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Eastham board approves septic plan, bars habitable use of new garage at 420 Steel Road
Summary
Eastham approved a septic installation for a garage project at 420 Steel Road with deed restrictions, removal of proposed water/sewer lines for the garage, monitoring requirements including a 19 mg/L total nitrogen limit, and a completion deadline of Dec. 25, 2026.
The Eastham Board of Health approved a septic plan for 420 Steel Road Rear while placing several deed restrictions and monitoring requirements intended to prevent future conversion of the new garage into habitable space.
Owner Steve Bennett described a long project history involving a prefabricated garage that ended up taller than earlier plans and a previously approved porch that had been added. Bennett said the septic required to support any additional occupiable space was never installed. "I got bad advice. I won't bore you with that," Bennett said when asked why the septic had not been put in earlier.
The board's approval requires: a two‑bedroom deed restriction; use of IIA technology (Advantex AX20) recorded with the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds; the space above the garage to remain unfinished and not be used as habitable or occupiable space without board review; removal of any water and sewer lines shown for the garage on the proposed plan; an operation and maintenance agreement for the life of the system; operator reporting of monitoring results to Barnstable County Health and Environment (or directly to Eastham Health Department if unavailable); and final/startup inspections to be witnessed by the Eastham Health Department. The board further required monitoring for nitrogen, BOD and TSS (quarterly or twice per year for seasonal use) with a total nitrogen limit not to exceed 19 milligrams per liter. The board set a completion deadline for septic installation of December 25, 2026.
Board members asked for confirmation of a municipal water connection record and directed staff to follow up on whether the property is shown as connected in town records. The board also directed that proposed blue (water) and pink (sewer) lines shown for the garage be removed from final plans and that removal be a condition of permit issuance.
The motion passed with recorded assent. The owner and his engineer must submit the required revised plans and operation and maintenance documentation before a certificate of compliance will be issued.
