AMENDED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA
PLANNING BOARD HELD JANUARY 28, 2026
The meeting began at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were
Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither, and Tim Bickford. Alternate member Steve Trehu was also present. He was designated a voting member in the absence of other members. Also present were Lidie Robbins and Sara York of 30 Mile River Watershed Association.
Lidie and Sara met with the Board, at the Board’s request, to discuss the Swifts’ revegetation plan (see December 2025 minutes). They have visited the site and believe that more cutting has been done than what the Board had initially thought. Based on photos and neighbor reports, it appears that the entire shorefront buffer of shrubs and woody vegetation along their developed shorefront has been removed. Lidie and Sara recommended planting a buffer on the shoreline, along with planting other trees and shrubs uphill. Lidie says that Erosion Control Mulch would be preferable to wood chips as wood chips tend to wash away. 30 Mile can also make a variety of species available as live stakes to plant this spring.
Creston will check to see whether gutters or stone were required by the Board when Kirk Hiscock’s original permit for the house was issued.
In general it was noted that as the plan mostly recites recommendations and not requirements or time lines, it isn’t really a “plan.”
Tim may be able to find examples of suitable revegetation plans or to locate people who might be able to provide such a plan.
Steve suggested that we advise the Swifts that we need something with specific time lines, goals, and requirements etc. Tim said he would draft a letter to the Swifts to this effect fairly soon.
Lidie and Sara left about 8:00 PM.
Future Planning Board efforts were discussed. Some possibilities are: 1). A short-term rental ordinance; 2). A flow chart outlining permit procedures for various land use projects; 3). Check lists for site visits etc.; 4). A formal application for Shoreland Zoning projects.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.
Creston Gaither, secretary