SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES August 27, 2025
Members Present: Tim Maxham (Chair); Doug Patterson (Vice-Chair); Mike Welch; Liza Kilcoyne; Jim Brightwell; Nate Hayward (via Zoom); Tim Mullen (Alternate); and Sherry Dupont (Alternate, via Zoom).
Member Absent: Gareth Hunt
Others Present: Jeff Spees; Martha Taylor-Varney, (ZA)
7:01 PM – T. Maxham called the meeting to order and introduced the Board.
Changes to the Agenda
There were no changes.
Public Input
None.
Setback Waiver – Jeff and Erin Spees (#26-06-WS146) application to move shed within the back setback at 146 West Shore Rd.
L Kilcoyne read the warning. Jeff Spees introduced himself and was sworn in. He explained to the Board that he owned a small structure that has been on a trailer parked on the neighboring Mackey property [148 West Shore Rd.] for several years. He wants to move it to the old vegetable garden area in the northwest corner of his non-conforming .28-acre lot. The lot is divided from the lake by West Shore Rd. and is in the Shoreland Zoning District.
The home sits 10 feet from the back boundary, 25 feet from the west boundary, and 13 feet from the east boundary. There is conforming space in the front yard (south) for an accessory structure, but the home’s septic field is there. There is a septic tank and raised garden beds on the west side of the home, and a well on the east side. Also, the non-conforming neighboring home to the east (WS144) sits very close to that boundary. The field behind the house is owned by the Lanes and is in the Land Trust. There is heavy natural screening along the west boundary, but none along the north boundary at the proposed site.
The post and beam shed measures 8’x12’ at the walls, but there is additional overhang on the sloping roof (2’ on the front and 1’ on the back). Because of the overhang, the structure does not qualify as an incidental structure. The Applicant told the Board that he wants to use it for a playhouse for his family, and to face the front toward the Lane’s field. There are sliding glass doors on that side.
Questions from the Board
D. Patterson – Could turning the structure 90 degrees make it more compliant? There are 2 septic tanks off the corner of the house, limiting the space there. Would prefer not to place the shed on a tank.
L. Kilcoyne – Are the Lanes and Mr. Mackey okay with the proposed location? Yes.
N. Hayward suggested placing the shed even with the north wall of the house, 2 feet from the Lane property.
T. Mullen asked whether there was room on the east side of the house. The well is there, and the neighbor’s house is also close to the shared boundary. The shed would need to be moved to replace the septic tank.
T. Maxham – The 2-ft. overhang facing north would be the high side of the shed? Yes. He did not see a problem with one leg of the shed being on the tank, or set back a bit an cantilevered over it.
N. Hayward – Could the shed go on the south side of the tank? The pipe to the septic field is there. Is there a pump tank? There is a settling tank and an additional tank. An incidental structure can be placed over the force main. There are power lines that would be in the way of a crane while placing the shed. It will have to be put in from the field. I would agree to placing it 5’ from the north boundary.
7:39 PM – T. Maxham closed the hearing.
Review the August 13, 2025 DRB Minutes
M. Welch moved to accept the minutes of August 13, 2025; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
Upcoming Schedule –
September 10 – deliberative only. No hearings scheduled. Martha has a prepared draft decision for tonight’s hearing if the Board would like to add that to tonight’s deliberations and cancel the September 10 meeting. The Board decided to do that and cancel the 9/10 meeting.
September 24 – Preliminary Site Plan review for a PUD at 9 Old Farm Rd.
Site Plan Amendment and Renew Conditional Use at 138 Ferry Rd.
Adjournment
7:46 – M. Welch moved to adjourn and move to deliberative; T. Mullen second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA
Signed: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________________
For the Development Review Board
These minutes are unofficial until approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.