Shelburne panel approves 10-foot gazebo at 62 Harrington Avenue over one dissent

The Shelburne Historic Preservation & Design Review Commission voted 4–1 on June 25 to approve Design Review Application DR26-05, allowing a permanent 10-foot by 10-foot galvanized-steel hard-top gazebo with cement footings at 62 Harrington Avenue.

Dorothea Penar moved to approve the application and David Webster seconded; the motion passed with David Hillman opposed and the other four members in favor. The applicants, Ethan Nappi and Nadine Johnson, told the Commission the gazebo will be installed on an existing back patio at a duplex in the Harrington Village neighborhood and will not be attached to the building. Members recorded that both Champlain Housing Trust and the property’s homeowner’s association had approved the project.

Commissioner Dorothea Penar said the gazebo "will not have an effect on the streetscape" and confirmed with the applicants that the structure would not be affixed to the house. The Commission briefly discussed roof drainage and requested additional photographs of the property and surrounding area for the record; staff will distribute those photos to members when they are submitted.

Commissioner David Hillman said he "did not feel the Commission has enough information to make a decision based on the bylaw requirements," a concern that remained unresolved in debate but that did not prevent the majority from approving the application.

The approval allows the gazebo to be installed with permanent cement footings as described in the application. The Commission did not specify any additional conditions beyond the request for supplemental photos. The meeting adjourned at 9:32 a.m.