ADDISON — Addison officials said last week they have been a little disappointed that the town’s still relatively new website has not drawn more traffic from town residents, but members of the development review board and planning commission hope one of the latest additions might spark more interest.
Zoning administrator Ed Hansen, who returned to that post in February after his contract was not renewed a few years back, has begun posting monthly updates on planning and DRB activity.
Those posts include year-to-date information on permits, applications and decisions made both by Hanson and the DRB.
Planning commission chairman and DRB member Frank Galgano said the posts fit the website’s overall mission.
“Obviously we’re trying to get the citizens more involved in the (town’s) business. The more people can understand what were trying to accomplish … the happier we’ll be,” Galgano said, adding, “We’re trying to have … people be comfortable with their government, and going to a website can further that purpose.”
The town set aside three web addresses, all of which work: addisonvt.us, addisonvt.org and addisonvt.com.
The website has other zoning-specific links, including to the town plan, the subdivision regulations approved in 2008 by the selectboard, and the 2007 zoning regulations now in force.
Planners, of course, are still working on tweaking some provisions of those zoning regulations. Galgano said he hopes work will be finished soon enough to allow public hearings before the planning commission and selectboard over the summer and adoption of the changes by late summer.
Planners are currently looking at laws that relate to fences, private roads, rights of way, and waivers from setback and other dimensional requirements, Galgano said.
The website also has many features similar to other town websites, including lists of elected and appointed town officials, meeting minutes, a meeting schedule, links to the Addison Central School website and to town maps, and information on upcoming events.
Those include links to Addison’s Green Up Day plans and to preparations for the two-day gala to celebrate the opening of the new Lake Champlain Bridge that is set for May 19 and 20.
The website also notes that Addison Day will be held on Sept. 29. Selectboard chairman Jeff Kauffman said last week that last year’s 250th birthday celebration went so well that officials decided to make the day into an annual event.
The website also links to the Bixby Library in Vergennes, and points out that not only are all Addison residents entitled to library cards because the town helps fund the institution, but also the library has recently upgraded its digital offerings.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].