Dennis Board of Health approves multiple septic variances, sets installation deadlines

The Dennis Board of Health voted unanimously March 4 to approve a run of septic-system variance applications for properties across Dennis, imposing conditions intended to limit environmental risk and, in several cases, setting firm deadlines for installation.

Dan Ojila, a civil engineer and land surveyor with Downkeep Engineering, presented the first case, a variance request for a duplex at 39 Fiddlers Green Lane. Ojila told the board the proposal uses an innovative denitrifying system, UV disinfection and pressure dosing and that the design would reduce the estimated nitrogen concentration from 22.66 parts per million to 12.57 parts per million. "With the inclusion of the IA septic tank, the UV disinfector, the proposed pressure dosed leaching field, we feel the design will be a vast improvement over the current cesspools," Ojila said.

After members asked about the project’s timing — the board had approved a similar plan in 2019 that was never constructed — a board member moved to approve the 39 Fiddlers Green variance per the March 4, 2025 memorandum, attaching conditions 1–10 and requiring that the system be installed by the end of 2025, with the applicant allowed to return to the board for good cause if necessary. The motion passed unanimously.

The board then approved similar 16b variance requests for 9 Huckleberry Lane (Dennisport), 2 Carlton Court (East Dennis), 14 Laurel Lane, 20 Captains Preston Road, 34 Saltworks Road (East Dennis) and 131 Holcomb Rock Road Phase II. Several approvals included deed restrictions limiting the number of bedrooms tied to the approved septic design; for example, the 9 Huckleberry approval included a deed restriction limiting the property to four bedrooms under the approved system.

On 19 Pheasant Lane, the board approved a conditional pathway: homeowner Jeff Semione was told his existing septic tank was undersized for the home’s three-bedroom status and the board required submission of an engineered plan to upgrade the tank (a 1,500-gallon tank was discussed as appropriate). The board delegated approval of the tank upgrade to the health director so the owner would not have to return to the full board, provided the plan met the department’s requirements.

Larger and municipal projects also moved forward. Taria McGrail, the town’s senior project manager with Tye and Bond, requested a 16b variance for the harbor-master redevelopment at 351 Sisuit/Susuet Neck Road. The proposed system is sized for about 928 gallons per day with an estimated post-design nitrogen concentration of 3.4 ppm; board members recommended adding UV disinfection. The board approved the variance with a requirement that a UV component be added to the design.

Several show-cause hearings and enforcement items were removed from the agenda after the board received evidence of compliance or a plan of action, and the board renewed seasonal establishment licenses per the March 6, 2025 memorandum.

The board’s actions were narrowly procedural: approvals were made with conditions intended to limit environmental impacts (deed restrictions, required IA systems, UV disinfection, or inspection signoffs). Where work had previously been delayed (notably the Fiddlers Green duplex), the board explicitly set time limits and asked applicants to return if deadlines could not be met.

The board chair closed the meeting after routine minutes and appointment votes.

The Board is scheduled to reconvene for continued items and those applicants directed to return either at the April meeting or at specified continuances (for example, one matter was continued to September 2025 to allow time for additional engineering).