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Neighbors object; ZBA continues request for front-yard relief at 8 Bono Court
Summary
The Dartmouth Zoning Board of Appeals continued a special-permit request to July 9 after neighbors and an architect argued a 576-square-foot addition would overly encroach on a 20-foot front-yard setback and harm a tightly packed neighborhood. The applicant agreed to consider reducing the addition.
The Dartmouth Zoning Board of Appeals continued a special-permit hearing on an application to add about 576 square feet to a nonconforming house at 8 Bono Court, scheduling the next date for July 9, 2026.
The petition — filed for Jenny Reynolds and the owner listed as Tracy Nuno Nunan — seeks relief under the Dartmouth zoning bylaw for front-yard setback dimensional relief (article 375-10.4D3B and 375-6.2B2, non-conforming structures) to place the proposed addition as close as 11.9 feet from the private way where a 20-foot front setback is normally required. The board read a June 11, 2026 objection letter from neighbor Sean Redford, who identified himself in the text as a registered architect and asked the board to deny the special permit.
Why it matters: immediate abutters said the lane at Bono Court is narrow, the lots are substandard and the addition would set a precedent for repeated encroachments in the neighborhood. In a written statement read aloud, Redford argued the applicant’s plans showed “oversized spaces” (a 350-square-foot bedroom and a 350-square-foot artist studio) that are design choices rather than demonstrated hardships, and said the proposal would “threaten neighborhood character,” create sight-line and emergency-access concerns, and undermine the intent of local setback rules.
Applicant’s response: Christian Fallon, principal engineer and president of Fallen (Fallen/Farland) Corp., said the site was staked per the board’s direction, an updated site plan (showing a deck toward the water) was filed, and the closest setbacks are now identified at roughly 12.0 feet and 13.2 feet at two corners. Fallon described the proposed addition as a modest 24-by-24-foot expansion and said there would be no expected sewer impacts. He told the board the design fits neighborhood character and emphasized they would be willing to consider reductions.
Board reaction and next steps: Multiple board members said they visited the site and described Bono Court as a uniquely constrained setting; several members said they were inclined to find the proposal could be more detrimental than the existing conditions. Given that feedback and the applicant’s request for time to consult with the client, the board voted to continue the hearing to July 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., with the continuance conditioned on the petitioner signing an extension of the statutory time limits.
What’s next: The applicant may revise the plans to reduce the addition or withdraw without prejudice; the ZBA will take the matter up again on July 9, 2026. If the petitioner returns unchanged, the board will decide whether the special permit meets the local standard that the proposal be “not more detrimental” to the neighborhood.
