Falmouth Housing Trust hearing continued after DPW flags plowing, trash access concerns for 419 McQuaid Highway project

The Zoning Board of Appeals continued the public hearing on the Falmouth Housing Trust’s 419 McQuaid Highway redevelopment to a draft‑decision review on February 6 after a late referral from the Department of Public Works raised questions about whether a segment of the proposed road layout would be classified as a driveway. The DPW director’s note — received by staff and forwarded to the board earlier the same day — indicated concern that a driveway leg lacks sufficient turnaround and width for town plows and trash collection vehicles, which could result in the town declining to provide those services for that segment.

Laura Moynihan, executive director of the Falmouth Housing Trust, told the board she submitted a draft decision on Dec. 19 and that she had filed a demolition permit; she said she had not yet received staff comments on the draft. Moynihan said she would review the DPW referral and coordinate with engineering and the DPW. "I submitted the draft decision on December 19. I haven't received any comments back on it, so I don't know what the status is on that," Moynihan said during the hearing.

Board staff and the applicant explained that earlier engineering referrals had described trash and recycling pickup as “would be provided curbside” based on submitted turnaround areas, but a subsequent communication from the DPW director characterized the development’s driveway leg as a portion the town would not plow and might not service for curbside collection. The applicant and planning representatives said the road layout was designed to subdivision standards in the submitted plans and that the perceived discrepancy appears to stem from internal DPW review communications.

Because the DPW determination affects tenant services and potential ongoing costs (for example, private contract pick‑up or private plowing of driveways), the board voted to leave the record open and continue the hearing to allow the applicant to work with town engineering and DPW staff to clarify whether town services (plowing, curbside trash/recycling) will be provided to all units and to determine whether plan revisions are needed. The board noted that the applicant may proceed with demolition at the applicant’s risk; the applicant confirmed it had a demolition permit on file and that demolition could occur before the Feb. 6 continuation if the Housing Trust chose to proceed.

Karen Bissonnette, chief development officer (former executive director) for the Housing Trust, emphasized fundraising and timing pressures: "I need to raise over $500,000 from private philanthropy for this project," she said, noting financing and construction timing are sensitive to delay. Other participants said the DPW’s practical concerns included vehicle turning radii and parked vehicles blocking access for trash trucks and plows.

The board recorded a unanimous vote to continue the hearing to February 6 for review of a draft decision and additional clarification from DPW and engineering. The board instructed staff to arrange coordination between the applicant and DPW so the outstanding service‑provision questions could be resolved before the next meeting.

The board also discussed internal notification procedures after members said the DPW message arrived late in the day; board members requested clearer interdepartmental communication so similar last‑minute issues can be resolved earlier in the review process.

Next steps: the applicant and town engineering/DPW will seek to clarify whether the roadway segment will be accepted for town plowing and curbside collection or whether private arrangements or plan changes are required. The hearing will reconvene February 6 for draft‑decision review; if unresolved, the board indicated it will leave the record open until required clarifications are received.