Council sets March 17 public hearing to accept two rights of way; developers propose name 'Community Way'

The Winooski City Council set a public hearing for March 17 to consider accepting two new public rights of way tied to the Lot 70 development and to consider naming the new internal street "Community Way."

Planning staff explained the acceptance process: city council must warn a public hearing at least 30 days in advance, receive public comment, then review the layout and a survey and record the decision. Staff recommended a March hearing date and said the developers proposed the name "Community Way" in deference to the nearby Vermont Community College (VCC). Staff also reported they checked the name with dispatch and that it complies with 911 addressing standards.

Councilors asked operational questions about maintenance, plowing and turning radii for service and emergency vehicles; staff said the fire department had reviewed access and did not anticipate problems. Councilors discussed whether the street should be public given it will provide access to a public parking garage and noted that one of the existing adjacent passages (Molly’s Way) is private while the Lot 70 connection would provide public access to the garage.

The council voted to set the hearing for March 17 (mover: Councilor Brynn; seconder: Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner). Staff will publish the required 30-day public notice and return with layout and survey materials at a future meeting.

Ending: If council later accepts the layout after the public hearing, staff said it will record the survey and the council’s decision and then proceed with naming the new street by resolution.