What 97 acres means to Williston

The Deeper Dig

A 97-acre parcel of undeveloped land off Mountainview Road in Williston is home to a wetland, views of Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield, and most days, some horses out to pasture from a neighboring farm.

It is also the site of a conflict that is forcing one of Vermont’s fastest growing municipalities to reckon with the challenges of building new housing at a time of heightened demand and inadequate supply.

Jack and Caitlin Glaser have owned the land for the past 20 years, and they’re now looking to sell. But they want a buyer to strike a certain balance. They hope to retain what neighbors appreciate about the land — the view, the horse pasture — but also to build 93 units of sorely needed new housing.

Some in the community have pushed back on the proposal, arguing that it would lead to overcrowding and traffic. But Jack Glaser said that leaving the entire parcel undeveloped in a zone that’s designated for residential growth would be a missed opportunity.

“We think we have, in a sense, a responsibility to see that that property gets developed responsibly,” he said.

Because the Glasers say their plan would provide what’s known as a “substantial public benefit,” their proposal is subject to an unusual and lengthy review process. Discussions have surfaced questions about how the land should be used, and how quickly it should be allowed to change. If the proposal is scuttled, the end result could mean an even larger, denser development takes its place.

On this week’s podcast, Glaser, his neighbors and the town’s planners discuss the outlook for the Mountainview Road proposal — and what it means for Williston.