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Planning board approves special review for Dennis municipal cemetery expansion with arboretum condition
Summary
The Dennis Planning Board approved a special review for a proposed expansion of Oak Ridge/Riverside Cemetery at 815 Route 134, authorizing development of roughly 4 acres with ~2,000 new grave spaces while adding a condition that the town consider open‑space/arboretum design elements; vote was 4–1–2.
The Dennis Planning Board on Dec. 15 approved a special review application for a municipal cemetery expansion at 815 Route 134, allowing development of approximately 4–5 acres for new grave space, niche units and site amenities while adding a condition that the town consider designing the area to serve as open space or an arboretum.
BSC Group engineer David Crispin, presenting for the town, said the 40‑acre property has been used for burials since the 1960s and that the current proposal would provide roughly 1,780–1,790 new ground burial spaces plus about 252 cremation lots and an expanded niche offering — “about 2,000 something graves,” he said — representing roughly 20–25 years of supply at current sale rates. Crispin described stormwater recharge systems sized to the 25‑year storm, a reduced on‑site spoil area of less than half an acre, a veterans section and a small equipment building near the pickleball courts.
Tom O’Connor, deputy director of public works, said user fees are intended to cover development costs and that the town would bring fee changes before the select board if necessary. “The long‑term plan is the user fees would support the cost of development,” he said.
Board members pressed for clarity on a range of issues, including the size and location of the spoil area, potential groundwater impacts in the Zone‑2 wellhead protection area, the number of graves and the plan’s build‑out horizon. Planning staff noted the plan had been reviewed by the conservation commission and that septic design and board of health approvals remain required.
Several members of the public and board praised the addition of a veterans section and the project’s replacement plantings, while others urged caution about clearing additional acreage. One board member said the project raised environmental concerns under the special‑permit criteria for protection of natural resources.
A motion to approve the special review (case SRVW‑25‑2) referencing plans dated Dec. 12, 2025, by BSC Group was made and seconded; the board added a fifth condition asking the town to consider designing the cemetery area to allow open‑space or arboretum uses in the future. By roll call the board recorded four votes in favor, one opposed and two abstentions, and the motion passed.
The planning board noted remaining permitting steps: board of health review for the septic system, water‑district review for wellhead protection, and final construction contract and bidding steps. Crispin said the town expects to move toward bidding and construction after completing outstanding reviews.
The board’s approval does not itself authorize construction; it allows the special review to proceed subject to the conditions and subsequent permitting steps. The project’s case number is SRVW‑25‑2; the proponents said they will return to finalize technical approvals as required.
