Board denies special permit for 8 Bono Court after petitioner fails to appear

The Dartmouth Board of Appeals voted July 9 to deny special permit ZSP25-6 for 8 Bono Court after the petitioner failed to appear for the scheduled public hearing.

The board’s motion to deny was made by a committee member who stated, “The petitioner did not appear for the scheduled hearing and ... the project would be more detrimental to the neighborhood.” A second member moved and the motion passed by voice vote; the chair and members recorded aye votes. The board said it will prepare and file a written decision explaining the reasons for denial.

Chair comments during the hearing summarized the application: the petition proposed roughly a 576‑square‑foot addition to a nonconforming structure built in 1950 that would increase the structure’s nonconformity and required relief under Article 10 setback and nonconforming‑structure provisions. The board noted the application had been continued previously and that the applicant had signed a prior continuance on June 18.

The denial followed the board’s practice of giving applicants an opportunity to request a continuance but reserving the right to act when an applicant is not present and the case had been continued multiple times.

The board instructed staff to draft the formal denial for the record. No new evidence or public comment was heard on the item at the July 9 session; neighbors were present in the room but no speakers approached the podium.