TOWN OF HALIFAX

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES (hearing resumed) from March 11, 2023 – DRAFT

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT REG MEETING MINUTES – DRAFT

April 8, 2025

Chairman Tom Fox opened the public meeting to consider the Tristan Roberts Conditional Use permit request at 7:00 PM. Other Planning Commissioners present were William Pusey, Matt Gancz, & Eli Summers. Tina Blais, Kyle Farnsworth, Tristan Roberts, Robert Strowe, Jennie Strowe, Rhonda Ashcraft, Stephan Chait, Bettye Roberts, Nancy McCrea, & Diana Conway, Eric Gura, Edee Edwards, Bonnie Brown, Stephan Chait, Rebekah Boggess, Kelsie, Regina Hardgrove, and Andreezza Fischer were also present. 

The meeting minutes from February 11, 2025 & March 11, 2025 were accepted as written.

Fox added Eric Gura to the Agenda.

Fox welcomed Nancy McCrea as a new Board member. McCrea has recused herself from today’s meeting due to a personal interest in the Conditional Use permit being discussed.

The Board held their annual reorganization. Pusey made a motion to keep Tom Fox as Chair, Gancz seconded. Motion passed 3-0 Fox abstained. Fox made a motion to keep Pusey as Vice Chair, Gancz seconded it. Motion passed 2-0, Summers abstained.

Fox then reintroduced the discussion on the Conditional Use permit #24-31.  Conditions from the board were discussed to meet the general performance standards in section 405 of the Halifax Regulations. Meet the specific standards in section 510 Campgrounds in the Halifax Regulations.

• Revise permit from 4 acres to 5 acres.
• If no water/waste water permits are provided the State guidelines of 3 or less sites with a max of 12 night/yr must be followed. (12 nights includes all 3 sites together =12 nights).

Other conditions were discussed in trying to find a balance between Land Owner use and overall impact on the surrounding abutters, and natural resources.

• A signed letter of compliance release from
  • Act 250
  • Current Use
  • VT Land Trust
• Operate from May –October
• Enter and exit from same point (East Side) of Thurber RD to be considerate of neighbors.

You can find this discussion starting at minute 3:47 of the recording.

The board came to the agreement that Roberts could continue on with his Conditional Use permit as long as the conditions that were talked about tonight and latter written in a formal Results of Hearing Findings and Fact document that will get written up and mailed to Roberts and land abutters are followed.

Erik Gura was remote and put on the Agenda tonight with questions about renting out just one camp site. Does he need a permit? Fox states that the definition of campground or any development of more than one camp structure on a single lot, parcel or water area includes tent camping. Therefore if he is only renting 1 campsite for 12 or less days a year I feel he does not need a permit.

Discussion followed. You can find this discussion starting at minute 45:00 on the recording.

Edee Edwards, Select Board Chair shared some upcoming Open Meeting Law, and Ethics training opportunities with the board.

The Meeting adjourned at 8:06 PM.

Respectfully submitted by:

Tina Blais

Zoning Board of Adjustment, Secretary

Recording Link