Falmouth Zoning Board approves special permits for home additions, new houses and one ADU

The Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals on April 16 granted special permits for four residential projects across East Falmouth, approving conditions that require as‑built certifications, stormwater and erosion controls and, in some cases, further reviews by the town’s utilities and tree warden.

Attorney Kevin Clower told the board the applicants for 101 Stryper Lane (Paul Kerker and Lynn O’Brien) plan to expand a one‑story, three‑bedroom house to a two‑story footprint of about 2,106 square feet, increasing lot coverage by structure to roughly 21%. Clower said the proposal “does not create any new dimensional nonconformities and exceeds all setback requirements,” and that a Title V system will replace the existing cesspool.

Board members asked about height, neighborhood averages and wastewater. The board recorded the neighborhood average lot-coverage by structure as 19.54% and conditioned approval on submission of a Title V septic plan, an as‑built certification of lot coverage and standard erosion‑control measures. The board voted to approve the permit with those conditions.

Owner Don Hill and the board discussed a proposed four‑bedroom home at 34 Bonito Avenue. Hill said he had met abutters and that stormwater plans for the driveway had been prepared and would be submitted. Engineering had recommended a driveway permit and erosion controls; Board of Health recommended an IA denitrification system. The board approved the special permit with conditions including certified as‑built plans and construction‑hour limits.

At a vacant corner parcel on Commequid Road (lot 203), applicants Brian and Kimberly D’Alia sought permission for a two‑story, four‑bedroom home with lot coverage by structure of 24.9%. Engineering noted the driveway’s proximity to the corner; the applicants provided site plans and said they would preserve buffer trees where possible. Abutters Heidi and Eugene DiGiovanni testified they were concerned about tree removal and the scale of the house; the applicants agreed to work to preserve trees near the property line. The board approved the permit with conditions that include lot‑coverage certification, erosion controls, tree‑warden sign-off as appropriate, and limits on construction hours.

At 561 Sandwich Road, owner Yousef Athamani asked for a special permit to site an ADU for family use, which would raise lot coverage to 24.9%. Athamani said the ADU was “intended to provide housing for my son and his wife,” and told the board he had coordinated with health and engineering offices on septic and water service. Neighbors raised concerns that recent paving might push total impervious coverage higher and that a shed appears to encroach on a neighboring parcel; the board required an as‑built survey of structure and paving, Board of Health sign-off on the denitrification system, and either licensing or removal of encroachments in the Sandwich Road right of way. The board approved the ADU permit with conditions.

Each approval included standard construction‑hour restrictions (Monday–Friday and limited Saturday work), soil‑erosion and sediment‑control requirements, and requirements that construction vehicles remain on site.

The board’s decisions were recorded as unanimous for each item and conditioned to ensure compliance with town engineering, Board of Health, and tree‑protection recommendations. The meetings for these items included no votes to deny.