SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMEMNT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES August 9, 2023
Members Present: Tim Maxham (Chair); Doug Patterson (Vice-Chair); Gareth Hunt; Jim Brightwell; Mike Welch; Ellie Reid (Alternate); Liza Kilcoyne.
Others Present: Kathleen Swanson; Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA); Tim Mullen (via Zoom)
7:00 PM – T. Maxham called the meeting to order. The Board was introduced.
Changes to the Agenda
There were none.
Public Input
There was none.
Administrative Review of a 2-Lot Subdivision, at 17A Ferry Rd. – Robert and Kathleen Swanson (24-04-DH029)
Zoning Administrator Martha Taylor-Varney presented the application to the Board. Robert and Kathleen Swanson propose to subdivide a 41.45-acre lot into 2 lots at 17A Ferry Rd. The lot has no frontage on Ferry Rd. and is accessed by a 50-ft. wide right-of-way. The ROW ends at the northeast corner of Lot 2, with a driveway continuing from there across a portion of the Swanson’s home parcel (29 Davis Hill Rd.) to a home at 19 Ferry Rd. Lot 1 will be 38.20 acres and remain agricultural. Lot 2 will be 3.25 acres and will include an existing horse barn. There is no dwelling on either lot. The Swansons propose creating Lot 2 for their daughter, who lives at 19 Ferry Rd., to purchase from them. The barn is exempt from wastewater and has an existing well. A 30-ft. wide right-of-way for access and utilities is proposed to extend south from the end of the 50-ft. ROW along the west boundary of Lot 2. The right-of-way will remain on the 29 Davis Hill Rd. parcel. Ms. Swanson told the Board that the existing curb cut at Ferry Rd. has received a VTrans permit and will be widened. A right-of-way easement on Lot 1, serving a subdivided lot owned by Booska to the east of the lot, will remain.
- Maxham asked that the 30-ft. right-of-way be widened to 50 feet and extended beyond the barn to the boundary of Lot 1. This would allow for future development of Lot 1 if either the Swansons or future owners want to. D. Patterson said the 50-ft. right-of-way needs to be added to the deed for 29 Davis Hill Rd. Does a right-of-way to the barn already exist?
- Hunt moved to waive the requirement to show contours on the survey plat; M. Welch second. All in favor.
The right-of-way from Ferry Rd. will need to be named and the properties served by it will get new addresses. Ms. Swanson agreed. She told the Board that the right-of-way to Ferry Rd. is also a deeded ROW for 29 Davis Hill Rd.
The Board agreed that a condition of approval includes adding to the Mylar the new owners of 15 Ferry Rd. (Goulet) and the length of the boundaries on the west end of Lot 1 and between Lot 1 and the 17 Ferry Rd. and 29 Davis Hill Rd. lots.
- Hunt moved to accept the Zoning Administrator’s recommendation for approval; M. Welch second. All in favor.
New Business
There was none.
Review of July 26, 2023 Minutes
- Patterson moved to accept the minutes of July 26, 2023; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report – Zoning Administrator Martha Taylor-Varney reported:
- Upcoming Schedule-
- August 23: Setback Waiver review for replacement home on a non-conforming lot in the Shoreland District; and Conditional Use/Site Plan Review for indoor and outdoor storage on South St. in the Rural Residential District.
- September 13: Continue recessed Pest Pro Notice of Violation; Conditional Use/Site Plan Review for boat repair at 50 Ferry Rd., in the Keeler Bay Village Zoning District.
- September 27: 2-Lot Subdivision Administrative Review on RT 2 in the South Hero Village Zoning District; Proposed Residential Planned Unit Development on Station Rd. in the Rural Residential Zoning District.
- Martha updated the Board that the Island Time Mini-Golf proposal that was approved by the DRB in late June has been withdrawn.
- Martha sent the MSK letter, the ZBA’s and Planning Commission’s 2014 Pest Pro decisions, and the 2015 Environmental Court Stipulation to the Town Attorney for his review before the September 13 meeting.
- There are 2 Mylars – Viens 2-lot subdivision and Keeler Bay Associates 3-lot subdivision – for Maxham to sign.
- There will be no Planning Commission meeting on August 16.
- Zoning 101 will skip the August class. The next class will be September 28.
Adjournment
8:02 PM — G. Hunt moved to adjourn; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney
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.