Country Club Road Project

At a glance

What: a city project on Country Club Road. The minutes do not describe the project itself; they record a status presentation, a Letter of Intent and a sprinkler line extension contract.
Where it stands: on 2026-10-14 the Council unanimously adopted the Letter of Intent as presented and approved the Country Club Road sprinkler line extension contract on the consent agenda.
Next: not stated in the minutes.

Details

City Manager Kelly McNicholas-Kury presented the project status. Mike Miller took part, as did Stephanie Clarke of White and Burke. Stephen Whitaker spoke.
Motion: Councilor Sal Alfano moved to adopt the Letter of Intent as presented; Councilor Paul Costello seconded; carried unanimously.
Consent agenda item c (Country Club Road Sprinkler Line Extension Contract Approval) passed with the rest of the consent agenda, moved by Councilor Jim Sheridan.
No dollar amounts are given in the minutes.

Earlier meetings

2026-07-08: Councilor Adrienne Gil reported that the Country Club Road Review Committee had narrowed the developer selection to two finalists and expected to recommend one at the next meeting. The City Manager listed the project as an upcoming item (2026-07-08 - City Council).
2026-07-22 (item 2026-298): Councilor Gil presented the project and the committee's recommendation. Mike Miller took part in the discussion. Speakers were Tim Sinnott, Mia Moore, Peter Kelman, James Moore, Deborah Messing and Conor Kennedy. Motion: Councilor Cary Brown moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into exclusive negotiations with DEW Properties for redevelopment of the property, with any resulting Letter of Intent or Development Agreement to return to the Council for approval before execution; Councilor Pelin Kohn seconded; carried unanimously. Don Wells and Stephanie Clarke spoke after the vote. Earlier in the meeting Stephen Whitaker spoke on the matter in general comment, raising a Master Plan, brownfields concerns, and the implications for state and federal approval and grant parameters. In the Council reports, Councilors Ben Doyle, Sal Alfano and Brown thanked those involved in the process, and Brown reminisced on the years-long effort (2026-07-22 - City Council).
2026-08-12: Mike Miller came forward for a discussion of the Country Club Road planning path; no action. Stephen Whitaker commented, and in general comment raised the development's environmental status and grant funding.
2026-08-26: in general comment Mr. Whitaker raised public participation in the Country Club Road process, particularly regarding growing food.
2026-09-09: bow hunting on the property was authorized with conditions (see Bow Hunting Authorization). The Council also voted 5-0, on Councilor Paul Costello's motion seconded by Councilor Ben Doyle, to support a request from the Vermont Bikepackers to camp at the property and use its facilities for a Super 8 gravel bike event; Parks and Trees Director Alec Ellsworth, attending virtually, called it a beneficial recreational opportunity.
2026-06-24 (item 2026-243): after presentation and public comment, Councilor Ben Doyle moved to approve an amendment to the White & Burke contract, in an amount not to exceed $130,000, to complete the Country Club Road developer selection and negotiation process, initial conceptual site planning and project management planning, and to authorize the City Manager to execute it. Councilor Alfano seconded. Passed 4-1-1, with Councilor Sheridan opposed and Councilor Pelin Kohn abstaining. The item was taken after the CVRPC appointments (2026-06-24 - City Council).
2026-05-27: in public comment Stephen Whitaker spoke on the White and Burke contract in the context of his litigation, conflicts of interest among the subcommittee overseeing contracting, the site's brownfield status, and later on soil disturbance from installing a greenhouse. The City Manager reported that a judge ruled against an injunction on the process sought on Mr. Whitaker's accusation (2026-05-27 - City Council).