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Zoning board hears wastewater, stormwater and layout revisions for 809 Sandwich Road; hearing continued to July 30
Summary
At a continuation for 0592 (809 Sandwich Road), engineers told the Town of Falmouth Zoning Board the on-site wastewater system was sized at about 9,000 gpd and stormwater will be managed on-site using infiltration chambers; neighbors raised concerns about a 7–7.5-foot retaining wall, buffers and tree clearing. The board continued the hearing to July 30 to review architecture and landscaping plans.
Brandon Barry of Merrill Engineers and Land Surveyors told the Town of Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals on the continued hearing for 0592 that the project’s on-site wastewater system was designed for roughly "9,000, gallons per day," keeping the development below the 10,000-gallon threshold that would trigger a state groundwater-discharge permit.
Barry said the wastewater flow would be treated with an on-site denitrification system on MassDEP’s approved IA list and then dispersed via a pressure-dose disposal field; final Board of Health review and sign-off will follow local zoning approvals. On stormwater, he described a system of deep-sump catch basins, proprietary water-quality units and underground infiltration chambers and said the town peer reviewer (CEI) had indicated its comments were addressed.
Neighbors and board members pressed the applicant for details. One abutter asked how a nearby retaining wall would affect sight lines and yards; Barry said the wall will be engineered at about "7, 7 and a half" feet and that construction would be performed from the applicant’s side with a fence on top. Multiple residents and at least one board member urged more meaningful buffering and raised concern about removing large trees along property lines.
Board members also queried handicap parking, sight lines for the relocated bus shelter and documentation for revised plan sheets. Barry said two handicap parking spaces are provided for public access and that the applicant had submitted a revised layout as an exhibit; the team said full revised plans, including architecture, porches, deck dimensions and closet layouts, will be provided at the next hearing so the board can review them in detail.
Public comment included questions about ownership and property management. Jack Golley, president and CEO of Northland Residential Construction, said Northland will both own and manage the property and will handle construction and leasing, including a third-party lottery agent for the affordable units required under state rules.
The board voted to continue the matter to 7:30 p.m. on July 30. The board recorded the continuation by voice vote; members answered "Aye" and no opposition was recorded. The applicant said it would return with architecture and landscaping materials and follow up on requested technical clarifications.
