Tax relief
Rare, reclusive
State delay tax payments — for the short term
Spotted turtles remain threatened in Vermont
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South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
the JULY 27, 2023
otherpapersbvt.com
VOLUME 47, NO. 30
Hubbard Park bike path plan creates ire
Fun-raiser
Despite opposition, city council votes yes COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
South Burlington’s City Council approved plans for a shared-use bike path through a public park — but not before hearing from a large contingent of nearby residents who were vehemently opposed to the idea, citing climate change and conservation efforts as reason to protect the park “from further human encroachment.” Plans to build a paved, shareduse bike path through the Thomas Hubbard Recreation and Natural Area, a 60-acre stretch of meadow and woods formerly known as the Underwood property, have been in the works for nearly 10 years — beginning during a 2015 visioning process for the parcel. The project also called for building a parking lot on Nowland Farm Road. The city bought the 60-acre parcel, located near Overlook Park,
in 2013 for $1.7 million with open space funds intended to acquire lands for conservation and recreation. The city then set about creating a vision for recreation within that parcel. But plans for a bike path, officially presented at a May council meeting, drew fierce opposition from neighbors and residents living near the park in the southeast quadrant — the southernmost portion of the city with some of the last remaining undeveloped land in the city and some of the wealthiest properties in the state. “I cannot think of an issue in the 22 years that I’ve lived here that has been so controversial and so divisive for this community. It’s a very, very sad state of affairs for South Burlington — pitting neighbor against neighbor, and neighSee BIKE PATH on page 13
Local residents lose Higher Ground case COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTO
Lilli Meyer, who brainstormed the flood relief fundraiser on Brewer Parkway in South Burlington, applies a tattoo to Jeff Anderson, a willing neighbor. See story on page 2.
A Superior Court judge this month dismissed litigation challenging permits for Burton and Higher Ground’s proposed Burlington relocation, handing a loss to residents in nearby South Burlington who have claimed the music venue will negatively affect their quality of life. The ruling by Vermont Superior Court Judge Mary Miles
Teachout gives Burton and Higher Ground the go-ahead to buildout the nearly 12,000-square-foot venue at Burton’s headquarters on Queen City Park Road in Burlington near Red Rocks Park. “The Higher Ground and Burton teams are thrilled to express their excitement about reaching this important milestone,” Justin Worthley, senior vice president See HIGHER GROUND on page 11