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Applicants seek waiver for 100-foot driveway segment slightly above Fayston's 15% slope limit
Summary
The Long family requested a waiver for a roughly 100-foot section of existing access road measured at 15.5%, arguing the road has been stable for decades and that extensive earthwork could cause more erosion risk than correcting the grade; the board discussed culverts, erosion control and potential permit conditions.
At the Jan. 6 Fayston Development Review Board hearing, the applicants requested relief from the town zoning rule that limits driveway grade to 15 percent for a short existing segment. Gunner McCain told the board the straight 100-foot section is about 15.5 percent and that it has been in place and drivable for more than 20 years.
"The existing road is fine to serve one home," McCain said, arguing that performing extensive earthwork to reduce the grade could create more erosion risk than leaving the existing grade in place. Board members asked follow-up questions about driveway width, existing culvert condition, runoff and erosion control measures. McCain said the driveway width is about 10–12 feet, the culvert has been in place about 25 years and has held up through rain events, and the estimated impervious surface related to the proposal is about 5,000 square feet.
Board member Beth Eisenhower noted that construction of a house would increase traffic and require compliance with strict driveway-building standards. The applicants signaled willingness to accept permit conditions for repair and culvert inspection, with McCain stating that any damage during construction "would have to be repaired; we would be happy to have that as a permit condition." The hearing closed before the board made a final determination on the waiver request; deliberation followed immediately after the hearing's close.
