SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES December 17, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING
Members Present: Tim Maxham (Chair); Doug Patterson (Vice Chair); Tim Mullen (Alternate); Jim Brightwell; Nate Hayward; Liza Kilcoyne; Mike Welch; Sherry Dupont (Alternate).
Member Absent: Gareth Hunt
Others Present: William Burchuk; Janet Thomason (via Zoom); Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA)
7:01PM – T. Maxham called the special meeting to order and the Board was introduced.
Changes to the Agenda
There were no changes.
Public Input
There was none.
Setback waiver request to build a garage within the side setback (Thomason – #26-35-KF077). This hearing was originally scheduled for December 10, 2025, but postponed to December 17, 2025 due to weather and road conditions.
7:04PM – T. Maxham opened the hearing. The warning was read and interested persons sworn in.
Janet Thomason, owner of the seasonal home at 77 Kibbe Farm Rd., told the Board that she would like to leave a car on the property when she leaves for the winter. She hired a consultant to determine the best location to build a garage on her .39-ac. lakefront lot. A new septic mound on the north side of the house, septic tank and system on the east side, and slope to the lake limit the proposed garage area to the south side of the property, within the setback to that boundary. The 10’x20’ 1-car garage is proposed to be accessed from an existing gate along the road at the southeast corner of the lot. The location is about 10 feet from a well on the property. Ms. Thomason said that the well is the water source for the house and is still good.
Questions from the Board and the Public
J. Brightwell – There is a drop-off from the road and large stones in the area closer to the house. The space there is much smaller than it appears on the site plan. Although there is conforming space, it doesn’t make sense. There is not much space between the proposed location and the house.
Bill Burchuk – lives on the north side of the Thomason property. He has no objection to the proposal.
Janet Thomason told the Board that there is an existing gate for access to the proposed location and having a garage would clear up parking spaces on the road.
N. Hayward – Are there any other reasons why it needs to be this close t the south boundary? Janet Thomason – Cedar Ledge was hired to recommend the location.
J. Brightwell — Aesthetically this location makes sense. If moved further toward the house there would be the need for fill for the new location and it would be crowding the house. I have concern about a fire break with so little space between the buildings.
N. Hayward – Should we do a site visit?
D. Patterson – there are other ways to make it conforming.
Janet Thomason – There is a garden along the fenceline with large boulders. Moving them would be a logistical hardship. It would also be a difficult turn from the existing gate location.
**N. Hayward moved to schedule a site visit for Saturday, January 3, 2026 @9AM; T. Mullen second. All in favor.
**M. Welch moved to recess the hearing to a special meeting on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 @7PM; J. Brightwell second. All in favor.
7:56PM – T. Maxham recessed the hearing.
Review of November 12, 2025 Minutes
L. Kilcoyne moved to accept the minutes of November 12, 2025; J. Brightwell second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
- Upcoming schedule:
- 1/14/26 – no meeting
- 1/28/26 – no hearings scheduled at this time. Deliberation for Thomason?
- Martha distributed the Planning Commission’s draft definitions for “average natural grade” and for measuring setbacks. The Board will review and discuss at the next regular meeting.
- The next regular meeting will include the annual reorganization of the Board – elect Chair/Vice Chair/etc.
- The Selectboard appointed Tim Mullen and Sherry DuPont to another 1-year term each as Alternates on the DRB. They also re-appointed Nate Hayward to another 3-year term.
- Would Tim Mullen like to be appointed to a regular 3-year term to replace Tim Maxham? Yes.
Adjournment
8:08PM – J. Brightwell moved to adjourn; L. Kilcoyne 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.