SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES May 27, 2026
Members Present: D. Patterson (Chair); Sherry Dupont; Tim Mullen; Nate Hayward (via Zoom); Justin Myers (via Zoom).
Members Absent: Jim Brightwell (Vice-Chair); Liza Kilcoyne; Gareth Hunt
7:02PM – D. Patterson called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
No changes.
Public Input
There was none.
Setback Waiver request to place a storage shed in the side setback – 70 Wally’s Point Rd. (#26-59-WP070) Michael Stanley
7:04PM – D. Patterson opened the hearing. The warning was read and Michael Stanley was sworn in.
70 Wally’s Point Rd. is a two-family dwelling. Mike’s family has owned the south half of the dwelling for many years. The surrounding land is co-owned by the occupants of the two dwellings. An existing shed has sat in front of the bathroom window on the lake-side of the north half of the structure for 40 years. The owner of that unit has asked that it be moved. Mike told the Board that the only feasible location to place a new shed is in the southwest corner of his lot, within the side setback. An existing septic system, the driveway, and lake setback restrictions prevent the shed from being placed in conforming space. He is planning to buy an 8’x10’ to 8’12’ shed to use as a basic tool shed. The proposed location would be 1 foot from the south boundary. The property owners of that lot, Jim and Jen Lavoie (WP066), submitted an email approving the location and distance from the boundary.
N. Hayward: Is there a 2-unit dwelling on the property? [Michael] Yes. Should both owners have signed the application? Is it a Condo or a Duplex? I don’t know. We get one tax bill and split it with the owner of the other half. I think the other owner should also sign the application.
** N. Hayward moved to add the email from Jim and Jen Lavoie to the record; S. Dupont second. All in favor.
D. Patterson: How close do you want it to the Lavoie line? 1 foot. The Lavoie’s have a shed that sits right on the property line. How far from the road will the shed be? 25 feet.
T. Mullen: Will the existing shed be torn down? Yes. Will the new one be further from the lake? Yes.
N. Hayward: I have no issue with the request. But we need to know where it will be relative to the right-of-way. We need a site plan with measurements to reference in the decision.
N. Hayward shared a map with the Board produced by the fire district in 2010, showing the location and widths of the right-of-way for properties just beyond (north) of 70 Wally’s Point. The map appeared to show that the west property boundary was nearly even with the edge of the road. The road does not remain in the middle of the ROW. A photo provided by the Applicant showed a pin that he has always understood was the southwest corner of the property. After much discussion, the Board eventually agreed that that is the corner. A revised site plan needs to show the following-
- where the boundary pins are;
- Location of all structures;
- Dimensions;
- The distance from the proposed shed location to the 95.5’ median lake level.
ZA Martha Taylor-Varney will contact Vermont Electric Co-op to confirm that there are no restrictions related to the electrical easement.
The owner of the other half of the property will need to sign the application as a co-applicant.
** T. Mullen moved to recess the hearing to June 10, 2026 at 7PM; S. Dupont second. All in favor.
Review of Minutes
N. Hayward moved to approve the minutes of May 13, 2026; T. Mullen second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
- The schedule for June 10 will be the continuation of tonight’s hearing, and a sketch plan review for a major subdivision, plus a PUD review (combined) on Peter’s Farm Rd.
- Martha asked the Board if a conditional use/site plan review for a mobile vendor, due to expire by the end of May 2026, can be renewed without another hearing. The Board said that a new hearing would be required.
- Martha gave the Board members final drafts of definitions – measuring building height; defining ‘natural grade’; and measuring setback distances – for their review and comments before adding them to the proposed updates of the Development Regulations.
- Martha received an email this week for an “Intent to Abandon” the Act 250 permit for 138 Ferry Rd. A recent 3-lot subdivision was approved there by the DRB.
Adjournment
8:36 PM – N. Hayward moved to adjourn and move to deliberative; T. Mullen 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.