Neighbors press commission to require more drainage engineering; 7 Sheffield Cove hearing continued

The Zoning Commission continued the public hearing for 7 Sheffield Cove LLC’s application to bring 1,500 cubic yards of fill and construct a 3,111‑square‑foot house until its next regular meeting (August 3), after sustained public concern about drainage, grading and tidal flooding.

Attorney Ed Cassella and the project engineer presented a plan that would remove septic encroachments from buffer areas, create new septic fields for the villas parcel, and add stormwater infiltration. The applicant said the design meets FEMA elevation guidance and includes subsurface infiltration systems and grading to direct runoff. The commission’s town engineer had asked for explicit spot elevations and grading arrows to ensure existing drainage patterns are preserved.

Neighbors from Mulberry Street and adjacent properties voiced concerns that bringing in 1,500 cubic yards of fill and raising grades by 2–3 feet would increase runoff and funnel more water toward their yards, especially when tidal and heavy‑rain events coincide. Resident Frank Palati said, “The higher the elevation, the more water we’re going to have coming to the west.” Colleen Lavalier and others reported past flooding events and said they were worried about long‑term impacts.

The applicant’s engineer responded that the proposed grading would reduce contributing area and manage roof runoff into designed infiltration systems, but acknowledged some minor grade changes near the property line. Commission Chair Mark Calarella said the town engineer will take another look and asked the applicant to return with clearer elevations, drainage plans and an engineer’s letter verifying that surface flow to neighboring properties will not be worsened. The commission continued the hearing to allow the applicant to address those items.