Board of Adjustment Annual Report,
Year Ending June 30, 2004
 

The Board of Adjustment has the role of administering North Hero's Zoning Regulations.  To accomplish this, it takes one or more of the following actions:

1.  During this year, beginning in July of 2003 and ending in June of 2004, the Board of Adjustment heard forty Conditional Use permits and approved all of them.  Conditional Use Permits are granted for all approved uses of land in North Hero for purposes beyond that of single family residences. (Note: construction for any residential use on the outer islands of North Hero requires a conditional use permit.)

2.  Two variances were requested and all were granted either as sought or with reductions and/or conditions.  Variances for "adjustments" to zoning regulations, principally set backs, in the construction of improvements to properties.  State law allows a property owner to basic development of property.  If Zoning Bylaws hinder development on a property, a variance may be granted by the Board of Adjustment.  A variance may only be granted for basic development, and only if the Bylaws prevent that development.  Five criteria are used to determine whether development may be permitted.  The Board heard two variance requests. We found that both requests could be implemented.

3.  There were no appeals of decisions made by the Zoning Administrator.

A person appearing before the Board of Adjustment may appeal decisions of the Board of Adjustment to the Superior Court.  No Board decision is currently being appealed.

The Board of Adjustment appreciates the work the Planning Commission put into the revisions of the Bylaws.  Paul and Mary Jane Healey, Jeannine Pratt and Shauna Hauser led the committee.  The revised bylaws make the Board of Adjustment's reviews much more equitable and thoughtful.  Most applications are resolved to the satisfaction of the applicants and their neighbors or other interest parties.  Some decisions, however , are tougher to make.  In all cases, we seek to let the principles laid out in the town plan give us the direction we need as we weigh the merits of the several parties to each situation.

The Board would like to thank the many years of service which Dick Rose gave to the Town as a member of the Board.

Respectfully Submitted,

Chip Porter, Chair
Bart Wilcox, Vice Chair
Ken Bassett
Mary Jane Healy
Henry Hutchins
Ed Norris
Eileen Mitchell