Burlington School District and Magnet Schools

By Pike | Published: July 9, 2010

I occasionally work with home buyers looking to purchase a home in a particular neighborhood in Burlington so that their children can attend the school located within the neighborhood. In the fall of 2009, Burlington opened two magnet schools and has changed the way children are enrolled in the district. As one school commissioner wrote in an email to me recently, “moving into a particular area of town does not at this time guarantee that one’s children will be able to attend the school closest, especially if registering late.”

The first of the magnet schools is the Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes, the first magnet school in the country with an emphasis on sustainability. “It includes things like social justice, civic engagement, things as simple as local foods, as recycling in the school, composting, things like that,” explained Anne Tewksbury-Fry, a sustainability schools coach at Barnes Elementary in a WCAX interview.

The second school is the Integrated Arts Academy at the H.O Wheeler school.

The schools were conceived in part because schools like Champlain Elementary were filled to capacity with students and in part to counter the high poverty rate and low test scores at Wheeler and Barnes by encouraging parents and children from other parts of the city to enroll in these two schools. Not all parents are pleased that they may need to send their children to a school not in their immediate neighborhood. People buy real estate in particular neighborhoods of Burlington so as to send their children to a particular school.  Real estate in the south end of Burlington is more expensive in part because of the school district. Some real estate agencies, particularly Coldwell Banker Hickok Boardman, have made the wise decision not to advertise a parcel of Burlington real estate as within any one particular school district and instead advertising that the school is “district assigned.”

Burlington is not alone in its struggle to weigh the concerns of parents and student test scores against education costs, and property taxes. I expect that in the future Vermont will see many school districts merge into fewer, larger districts in order to cut costs. This has worked successfully in Maine.

Posted in Burlington Happenings, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Essex, Colchester, Hinesburg, and Shelburne Real Estate News

By Pike | Published: June 20, 2010

Colchester

Public Meeting: The Selectboard will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, June 22 at 7:30 PM at the Colchester Meeting House to solicit input on a number of suggested changes to their building code ordinances.    Please note one particular change regarding renovations and the removal of exemptions.  Under the suggested change, any electrical, plumbing or structural work done in a home would require a permit.  The suggested changes can be found in bolded language below, and can be accessed at http://colchestervt.gov/Manager/Public%20Hearings/Chapter4.pdf

Sec. 4-25. Exemptions.

(a) No building permit or building permit fee will be required for minor renovations or repairs when the following conditions are met:

(1) The cost of the materials is less than two thousand five hundred dollars

($2,500.00); and

(2) The work is to the interior of the structure and does not include electrical, plumbing, or structural work; and

(3) The work does not result in a change in the occupancy or use of the

structure; and

(4) The work does not include the installation of a woodstove, pellet

stove, or gas stove.

Town of Essex

Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, June 24 at 6:30 PM at the Essex High School cafeteria.  The agenda is below.

  • Public Comments
  • Consent Agenda

o   David, John & Bettyjayne Whitcomb and Thomas & Karen Whitcomb-SIMPLE PARCEL -proposal to subdivide a 7.19 acre parcel out of the 35.79 acre parcel located at 200 Jericho Road in the (AR) Agricultural Residential Zoning District. Tax Map 8, Parcel 4.

o   EuroWest Retail Partners, LTD.-SITE PLAN AMENDMENT- -proposal to add outdoor seating to existing restaurant and sign for property located at 21 Essex Way in the Business Design Control District (B-DC) & MXD-PUD (B1) Zoning Districts. Tax Map 2, Parcel 92-1.

o   Hector & Debra Boutin and David & Jessica Moulten BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT between 319 & 341 Brown’s River Road. Tax Map 15, Parcels 15-0&15-1.

o   Hector & Debra Boutin- SIMPLE PARCEL-Proposal to create one new lot to existing 2-lot subdivision located at 319 Brown’s River Road. Tax Map 15, Parcel 15-1.

  • Draft Plan Continued Public Hearing
  • Minutes (6-10-10)
  • Communications and Other Business

o   PC Folders

Hinesburg

Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, June 23 at 7:30 PM in the Lower Level Conference Room at the Town Office.  The agenda is below:

  • Village Growth Area Rezoning (cont’d from 6/9 mtg.)
    • Finalize master plan requirement language
    • Next steps – finalize changes, forward Selectboard
  • Town Plan Revisions
    • Wrap-up & review of comments from 5/26 public hearing
    • Top 10 list of implementation priorities
    • Next steps – finalize changes, forward to Selectboard
  • Minutes of June 9, 2010 Meeting
  • Other business & Announcements

Shelburne

Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, June 24 at 7:00 PM at the Town Center Meeting Room.

South Burlington

Public Meeting: The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, June 22 at 7:30 PM.  The agenda is below:

  • Public Comment
  • Planning Commissioner announcements & director’s report
  • 2011 comprehensive plan update
    • Continue review of draft Social Infrastructure Objectives & Strategies
    • Begin review of draft Blue infrastructure chapter, objectives and strategies
    • Second review of “Top Ten” goals of the city
  • Review Upcoming Meeting Schedule
    • July 13, July 27, August 10
  • Approve minutes of last meeting
    • May 18, May 25

Posted in Chittenden County Government Affairs | Leave a comment

Kudos to Burlington Telecom

By Pike | Published: June 7, 2010

So you may have heard that I’m moving.

Well I am.

We’ve had about 4 1/2 months of renovations at the new home and I hope and expect all to be finished by the end of this month. Part of the renovations include grading the yard away from the home so that we no longer get 4″ of water when the sump pump stops working. Another job is burying the utility lines that dangled so low that several contractors working on the home these last few months almost took them out.

Burlington Telecoms fiber optic cables have always been buried. This is a good thing. But with the regrading of the yard, their wires were going to be above ground. We needed them to be buried lower.

We needed it done today. We called them today. They came today. There was a small bit of discussion about how deep they were originally buried and whose responsibility it was to re-bury them if they were indeed originally buried 18″. They then sent over sub-contractor Scott, who did a great job making quick work of it. No fuss, no charge.

While I have complained about Burlington Telecom service in the past, when we needed a quick response to a pressing situation, they came through.

Thanks Burlington Telecom.

Posted in Burlington Telecom | Leave a comment

Big Joe Burrell Statue Plays on Church Street

By Pike | Published: June 1, 2010

The long awaited statue of Big Joe Burrell has been set in front of Halverson’s Upstreet Cafe on Church Street just in time for the 2010 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. Big Joe was a much loved Burlington jazz/blue saxophonist/singer who passed away in 2005. Big Joe Burrell played in both B.B King’s and Count Basie’s band and moved to Burlington Vermont in the mid-70s.

The statue is covered up for its official unvieling, but here are a few sneak peeks– my first news scoop.Big Joe once again a fixture on Church Street

Posted in Burlington Happenings, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Burlington Might Finally See the Southern Connector

By Pike | Published: May 21, 2010

The Southern Connector has been a controversial topic for over 40 years. Some say that building it will lead to additional sprawl in Chittenden while only increasing driving time from one end to the other by about 8 minutes. Others say that it will relieve what they think is traffic congestion in Chittenden County.  At a time when we need to move away from automobile use and embrace public transportation, constructing the Southern Connector seems like a giant step backwards.  However, the section in Burlington will include a bike lane. There may be less expensive ways of building bike lanes. I will need to learn more about the project.

The following is from Joe Reinert, Assistant to the Burlington Mayor. The opinion below are from Mayor Kiss and do not represent my opinions:

The City will hold four public informational meetings related to the Champlain Parkway project.  Each meeting will provide an overview of the entire project, while also focusing on a specific topic:

-  Mobility Issues: Project Performance for Automobiles, Bicycles, and Pedestrians.  TUESDAY, MAY 25, 6:30 PM, Champlain Elementary School, 800 Pine Street.

-  Neighborhood and Community Issues. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 6:30 PM, Contois Auditorium, City Hall.

-  Economic Development. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 6:30 PM, Water Treatment Plant Conference Room, 234 Penny Lane (at the south end of Lake Street).

-  Environmental Issues. THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 6:30 PM, Burlington Electric Department, 585 Pine Street.

The Champlain Parkway will construct and rehabilitate approximately 2.4 miles of roadway, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities commencing at the interchange of I-189 with US 7 in the City of South Burlington and extending westerly and northerly to the intersection of Pine Street with Main Street within the City of Burlington’s City Center District (CCD).  Between Home Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, new roadway will be constructed on already acquired right-of-way.  From Lakeside Avenue to Pine Street and terminating at Main Street the Parkway will use existing roadways, and construction will consist of rehabilitation and improvements to the existing streets. The roadway will consist of one lane in each direction with turn lanes and traffic signals at certain intersections. Pedestrian facilities include sidewalks, shared-use paths, cross-walks and actuated pedestrian phasing at signalized intersections. Bicycle facilities include the shared-use paths and on-road components.

Mayor Kiss encourages residents to come to the meetings to learn more. “The Champlain Parkway is a project that benefits Burlington in several ways.  It will provide relief to South End neighborhoods from truck traffic they currently experience and improves intersections throughout the entire route of the project, while enhancing bicycle and pedestrian access. It will create and enhance economic development opportunities in the Pine Street corridor.  It complements and supports potential access to and development within the south end of the Waterfront. I look forward to continuing to move forward on the project and making the Champlain Parkway a reality after more than 40 years of planning and analysis.  I hope residents come to these meetings to learn more about the project and ask any questions they may have.”

After holding the informational meetings the City will apply for an Act 250 permit for the project. At its May 17 meeting, the City Council passed a resolution endorsing the public informational process and authorized the City to move forward with the Act 250 permit (http://www.ci.burlington.vt.us/docs/1988.pdf ). For more information about the project, go to http://www.ci.burlington.vt.us, call the Burlington Department of Public Works at 863-9094, or read more about at  Vermont Department of Transportation.

Posted in Burlington Happenings, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Essex Town and Essex Junction Planning Commission

By Pike | Published: May 21, 2010

A group of concerned residents in Essex Town and Essex Junction is encouraging residents to come to the Planning Commission meeting at Founders Elementary School on May 27.

Some major changes have been proposed to Chapter 11 and Chapter 3 of the Essex Town Plan which have the potential to jeopardize the protection of Saxon Hill Forest and to increase industrial areas at the expense of natural and recreational space. The change in chapter 11 is in opposition to the original goals of the Town Plan to preserve Saxon Hill for recreation and preservation. The proposed changes in chapter 3 (The Economic Development portion of the plan) are based partly on a survey with only 100 responses that didn’t track IP addresses. It is baffling why the Planning Commission and the Selectboard are incorporating the newly released Economic Development Study into the Town Plan so prematurely before the Economic Development Committee has reviewed it or the Board as approved it as a valid study.

Also incorporated into the Plan is a well thought out and scientific study and action plan to preserve our scenic vistas and open space, which has been a goal of our citizens and our Town Plan for many years.

Please come and shape your Town’s future and please have a voice about the potential destruction of Saxon Hill recreational area.

If you would like to add your name to an e-mailed letter that is being sent to our town representatives please send your full name and address to vtjohns@comcast.net. We hope to send the letter before May 27th. The letter you will be adding your name to is as follows:

“Dear Friend of Saxon Hill Forest:
As you may know the preservation of Saxon Hill Forest as a community resource for conservation and recreation is threatened. Saxon Hill Forest is one of only two (together with Indian Brook Reservoir) large natural areas open to Essex Town and Village residents for recreation.

For more than 30 years, under the guidance of the Town Plan and the unique protections of the Resource Preservation District-Industrial (RPD-I) zoning regulations, the majority of the Saxon Hill Forest has been preserved for conservation and passive recreation by the public. With the newly revised Town Plan, the Planning Commission is considering changes that would severely jeopardize these protections.

In order to maintain the established protections of Saxon Hill Forest for the residents of Essex, we feel the PC should retain the wording below exactly as it was approved in the Town Plan in 2006:
11.12.2: Ensure that residential uses are not to be allowed in the RPD-I District.
11.13.1: Retain the present zoning provisions specifying the amount of land to be reserved for recreation/conservation uses.

Please join us at the Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at Founders Elementary School (33 Founders Road, off Sand Hill Road in Essex) and urge the PC to reverse the changes that have been introduced.

Posted in Chittenden County Government Affairs, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

FHA Loan Advertising

By Pike | Published: May 20, 2010

First-time homebuyer looking for financing? Consider an FHA Loan.

While they do not lend the money, the Federal Housing Administration insures the loan that you, the borrower, are issued through a private lender. Most people who have less than perfect credit are hesitant to pursue a home loan option because they figure lenders will automatically turn them away. However, this is one of the many reasons an FHA Loan may be the right choice for you — the FHA guarantees your loan in case of default. Because of this guaranty, you may be able to afford a higher priced home.

How can the FHA afford to guarantee a loan?

In order to make sure your loan is guaranteed, the FHA requires that borrowers pay an upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium of 1.5 percent as well as a small fee each month. This ensures that if for any reason you were to default on the loan payments, the mortgage will be paid off.

Why is an FHA Loan so appealing for first-time homebuyers?

Too many people continue to rent instead of purchasing a home because of one common factor —  not enough set aside for a down payment. With an FHA Loan, you could put down as little as 3.5 percent, whereas a typical conventional loan could require you put down anywhere from 5 to 20 percent. Here are a few more reasons an <a href”http://www.fhamortgagecenter.com/vermont.html“>FHA Loan</a> may be a good option for you:

  • Allows a higher debt-to-income ratio than other loan programs
  • Credit problems in the past? It is still easier to qualify than with a conventional loan
  • You may receive up to 6 percent toward closing costs
  • It is easier to use gifts for closing costs and down payments compared to other loans
  • No maximum income limit through the FHA program
  • FHA will help you avoid foreclosure — there are many options to consider if you find yourself in a financially difficult situation

The FHA Loan is a great option for first-time homebuyers and those with less than perfect credit. Consult your loan officer to learn about the rest of the benefits available through the FHA Home Loan Program.

Posted in Financing the Vermont Home Purchase | 1 Comment

Historic Burlington Vermont Diner For Sale

By Pike | Published: May 12, 2010
Burlington Vemont Diner for sale

Interior of the Diner

This diner, delivered to Shelburne Road in 1954, was known as Wesson’s Diner and Cosmos Diner.
It is in excellent condition, complete with original booths, tables, stools and pie case. The interior is yellow and grey with original Formica counter and yellow and grey ceramic floor tile. Booth and stool upholstery were redone in the ’70s.
A new rubber membrane roof was installed in October 2003 and windows were reglazed. The green enamel vertical fluted panels are included, but not currently on the diner. The diner has been well cared for since removal
from its original site in 2001.

Because of the role that diners have played in American cultural history as well as this diner’s role in Burlington’s history, buyers will need to use the building as a community gathering spot, open to the public. Appropriate uses include a restaurant, coffee shop, a pub or some other related use. As with any historic structure, the architectural integrity should be preserved, and restoration be consistent with the design, materials and style of the period in which the diner was built.

The diner is being offered for $45,000. The diner is currently stored on private property and can be shown to interested  buyers demonstrating they can and will use the diner as a public gathering place. For more information, please call me at 802.233.2600

Posted in Burlington Happenings | Leave a comment

Renting a home in Vermont

By Pike | Published: May 12, 2010

Vermont has statutes specific to residential rental agreements. Burlington has additional regulations regarding rental housing within the city. It behooves both renters and property owners to read and understand the laws prior to entering into a lease agreement.  In 2008, the Vermont Apartment Owners Association successfully lobbied for changes to the Vermont rental agreement statute, which strengthen tenant rights while also streamlining the eviction process.

Other pertinent statutes include Title 12 sec. 169 Ejectment, and the consumer fraud statutes (9 V.S.A. Chapter 63 sec 2451-62)–Vermont courts have ruled that violations of the habitability law constitute consumer fraud and tenants can sue for treble damages; fire safety codes that regulate among other things smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Accredited Buyer Representatives (ABR), the best and brightest Realtors?

By Pike | Published: April 30, 2010

I, with maybe 50 or so other Realtors in Vermont and New Hampshire, recently took the National Association of Realtors ABR –Accredited Buyer Representative– designation course. It is a two day, 16 hour course and I had heard from a few agents I respect that it was a course worth taking. It was not.

It may have been a worthwhile course when I first began my career as a Realtor, but the important and interesting information was set aside to better cover basic information all real estate agents, Realtors or not, should, and usually do, already know: what documents to ask for from a condo association, or the necessity of an agency disclosure as  just two examples. A week later, a national speaker gave a lunch presentation for the Northwest Vermont Board of Realtors and stated he too had seen an instructor provide the questions and answers. It seems like the practice is more wide spread than this one instructor.

The low-point of the course came on day two, when the instructor read question after question directly from the exam and then provided the answers. Well, that moment or during one of the sales pitches just after the instructor asked us to pull out the course evaluation and choose the option that stated the instructor did not make any sales pitches to the class.

The National Association of Realtors touts this designation as one both necessary and exceptional. And for what it is worth, I can now add the initials ABR after my name.  Any 8-year old could have passed the course, what with the instructor providing both questions and answers.

I’ve found that some of the continuing education courses offered by the local lenders and real estate attorneys very helpful and informative and I think I’ll stick with those courses instead of additional designations.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment