TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – DRAFT

April 12, 2022

CALL TO ORDER:

 Chairman Turner Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Other board members present were Kaitlin Stone, Tommy Fox & Thomas Tefft. Tina & Paul Blais, Patricia Dow, Andy Rice, Steven Barrows & William Moore were also present.

CHANGES AND/OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:

None

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES:

Fox made a motion to accept the minutes from October 15, 2021 as written. Stone seconded the motion. Tefft abstained. Motion passed 3-0.

NEW BUSINESS: 

Steve barrows was in attendance to ask questions about why his property is in the Conservation district and how it got there. The board explained to him that it has been in the conservation district since before he owned it and that he can do what he wants on his property as long as it falls within the Town of Halifax Zoning Regulations and he provides the appropriate permits and gets approval from the Zoning Administrator.

Bill Moore, Zoning Administrator and Patty Dow, Town Clerk attended the meeting to discuss with the ZBA some changes that they would like considered to the Town of Halifax Zoning Regulations.

• Possible changes to section 402 Accessory Dwelling Unit, concerning additional single family dwelling on a lot without a subdivision.
• Regulations for Tiny Houses
• Section 510 Campgrounds, 2b. They would like to amend requirement #3, to secure a Zoning permit if it remains on the lot for more than 6 months in a given year. Optional #4, Seasonal travel trailers may not be brought in before May 1 and removed by October 31 of each year.

There was also discussion brought up by Tina Blais as to thinking about adding in zoning regulations for Air B&B’s as there are a number of them in town and people enquiring about them often. Currently there are no specific regulations for them.

Paul Blais, EMD informed the ZBA that he had been giving a grant to update the Towns Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. He is building a committee to help with this task and asking if a member of the ZBA & PC would be willing to take part in the committee to represent the two boards. Tommy Fox volunteered to join as a representative for the ZBA & PC. 

HEARING OF VISITORS:

Paul Blais enquired about a property on Moss Hollow that appears to have been breaking the conditions of their Zoning permit periodically throughout the winter. Blais shared pictures that he had taken of the property from the road to support his enquiries. 

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting adjourned at 7:52 PM.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

Tina Blais

Secretary to the Zoning Board of Adjustment