As I step back onto the merry-go-round following a two-week hiatus, I want to take a moment to say “good-bye” to St. Albans Zoning Administrator, Jim Tischler who is leaving after too few months in transformative service to the Rail City.
I’m not known for having fond words to say about City administrators, but Mr. Tischler has broken the mold.
Barely two short years ago, in a moment of remarkable clarity, the City hired Jim to disentangle the rats’ nest that City zoning had become after years of mismanagement and neglect. What they got in the bargain was a skilled visionary who would plot a course of rebirth for the troubled City through enlightened planning and responsible development.
The new atmosphere of exploration in the City seems even more promising, as Mayor Marty Manahan will be stepping down in 2012, and popular Democrat Liz Gamache has announced her candidacy for the office. Liz has plenty of City experience, having served in several capacities including as interim City Manager. She is currently chairing the downtown revitalization effort and is therefore a natural to further Mr. Tischler’s ambitious agenda for civic rebirth. Sometimes our prayers do seem to be answered!
Not surprisingly, Mr. Tischler has now been given the opportunity to apply his planning strategies on a much grander scale, to his home state of Michigan; and it must be admitted that they need him even more than we do.
It remains to be seen whether the (few?) visionaries in City government who supported his efforts here can maintain the momentum he has created. St. Albans’ power structure is still primarily in the heavy hands of those who have no faith that the City can be anything more than a drive-through to big-box shopping at exit 20 in the Town.
Before departing, Mr. Tischler launched his legacy to the City with a three day public forum, “Create St. Albans” to introduce interested citizens to a fresh concept in zoning which, if adopted, will mean a new era of rational growth and civic planning. Referred to as “Form Based” zoning, this approach has the potential to preserve what is best and most appealing about a traditional small town plan while facilitating ease of permitting for appropriate development. The objective is to maintain public engagement in an harmonious, human-scale environment of mixed uses.
Best of luck to Jim Tischler in his Michigan endeavors; and here’s hoping his efforts in St. Albans have taken firm root, to flower in the years to come.