SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES July 23, 2025
Members Present: Tim Maxham (Chair); Doug Patterson (Vice-Chair); Liza Kilcoyne;; Mike Welch; Tim Mullen (via Zoom).
Others Present: Don Smallwood; Sherry Dupont; Kate Baldwin; Scott Baldwin; Bruce Richardson; Shari Bell, Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA).
7:00PM – T. Maxham called the meeting to order ad introduced the Board.
Changes to the Agenda
There were no changes.
Public Input
There was no public input.
Setback Waiver – Don Smallwood (#25-70-SB083) application to expand into the side setback at 83 Sunset Beach Rd.
The warning was read and interested persons sworn in. Don Smallwood presented the application to the Board. He explained that he bought the U-shaped home in 1996. He removed a portion that was on the south ‘wing’ of the U that had encroached into the lake setback and rebuilt the east section on the footprint. The remaining south wing and the east portion of the house are year-round and have a foundation and full basement. The remaining north ‘wing’ is a seasonal camp on cinder blocks. The house is askew to the boundaries and is non-conforming on the north boundary, with a minimum distance of 16 feet at its closest point. Don is proposing to add a 330sf attached garage to the northeast corner of the house and convert the remaining camp into a 2-story accessory dwelling unit with 897sf of living space. The garage will include 154sf within the 25-ft. setback; the ADU will add 160sf of non-conforming space [does this include both levels?]; and a deck on the west side will add 52sf within the side setback. It will remain conforming to the lake setback. The total additional non-conforming space will be 368sf. The closest point to the north boundary, from the northwest corner of the structure, will be reduced from 16 ft. to12 ft. All setbacks have been measured from the drip line. Both the ADU and garage will be on a slab.
D. Patterson asked to see the building envelope on the site plan. The 25-ft. setback line from the north boundary had been shown on the plan. Are you increasing height in the non-conforming space? Yes, on the ADU portion. T. Maxham asked if the existing northeast corner of the structure is conforming? Yes. Are all measurements from the drip line? Yes. Is the entry to the ADU on the north side? No final decision but proposed to be there. Will there be a connection from the house to the ADU? No. An entrance to the ADU from the garage? Possibly. The ADU will be independent.
Kate Baldwin asked if the Town had any restrictions or requirements for the type of building materials used in the reconstruction? No, there are no requirements or restrictions. There were no other questions or objections for the public.
T. Maxham closed the hearing at 7:47.
Review of July 9, 2025 Minutes
M. Welch moved to approve the minutes of July 9, 2025, as written; D. Patterson second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
A. The conditional use/site plan review is scheduled for August 13. The site plan review for the Town Office is anticipated to be in early Fall (no application received yet).
B. The Board was introduced to Sherry DuPont, who is interested in the open Alternate seat on the Board.
C. For those who may not have completed the required ethics training (online), Martha will ask the Town Administrator for the link to pass on. So far, Tim Maxham, Tim Mullen, and Mike Welch still need to complete it.
Adjournment
8:03PM – L. Kilcoyne moved to adjourn and move to deliberative; M. Welch second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, 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.