SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES August 13,
2025
Members Present: Tim Maxham (Chair); Doug Patterson (Vice-Chair); Liza Kilcoyne;
Mike Welch; Tim Mullen, Nate Hayward, Jim Brightwell
Members Absent: G. Hunt, S. DuPont (Alternate)
Others Present: Jay Buermann, Michael Frett, Mandy Hotchkiss, Phil Scott, Ann
Zolotas
7:00 p.m. T. Maxham called the meeting to order and introduced the Board.
Changes to the Agenda
There were no changes.
Public Input
There was no public input.
Site Plan Review – Town of South Hero (#26-04-RT310) for a Town Park
M. Taylor-Varney read the warning.
N. Hayward recused himself from participating as a Board member so he could appear
on behalf of the applicant, leaving a board of 6 to sit the hearing.
N. Hayward and Jay Buermann were sworn in to speak on behalf of the applicant. Jay
Buermann presented the application to the Board. He explained that the project started
in 2022 with N. Hayward working with Phil Scott of the Recreation Commission. N.
Hayward is proposing to donate 1.88 acres to the town from the former Fifield property
to create a town park. The site plan is based largely on the conceptual design of Leslie
Carter.
Since the plans for the grounds around the Meeting House are unknown at this time, the
site plan presented focuses on (1) creating an access drive for the park between the
Meeting House and Arbor Farm Market, (2) the proposed pervious gravel parking and
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overflow grass parking along the west side of the proposed park, (3) the park itself,
which features picnic tables, a playground, a pavilion, and an open area.
N. Hayward highlighted changes to the earlier version of the plan that had been
presented to the public, including shifting the access drive and parking to the east,
moving the tree line out of the swale, adding trees to screen the storage units from the
park, modifying the vehicle turnaround to comply with regulations, and centering the
pavilion between the property lines so that it looks down the center of the great lawn
area.
Sidewalks will lead into the park from the unlined gravel parking area, and at a future
date may be extended as stone dust pathways into the park. Concrete pads will
underlie the picnic tables.
N. Hayward asked that the DRB allow the applicant to use its judgment to select
different tree species and sizes for landscaping according to what is available and will fit
within budget.
N. Hayward said that he had completed a boundary line adjustment application and plat
and was waiting for the wastewater permit on the portion of the Fifield land he was
retaining before proceeding with the application. Jay Buermann said an application has
also been prepared for a potable water permit for the drinking fountain. Jay Buermann
said he thinks that the potable water permit will be approved as it is similar to the mini-
golf and Grand Isle School permits. The VTRANS permit came last week.
Water service can be connected where it comes to the east side of the fire station.
Electric service can be taken from the pole on Rt 2 between the Blue Paddle and the
Meeting House. The applicant has not yet reached out to the power company. N.
Hayward said he felt there should at least be power at the pavilion. No site lighting
proposed (the park will close at dark).
In response to concerns about overflow parking from the Blue Paddle, N. Hayward
explained that the area around the Meeting House currently used by Blue Paddle
patrons would not be changed by the proposed park site plan and might be covered
under a future site plan application for the Meeting House itself.
L. Kilcoyne asked about the location of the portable toilets. N. Hayward said they would
be located at the Meeting House end of the park. No permanent toilet facilities are
planned at present.
T. Maxham asked about timeline. It is expected that the access road and parking will be
constructed in 2025, and the pavilion and playground might be constructed in 2026.
T. Maxham asked about traffic estimates. J. Buermann said he estimated a daily
average traffic flow of 60 trips with peak hourly at 15.
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Phil Scott said that they have ARPA funds for all that has been described. T. Maxham
asked about playground equipment, noting that none had been specified. Phil said that
there was no funding in hand for playground equipment.
T. Maxham asked about easements on the property. Jay Buermann said that two
existing force mains run from the Blue Paddle to disposal fields just north of the park
property, and N. Hayward is retaining a right-of-way across the parking area to access
his property on the back side of the park.
M. Welch made a motion that the site plan as presented be considered complete; L.
Kilcoyne 2 nd . All in favor.
T. Maxham closed the hearing at 7:52.
Review of July 23, 2025 Minutes
M. Welch moved to approve the minutes of July 23, 2025 as amended; D. Patterson 2 nd .
All in favor. J. Brightwell abstained because he was not present for the hearing.
Administrator’s Report
Upcoming hearings:
August 27 th setback waiver on West Shore Road and deliberation & decision for
tonight’s hearing.
September 10 th no hearing and deliberations for August 27 th hearing.
September 24 th possible PUD and site plan review for 14 acre seasonal PUD and
single family home.
The new Town office project will require conditional use and site plan review, date TBD.
The Zoning office will be closed Thursday 8/14 through Monday 8/18.
Adjournment
D. Patterson moved to adjourn and go into deliberative; N. Hayward 2nd. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted
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J. Brightwell, Board Member
Signed: __________________________________________ Date:
____________________
These minutes are unofficial until approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting. All
motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.