Justin Willis (DRB)

Justin Willis

Development Review Board

Justin Willis spent over two decades volunteering on a state-wide committee. When he finally left that position, he decided to do something closer to home and in 2023 he joined the Jericho Development Review Board. “I wanted to serve my community,” Willis said, “and I also believed I had a lot to offer based on my profession and experience. I felt that those skills could benefit the board and the town.”

In his professional life, Willis interacts with other towns’ Development Review Boards, and he believes that Jericho’s board is well-balanced and talented. “I’m amazed at the variety of expertise we have compared to other towns,” he said. Willis enjoys being part of the process of reviewing applications that come before the board. “Our job is to see that the regulations are being followed, and that people are treated fairly,” he said, “and I think we accomplish that.”

Willis was working in the mechanical engineering field and his wife Barb, a former Jericho Zoning Administrator, was a civil engineer. The couple started working in water and wastewater design and became licensed by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. In 1990, they formed Willis Design Associates. Their work included doing subdivision plans, water and wastewater design, and wastewater replacement systems.

These days, most of Willis’s work is helping people permit and construct apartments and accessory dwelling units or ADUs. “I feel like I’m on a mission is to help ease the housing crisis,” he said. “Some of the engineers call me the ADU guy.” Willis said most of the ADUs are designed for changing family dynamics, rather than being used as an Airbnb. “It seems like every family has someone who doesn’t have housing,” he said. “We’re helping people age in place.” Willis noted that often people want to stay in their homes but sometimes there are too many stairs so they’ll move into a wheelchair accessible ADU and their kids will take over the main house. He said there is a high demand for these types of dwellings, and he has helped out on a number of homes in Richmond, Jericho, and Underhill.

For over 20 years, Willis was on the Technical Advisory Committee which advised the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources regarding standards for potable water supplies and wastewater systems. He described the board as one composed of experts in the field. Willis was first appointed by Governor Dean and later by Governors Douglas, Shumlin, and Scott. After resigning from the TAC, he felt he had the time to serve on the Jericho DRB. A native Vermonter, Willis, was born at what was then called Mary Fletcher Hospital. He grew up in Stowe and spent more than 40 years living in Richmond. During that time, he served on their Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment. In 1999, he and his wife bought land in Jericho, and they built their home in 2012. Willis already had strong ties to the community. His sister, Linda St. Amour, owned the Jericho Center Country Store for many years.

After his years in Richmond, Willis is happy to be out of the valley and living at a higher elevation. He enjoys the proximity to outdoor recreation like skiing at Smugglers’ Notch. In the summer, he likes spending time at the family camp on Lake Iroquois.

Willis believes that improvements can be made to the town’s zoning regulations, but he is pleased to be part of the group that works with them. “Our board is a fair and friendly board,” he said. “We do our best to accommodate the applicants who come before us.”

Willis is glad to be doing his volunteering close to home. “I get a lot of satisfaction from being part of the community,” he said. “There are so many committees and board opportunities. If you’re cut out for it and have something to offer you should do it at some point in your life.”