Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Coastal Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ZBA continues variance request for Madakasham Valley Road home to December to explore moving structure farther from eroding bank
Summary
A variance request to relocate two structures at 18 Madakasham Valley Road, proposed because of severe coastal erosion, was continued to Dec. 11 so applicants can consider moving structures farther landward and consult regarding use of the traveled way.
The Zoning Board continued a variance application on Nov. 13 for 18 Madakasham Valley Road after hearing from attorney Rick Beaudet that the property has lost roughly 60 feet to erosion in eight years and that the owners need to retreat from the coastal bank.
Beaudet said the owners propose moving the primary dwelling and cottage forward to retreat from the bank; the main dwelling’s porch could be as close as 11 feet from the property line while the foundation would be about 20 feet away. Board members asked whether the applicants had considered moving farther toward the traveled way (which could require arrangements with the land bank or town), noting past precedents where owners sought permissions to use the traveled way or easements to allow relocation. One board member also disclosed prior design involvement with the property (a transparency disclosure recorded in the transcript).
Given the erosion context and possible technical options, the board voted to continue the application to Dec. 11, 2025, to allow the applicants to consult with the client and potentially revise the proposal to push the structure farther from the bank. The applicant’s counsel said they would consult and, if necessary, renotice the application after making a different proposal.
The record emphasizes the board’s historic willingness to permit measured forward relocation in erosion‑threatened cases but also noted that moving the structure farther could require re‑notice and additional approvals.
