SOUTH HERO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES July 16, 2025
Members Present: David Roy (Chair); Don Bedard (Vice-Chair); Michele Gammal; Joan Falcao; Brook Scott
Others Present: Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA)
6:00PM – D. Roy called the meeting to order.
Changes to the Agenda
The date of the minutes on Agenda Item #4 changed to June 4 from June 18, 2025.
Public Comment
There was none.
Old Business
- Continue Discussion of South St./Lavin property multi-modal path– Gammal expressed appreciation for Steve Robinson’s recommendation at the Jue 4th PC meeting to “go walk the path” as a way t begin development and encourage use of proposed paths and trails on the newly acquired Lavin property. There was discussion about designating Lots 7 and 8 as a forest by the county forester. Could a forest designation affect the ability to develop the property in the future? The discussion also included the presence of poison parsnip on the property and whether the public should be invited to hike there until those areas can be identified. Could there be signage to help people identify it? Also discussed were the locations of existing septic and utility easements on the property. D. Roy would like to help create a complete community map identifying all the current walking/bike paths in South Hero and will begin work on that.
- Average Natural Grade/Pre-Construction Elevation – this was pushed t the agenda for the August 6 meeting.
- Report on VTrans Scoping Study meeting for Featherbed Lane/Apple Island/RT 2 area – Falcao attended a virtual meeting on May 14, 2025 with VTrans representatives, Anne Zolotas, and Town Admin Sue Arguin. Discussion included additional signage for boats accessing the boat launch (directed to the Fish and Wildlife parking area rather than directly from Featherbed Lane), the need for turning lanes, locations for pedestrian crossings on RT 2 speed limits, guard rail locations, the Apple Island Store, buried power lines, and possible sidewalk locations on RT 2. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for the week of July 21st. Will Zoom link info be available?
Meeting Minutes – June 4, 2025
- M. Gammal moved to approve the minutes of June 4, 2025; J. Falcao second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
Online ethics training needs to be completed by the September deadline? Martha will get the link from the Town Administrator.
Announcements
Town Office – Geo-tech soil borings for foundation design were conducted last week at the new Town Office location.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on August 6, 2025 at 6PM at the Town Office.
Adjournment
6:39PM – D. Bedard moved to adjourn; J. Falcao second. All in favor.
Signed: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________________
For the Planning Commission
These minutes are unofficial until approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.