SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES February 25, 2026
Members Present: Doug Patterson (Chair); Gareth Hunt, Liza Kilcoyne, Tim Mullen (via Zoom); Sherry Dupont (via Zoom); and Justin Myers (Alternate).
Members Absent: Nate Hayward; Jim Brightwell.
Others Present: David Carter; Sandy Gregg; Michael Frett; Sue Arguin (via Zoom); Janine Bellinghiri; Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA).
7:00PM – D. Patterson called the meeting to order and the Board was introduced.
Changes to the Agenda
The annual reorganization of the Board was mistakenly kept on the agenda from the last meeting.
Public Input
There was none.
Conditional Use/Site Plan Review for the White Meeting House – For Use as a Public Facility (review of the first floor only) – Town of South Hero – #26-44-RT320
The warning was read and interested persons were sworn in. David Carter and Sandy Gregg presented the application to the Board.
David Carter gave a brief history of the Meeting House. The Meeting House was built in 1816, originally as a church. It is the oldest public building in Gand Isle County. In 1856, the original Congregational Church building was built on South St. The Meeting House was quit claimed to the Town of South Hero to be used as a school starting in 1860, and continued in that capacity until Folsom was built in 1953.After that, two large doors were cut into the east side of the structure and it was used as a garage by the fire department until the department moved into their current building in July 2018. David said that this proposal is for the restoration of the building for meeting purposes, in keeping with the original design
A survey conducted in 2019 of Town residents indicated public support for the structure to be saved and restored. Fundraising totals through grants, donations, ARPA funds ($150,000), and a one-time expenditure form the Town ($100,000) currently total about $1.2 million. The Meeting House committee has engaged Vermont Heavy Timber to do much of the restoration work. A new foundation is planned for this summer, at which time the building will be temporarily removed and set behind the current location while the new foundation is finished, then replaced. This will be followed by the construction of the driveway and public parking area along the west side of the recently approved Town Park.
The restoration is planned in 3 phases – the first phase is the renovation of the first floor; the second phase id the continued removal of asbestos and lead from the second floor; The third phase will be an addition on the north side (back) of the building, with bathroom and kitchen facilities. The restoration will allow for rental space for special events, farmers’ markets in the winter, weddings, art shows, etc. The main (1st) floor of the Meeting House will have a capacity of 150 people (per the State Fire Marshall) for lectures, etc., and 80 people for a sit-down dinner.
Questions from the Board
L. Kilcoyne – What are the plans for the Honeymoon Cottage? David – we’ll leave that up to the Recreation Commission to decide. Parking? The intent is to use the parking area by the park.
J. Myers – What about testing the soil for lead? David — Beaulac Excavation is certified in excavating lead soils. The plans need to be approved by the State. The plan is to eventually have grass around the building, depending on the amount of lead that may be found in the soil. Vermont Timber will handle lifting the building off the foundation.
D. Patterson – What about the lead remediation? David – That must be completed first. The building will be moved north, then the ground excavated around the foundation and tested. The soil will not be disturbed while the building is lifted. KAS [engineering firm] is directing this part. The lead is from the paint on the building.
G. Hunt – Is there still lead paint on the building? How to deal with that? David – They use vacuum and tarps. This will be the painting contractor’s responsibility. Again, the process is directed by KAS.
J. Myers – Will there be HC parking spaces? Or a ramp? Yes, a ramp will be provided.
D. Patterson — There is no lighting shown on the site plan. Are there any lights in the parking area? David — There will be lighting on the back of the building. Sandy – They will be downward facing. There’s no light in the parking area. What about walking from the parking area to the Meeting House at night? Sandy – we can work with the park.
L. Kilcoyne – You need to coordinate this with the park. Do you have plans for evening events? David – Yes. The Rec Commission spear-headed this. If lighting is a condition, we can accommodate that.
D. Patterson — What about septic. You have no plans for plumbing in the first phase? The wastewater permit is only for a water fountain at the park. David – we plan to use port-a-lets during this time. How many and where? You will still need a State wastewater permit. Sandy – Our architect says the State will consider an exception. Where will trash be put? In the back.
**The Meeting House needs to apply for a wastewater permit now. Locations need to be put on the site plan. The location of a trash receptacle must also be shown on the site plan.
J. Myers – Is there asbestos on the second floor? Will that remediation affect the use of the first floor? David – we have the funds now to address that. There is asbestos in the plaster and ceiling which is retrievable. Also, behind the wainscoting beneath the windows. That will be removed and preserved to be put back as part of the renovation. There will be no impact on the public on the first floor.
D. Patterson – What are the plans for landscaping? David – the asphalt will be removed, and an apron of grass will be around the building, with stone along the drip edge. Sandy – we need to coordinate landscaping plans. By July 1st the building will be back on the foundation, then start on the parking lot. But the lead excavation will be done first.
L. Kilcoyne – Has there been any coordination between the Rec Commission and the Meeting House on lighting or signage? David – We can have building-mounted lights. Would you prefer motion sensor or permanent? They could be solar generated.
D. Patterson – There will need to be lighting in the parking area. Perhaps a switch for night-time events. Short bollards to light the sidewalk? Need to coordinate with the park. Will the red fire station be removed? David – Yes, at the end of September 2027.
**The removal of the red fire station needs to be noted on the site plan.
D. Patterson – The Blue Paddle’s trash enclosure appears that it will be in the way when the structure is removed from its foundation and placed to the north. Nate Hayward is working on this. Will the power be underground? Yes, that will be part of phase 1. What if there is a wedding with 140 people sharing the parking lot with the park and Blue Paddle customers? How will that be coordinated? The parking ratios in the Regulations have proven to be not enough. David – there are 85 spaces. That is not enough. I have concerns about this. Sandy – many of the events may be during off-hours, so there will be additional parking available at the Town Office. The Meeting House Committee, Rec Commission, and Selectboard need to consider whether there is enough parking.
L. Kilcoyne — Will there be reserved parking spaces for some events? There needs to be a plan in place, perhaps parking off-site (at the school, for example) and a shuttle to the Meeting House. David – there will need to be coordination between events at the Meeting House and park events. The local option tax may be able to pay for some resources, and a manager can manage schedules.
** There needs to be a parking plan in place. Also add lighting, the proposed ramp, and the UG power on the site plan.
T. Mullen – Is there more than 1 exit front he first level? Sandy – there are exits in the middle of the north and south sides.
D. Patterson – Do you have a scheduled opening for the first level? David – by December 31st or the spring of ’27.
Questions from the Public
Janine Bellinghiri – Thank you for preserving this building. However, the parking issues are huge for me. There needs to be a plan so there’s no parking on RT 2. There also needs to be lighting. I’m also concerned about asbestos on the 2nd floor while the first floor is in use. Sandy – te 2nd floor will be sealed off. I think you should do it all at once before the public can use the building. Sandy – it will be finished before the 1st floor is in use.
** G. Hunt moved to add the State wastewater/potable water permit to the record; J. Myers second. All in favor.
Continued Questions from the Board
D. Patterson — The review standards include traffic volume. There should be a plan with the event coordinator for the entrance and exit to RT 2. There will be designated entrance and exit lanes at the driveway intersection with RT 2.
** During special events at the Meeting House, will the peak traffic calculations differ from those presented at the review for the Town Park? Need a plan for off-site parking and other ways to mitigate traffic issues during special events.
There was discussion about determining if the application creates an undue adverse effect (Figure 3.2), signage for the park, the Meeting House, and parking. There was also a recommendation for an engineer to assist in the site plan updates.
**L. Kilcoyne moved to recess the hearing to May 13, 2026 at 7PM; G. Hunt second. All in favor.
Review of Minutes for February 11, 2026
G. Hunt moved to accept the minutes of February 11, 2026; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
- Upcoming schedule:
- March 11, 2026 – Sunset Lake Enterprises site plan review for a change of use from professional services to retail for 334 US RT 2.
- May 13, 2026 – Continue site plan/conditional use review for the White Meeting House.
- On February 19, ZA Martha Taylor-Varney, Selectboard member Skip Brown, and Planning Commission member Joan Falcao attended a webinar on the CHIP program (Community Housing Infrastructure Program). Martha has the Power Point presentation for those interested in watching it. Additional webinars will be held in the upcoming months.
Adjournment
8:50PM — G. Hunt moved to adjourn and to move to deliberative; J. Myers second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varny, 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.