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Middlebury P&Z approves 400-foot planting buffer for Whittemore property; Trout Estates excavation hearing continued to Aug. 6
Summary
At its July 2 meeting the Middlebury Planning & Zoning Commission approved a 400-foot, 6-foot-deep planting buffer along the Tranquility Estates/Whittemore property with an Oct. 15, 2026 completion deadline and continued the Trout Estates excavation public hearing to Aug. 6, 2026. The commission also held an executive session on a personnel matter and reviewed permit receipts.
The Middlebury Planning & Zoning Commission on July 2 approved a planting plan intended to screen the Whittemore property from the adjacent Tranquility Vineyard parking area and continued a separate public hearing on excavation and grading for Trout Estates Middlebury, LLC to Aug. 6, 2026.
The planting plan presented by property owner Thryza Whittemore and representative Micheal McVearry covers a 400-foot stretch with a six-foot planting depth. Whittemore described the layout as centered on already-planted redwood trees, with understory plantings including Fothergilla (witch alder), redbud, Ninebark ('Summer Wine'), winterberry and little bluestem grasses. She said fall is the preferred planting season and that sourcing of nursery stock would likely be through Planter's Choice. Commissioner Matthew Robison moved to approve the plan with a completion date of Oct. 15, 2026; Paul Anderson seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.
Separately, Attorney Lauren Geary submitted a written request for a 35-day extension to continue the public hearing on Trout Estates (Application #26-17Z) for a special exception for excavation and grading under Sections 64.3 and 64.6. Brendan Browne moved to continue the hearing to Aug. 6, 2026; Joseph Mancini seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The commission voted unanimously to meet in executive session with the zoning enforcement officer and the first selectwoman to discuss a personnel matter; the body left executive session later that evening with no formal action recorded in the minutes.
Zoning enforcement staff distributed permit and ZBA application receipts for the reporting period. The minutes show three zoning permit receipts of $145 each (with $60 of each fee allocated to the Town) and one ZBA application receipt of $260. Staff noted that material delivered or stored over 1,000 cubic yards is assessed an additional $1 per cubic yard above that threshold.
The commission adjourned at 8:08 p.m. and scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Shepardson Community Center Room 26.
Votes at a glance: Matthew Robison moved to approve the June 4, 2026 minutes as revised; Joseph Mancini seconded and the motion passed (Robison abstained). Brendan Browne moved to continue the Trout Estates public hearing to Aug. 6, 2026; Joseph Mancini seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Matthew Robison moved to approve the Planting Plan with an Oct. 15, 2026 completion date; Paul Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
