SOUTH HERO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MINUTES October 14, 2026
Members Present: Doug Patterson (Chair); Jim Brightwell (Vice-Chair); Liza Kilcoyne; Tim Mullen; Justin Myers (Alternate)
Members Absent: Gareth Hunt; Nate Hayward.
Others Present: Gabrielle Viens; Ryan Viens; Jim Robistow; Karen and Mark Willette; Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA)
7 :00PM – D. Patterson called the meeting to order. The Board was introduced.
Changes to the Agenda
There were no changes.
Public Input
There was none.
Site Plan Review for a Retail Bait Shop at 509 US RT 2 (27-23-RT509 Ryan and Gabrielle Viens)
The warning was read and interested persons sworn in.
Gabrielle Viens told the Board that she and her husband want to open a retail bait shop, called the Frosty Fin, at their home on RT 2 in Keeler Bay Village. There were no local bait shops last winter for ice fishing, so there is a need. Ryan told the Board that they’d like to open by the end of December to be ready for the ice. Hours will be Friday – 6pm to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday – 5am to 9pm. December to March. No summer hours right now. Focusing on ice fishing right now. The shop will be a 16’x20’ building that will replace an existing shed on the property.
Questions from the Board
J. Brightwell – How many cars do you expect at a time? Ryan – 3-4 at a time. They generally stay 15-20 minutes. Any other items to sell? No, focused only on fish at this time. Cars can pull in and turn around. We can widen the driveway if needed. The shop will be 65’ from the end of the driveway.
L. Kilcoyne – You already got approval from VTrans for the existing driveway. We’d need another conversation with the State to widen the drive. Ryan – there’s a drainage culvert there that would limit the ability to widen it much. I don’t anticipate lots of 2-way traffic.
J. Brightwell – Will there be any lighting on the building or the parking area? It will be dark for your early morning or late hours. Yes, there will be lights on the shed toward the drive. We will be upgrading our power to provide power to the shop. Will the walkway to the building be lit? It isn’t now but will be eventually. Will you be selling any snacks? Only fish. By the way, the name is great.
L. Kilcoyne – The parking area needs a turnaround. If you pull in straight, there will be enough room to turn around. It seems a little narrow. The edge of the driveway is close to the property line. There’s room to extend the driveway. Any room for parking behind the house? The septic location is in the way there. We can lengthen the driveway to allow more room to turn around in the wider part.
J. Myers – I’d like to see a path on the site plan to the shop. We can do that. How much water do you need for the tanks? Jim Robistow – the quantities they need will not affect the Fire District at all. Ryan – we’ll use about 300 gals/wk. We’ll add a water line to the new building. Robistow – not a problem. Ryan – we already have the permits we need form the State to sell live bait.
D. Patterson – I’m concerned about the proposed hours. Will you eventually want more? We’d like to eventually be open 7 day/week from 4am to 9pm.
J. Myers – How about security? There will be cameras and lights.
L. Kilcoyne – will the shop be heated? Yes.
Questions From the Public
Karen Willette – How often will you need to stock? We will be buying the bait from Hog Island. They have a mid-size delivery truck that will deliver on Thursdays. Once a week. Will there be a sign? Yes, but that’s not finalized yet. Probably something 2’x3’ on a wooden post. Will the driveway have 2-way traffic? It will be tight, but there will be room to pull aside.
J. Brightwell – what do you do with the leftover fish? They’re composted.
J. Myers – I’d like to see more measurements on the site plan.
The Board listed the changes/edits they are requesting for the site plan;
- Walkway location;
- New parking configuration to allow for turning around;
- Sign location;
- Show light locations on the shop and the house
- Clarify the business hours/day.
7:30PM – D. Patterson closed the hearing.
Review of Minutes of September 23, 2026
J. Brightwell moved to approve the minutes of September 23, 2026; L. Kilcoyne second. All in favor.
Administrator’s Report
- Upcoming meeting/hearing schedule:
-October 28, 2026: 2-lot subdivision administrative review of 45 Sunset View Rd.; Site Plan and Conditional Use review for a composting facility at 138 Ferry Rd.
-November 11, 2026: deliberation only, unless a hearing from October 28 is recessed to continue November 11.
-No meeting November 25 or December 23, 2026.
-No hearings scheduled at this time for December 9, 2026.
-The major subdivision review for 9 Peters Farm Rd. will continue on January 13, 2027.
- Martha will be working remotely from December 11 to the 23rd.
- The move to the new Town Office building is tentatively scheduled for the week of Nov. 16th. The Town Office will be closed that week.
- J. Myers told the Board that, due to the responsibilities of a new job, he will be resigning from the DRB in early November. The Board expressed their appreciation for his contribution to the Board. Britni Myers has expressed interest in replacing Justin and will send the ZA a letter of interest.
Adjournment
7:53PM — J. Brightwell moved to adjourn and to move to deliberative; J. Myers 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.