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Board approves special exception for Fraternal Order of Police lodge at Dalesville Road
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals granted a special exception to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 27 to build a meeting hall and event facility on Dalesville Road after the applicant presented site plans, parking, and a permitted septic solution; no opposition was recorded in the transcript.
The Dorchester County Board of Zoning Appeals granted a special exception to the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge No. 27 allowing construction of a meeting hall and event facility at 4220 Dalesville Road, the board announced.
Christopher Robinson, attorney for the FOP, told the board the lodge owns roughly 9.6 acres on Dalesville Road near the Cambridge ski club and a neighboring farmhouse. Robinson said the proposed building would be about 79 by 50 feet (roughly 4,000 square feet) with parking and a mound septic system permitted by the county health department. He said the lodge previously secured variance and appellate approvals years ago but that a special-exception authorization lapsed because the group did not commence construction within the time limit; the lodge is seeking a fresh special exception to proceed.
Thomas Hurley, president of FOP Lodge No. 27, described a long fundraising effort and said the lodge plans to use the building primarily for member meetings (he estimated 15–20 typically attend monthly meetings), occasional family gatherings, and limited member events. He said the lodge has about $150,000 in cash and understands it also has a $250,000 grant contingent on timely use.
Robinson and Hurley told the board the lodge would be subject to stormwater, erosion-control, health-department and site-plan review and would comply with county requirements. Board members recited the special-exception criteria — consistency with the comprehensive plan, neighborhood character, traffic/parking, noise and public services — concluding the proposal met the standards. The board moved, seconded and voted to approve case 2811.
Robinson noted that use as a shooting range would require a zoning change and separate approvals; the lodge said it does not plan a public rental program and intends membership or associate-member restrictions for facility use. The transcript records no letters of opposition; the lodge said it had spoken with immediate neighbors and reported no objections.
