SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES April 22, 2026
Members Present: Doug Patterson (Chair); Justin Myers (Alternate); Liza Kilcoyne; Nate Hayward; Jim Brightwell (Vice-Chair); and Tim Mullen.
Members Absent: Gareth Hunt; Sherry DuPont
Others Present: Charlie Tipper; Brian Aitchison; Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA)
7:00PM – D. Patterson called the meeting to order and introduced the Board.
Changes to the Agenda
There were no changes.
Public Input
None.
Minor Subdivision Administrative Review – 50 Windridge Rd. (#26-49-WR050) Lawrence and Melanie Trost
7:02PM – D. Patterson opened the hearing. The warning was read and interested persons sworn in. ZA Martha Taylor-Varney presented the application to the Board.
50 Windridge Rd. is a 16.5-acre parcel that spans the Shoreland and Rural Residential zoning districts. There are 2 dwellings – 50 Windridge Rd. is the main house and sits close to the lake; 32 Windridge Rd. is near the road and used to be the caretaker’s cottage for the property. The Applicants propose to subdivide 32 Windridge Rd. and 1.2 acres from the parcel, creating Lot #2. The remaining and house, Lot #1, will be 15.3 acres. The two homes share the same driveway. Windridge Rd. is within the large parcel, running east/west along the north boundary. As it continues east, it ends as a driveway for the last property on the road. Lot 2 will be primarily in the rural residential zoning district, with a small area along the east end within the shoreland zoning district. The home on Lot 2 meets the setback requirements for the zoning district. The remaining land of Lot 1 is nearly evenly divided between the Rural Residential and Shoreland zoning districts. A 10-ft. wide water easement will serve 32 Windridge Rd. from a shared pump house at the southeast corner of Lot 1, along the lake. A septic mound for Lot 2 is shown on Lot 1, just outside the southeast corner of the new lot. Both homes have existing State wastewater and potable water permits. The proposal meets the definition of a Minor Subdivision.
** J. Brightwell moved to waive the requirement to show the forested areas on the survey; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
D. Patterson closed the hearing at 7:16PM.
Setback Waiver Review for a Replacement Home on a Non-Conforming Lakefront Lot – 17 Sunset Beach Rd. (26-50-SB017) Charlie Tipper
7:18PM – D. Patterson opened the hearing. The warning was read and interested persons sworn in.
Applicant Charlie Tipper presented to the Board. The existing 4BR seasonal home on the non-conforming lot has been there since the 1940’s. The home is in poor condition, and he would like to replace it, as many other homes have been on Sunset Beach Rd. in the past several years. The lakefront lot is only 50 feet wide, so there is no conforming space. A new wastewater system for a seasonal home was installed in 2006 which they will continue to use. Charlie told the Board that the replacement home would remain seasonal.
The design of the proposed replacement home will keep the old camp style with updates, reflecting and honoring the camp’s character. The design is intended to be low slung. It will have a larger footprint but lower in height, not imposing. The drawings reflect 2’ above grade on the site, so will be higher than 22’ after grading and site prep. Finished ground elevation will be 105’, with the first floor no higher than 106-107’ above sea level to allow for gravity flow to the ww system.
Charlie has had dialogue with the closest neighbor, Brian Aitchison (15 Sunset Beach Rd.) about the design of the new home. Charlie has made an effort to stay out of the Aitchison’s’ view shed as much as possible. There have been no concerns expressed by any other neighbors, as there is no impact on anyone else.
J. Brightwell – Have you submitted your plan to Shoreland Protection yet? [Charlie] No. Will Shoreland approve if the rebuild goes closer to the lake? They could deny this. You might consider going up more or moving the structure back to prevent going closer to the mean level of the lake (elevation 95.5’). The location of the septic system prevents the structure from being moved back. Should this hearing be recessed until Shoreland responds?
N. Hayward – Could you reduce the lot coverage on the first floor; less impervious surface? The extra bump-out toward the lake could add 226sf to the existing footprint. What is the area of the footprint now? 999sf. We are decreasing the degree of non-conformity by reducing the width of the replacement structure, especially toward the Aitchison’s property. The replacement home conforms to South Hero’s setback requirements from the lake and the road. What are the overhangs on the new structure? 2 ft.
L. Kilcoyne – The existing house is on piers. What will be the new ground elevation? The grade for the new construction will be no more than 107’. That will bring the height of the new structure well within the maximum height allowed. The total height of the house will be 24’.
Charlie Tipper – I don’t want to make any dramatic cuts on my design of the new home. The location of 95.5’ on the site plan is taken from a Magoon survey. Engineer Jay Buermann used that line and was being conservative when designing the septic system. The actual elevation of 96.18 feet was used as a benchmark for 95.5 that were used on the submitted drawings and the hearing. If there is a chance for the DRB to approve this plan, I am willing to continue the hearing.
D. Patterson – I think we should continue the hearing until you get an answer from Shoreland Protection. Then if their answer is no, we can close the hearing; if yes, we can continue it.
8:10PM — ** J. Brightwell moved to recess the hearing to May 27 at 7PM; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
Review of Minutes of March 25, 2026
L. Kilcoyne moved to approve the minutes of March 25, 2026; J. Myers second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
- Upcoming Schedule –
- May 13, 2026: Meeting House Conditional Use/Site Plan review, continues (recessed from February 25); 3-lot minor subdivision; Continuation of Tipper setback waiver review.
- Justin Myers requested an amendment to his site plan approval for a 6-unit PUD on RT 2. Justin told the Board that the dimensions of the units approved by the Board were 33’x26.8’. He has an opportunity for substantial savings from the manufacturer if the dimensions can be changed to 32’x24’ for the first phase construction. There would be no other changes. Justin will speak with his engineer to make sure this does not change anything else on the site plan. Martha will move forward drawing up a draft amendment for the Board to review.
- Norm Benoit asked Martha if adding a large window well to the south side of the replacement home at 41 Sunset Beach Rd. would be considered an encroachment into the side setback. This would provide egress from the basement if it were finished for living space or a bedroom. The replacement home currently being built there is maintaining the same non-conforming distance to the boundary that the original home had.
** N. Hayward moved to allow the placement of a well for egress from the basement level, but no further encroachment into the side setback; J. Myers second. All in favor.
Adjournment
8:42PM – T. Mullen moved to adjourn and move to deliberative; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA
Signed: _____________________________________ Date: ___________________________
For the DRB
These minutes are unofficial until approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.