “maybe more than that,” town planner Alex Weinhagen said. Late last year, Hinesburg’s largest housing development in its history, Haystack Crossing, was given final approval after more than eight years of work. It will See HOUSING on page 9
Charlotte SB advances retooled budget proposal Board moves to keep Australian ballot vote LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY AL FREY
CVU’s Alice Kredell battles Essex’s Scarlet Stimson during the 1500 meter run during track and field championships Saturday.
At a special meeting on Feb. 1, the Charlotte selectboard responded to a slew of resident-led backlash over concern for the town’s adopted 2024 budget and whether to keep town meeting vote by Australian ballot. From the initial budget adoption, the news of a nearly 16 percent increase in spending paired with a $200 million increase in the estimated grand list of total property values due to a townwide reappraisal had residents wondering about the inevitable increase tax increase. For some residents, the worst part is the lack of an in-person town meet-
ing to discuss the issues. Although the town meeting vote is set to remain by Australian ballot, the selectboard was able to lower its budget to $2,930,908. In addition, voters will be asked to allocate $965,806 to Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services — a nearly $75,000 increase from last year — and voters will need to approve a $324,356 library budget, a nearly $40,000 increase. The new total budget of $4,221,070 has an estimated tax rate of $0.228 compared to the previously projected tax rate of $0.242. The budget is offset by non-tax revenues of $1,593,321 See BUDGET on page 12