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Council approves demolition and rebuild at 4712 Falstone with stormwater, tree and survey conditions
Summary
After an extended public hearing with neighbors and technical questions about stormwater and property lines, the Somerset council approved the permit for 4712 Falstone subject to tree‑protection/reforestation, a stormwater maintenance agreement, surveyor boundary verification, job‑site cleanliness and a landscaping plan excluding invasive species and tall plantings in the town right-of-way.
The Town Council of Somerset voted April 7 to approve a demolition-and-rebuild permit for 4712 Falstone after a lengthy public hearing that focused on stormwater design, property-line stakes and tree removals.
Town staff summarized the application: removal of the existing house and construction of a new home with a two-car garage, screened rear porch, two HVAC units, a permeable driveway, and removal of six trees coupled with a reforestation plan (SEG 1576–1583). The stormwater design submitted by consultants uses a landscape‑infiltration facility in the front yard plus two dry wells in the rear to meet required treatment volumes; staff said the plan captures 647.8 cubic feet versus a required capture of 611.4 cubic feet (SEG 1721–1727).
Neighbors expressed concerns about downstream impacts and the adequacy of the proposed infiltration trench that sits near a low point adjacent to 4710 Falstone. Bobby Begieri (neighbor at 4710) and other residents urged more detail and asked what would happen if the proposed systems clogged or failed; Begieri said: "If it doesn't work ... we're the downstream adjoining property and we're putting all of our trust into your hands" (SEG 3420–3421).
The town attorney and staff explained limits of council review: stormwater compliance is judged by the town's substantive code requirements and environmental site design rules; issues beyond the code (for example, underground hydrology not addressed by the standards) may be difficult to require as a permit condition (SEG 2169–2179, SEG 2220–2223). Staff and the applicant confirmed Washington Gas must disconnect a shared line and that the town will coordinate to require a permanent reconnection for the affected neighbor as part of the administrative process (SEG 2542–2552).
Councilmember Barr moved to approve the application subject to a set of conditions read into the record by the town attorney: implementation of the town arborist's tree protection and reforestation recommendations; execution of a water‑drainage maintenance agreement before issuing the permit; a pre‑construction survey confirming property boundaries and installation of corner markers; requirement that the project site be kept reasonably clean and tidy; submission of a landscaping plan prior to planting that excludes invasive species and plants whose mature height would exceed 12 inches in the town right-of-way; and coordination with the town manager so Washington Gas provides permanent service for the neighboring lot (SEG 3939–3948; SEG 4043–4047). The council then approved the application by voice vote.
The permit will not allow demolition work until required utility disconnection and other administrative conditions are satisfied; staff noted a pre-construction meeting with contractors will address hours of operation, parking controls and other job-site rules.
The council's action closes the hearing and places enforceable conditions on the permit; the stormwater maintenance agreement will be recorded so future enforcement is possible if the system fails to be maintained.
