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Neighbor raises housing and septic concerns during Cordova special-use public hearing
Summary
During the public hearing for a special-use permit at 27 Holmes Road, neighbor Mary Joan Dickinson raised long-standing concerns about an accessory apartment's legality, septic odors and overcrowding; applicant’s architect said the revised design removes attic access and will move living space away from the neighbor.
The Planning Board opened a public hearing July 20 on a special-use permit for 27 Holmes Road. Stephanie Fox, the architect for Ricardo Cordova, presented updated plans and said outstanding zoning-calculation and septic comments would be addressed.
Neighbor Mary Joan Dickinson described past problems at the property and asked how enforcement and protections would be maintained if ownership changed. “I would like to expect that people next to me are as well [in compliance], and that it's going to be enforced,” Dickinson said, recounting odor and occupancy concerns that prompted multiple earlier complaints.
Fox said the revised design removes the attic walk-up and shifts the building entrance to increase the distance from the neighbor. The board left the written comment period open until Aug. 3, 2026, and directed staff to review topography, zoning-calculation revisions and other items identified in the engineer's memo. No final permit decision was made; the board will consider the revised drawings and memos at a future meeting.
