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February 29, 2024
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Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg
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Developer proposes new office space at controversial property
Open house
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
A local developer is proposing a new development at 251 Ferry Road near the post office in Charlotte’s West Village — the site that stirred a contentious battle against the Charlotte Family Health Center’s efforts to build a facility at that same property. Mike Dunbar, who bought the 54-acre property for $500,000 in 2022, is one of the principal owners of Charlotte Crossing, a commercial building that is home to the Backyard Bistro, the Red Onion, Gilded Elephant, Charlotte
Work Club and Junapr. The project proposes repurposing the existing vacant and dilapidated 4-bedroom single-family house and attached garage on the 24-acre lot into a 3,500-squarefoot office space with 15 employees and 22 parking spaces. “I don’t know the type of business other than it will be an office space,” project engineer Jacques Larose told the development review board in January. “We have a limited amount of availability on the site as it stands, and I think this is the most efficient use of the available space. I like to think that it’ll look better than this
right now.” The property was the focus of a heated zoning battle four years ago when the Charlotte Family Health Center proposed a 4,275-square-foot medical office building at that same site. Some residents opposed the heath center at that location and argued the project would violate Charlotte’s town plan, and that much of the project would be in a Class II wetland which, per state statute, makes any sort of maintenance on the property nearly impossible. See DUNBAR on page 13
Hinesburg residents head to polls for town meeting, face tax hikes COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Kay Della Grotta talks about some of the equipment Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services uses to fulfill its mission of provide fire and emergency services to the town of Charlotte. The service held an open house on Feb. 24.
Hinesburg residents will have several items up consideration at its town meeting Tuesday, including the town’s $5.4 million budget, as well as two selectboard members up for reelection. Voting will occur via Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 5, but community members will be able to attend the town’s informational meeting on March 4 at 7 p.m., in-person or via remote access, at the Champlain Valley
Union High School to discuss items up for voting.
Selectboard candidates Two Hinesburg selectboard members — Paul Lamberson and Maggie Gordon — are up for reelection to their second terms this year. It is a relatively uncompetitive race — both are running unopposed — so barring a write-in campaign, it seems apparent that the Hinesburg Selectboard will remain the same following Town Meeting Day’s results.
But they’re both running for reelection because, they say, they want to continue contributing and helping in any way they can as the town faces several issues: affordability, development, community policing and other issues. “There is no end to what there is to learn about running a town,” Gordon said previously. “I just love all the folks I get to meet, and I love being a part of this community. I have been for many See HINESBURG on page 11
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