HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR-2024-041 McGill 394 Strawberry Hill Rd CENT Demo Rebuild NC Lot SP
Town of Barnstable
Planning and Development Department
James Kupfer, Director
Staff Report
Special Permit No. 2024-041 – McGill
Section 240-91 H. (3) Developed Lot protection, demolition and rebuilding on
nonconforming lots
To allow the demolition and construction of a dwelling that will comply with all requirements on
a 10,238 square foot lot
Date: November 19, 2024
To: Zoning Board of Appeals
From: Anna Brigham, Principal Planner
Applicants: Scott and Melinda McGill
Property Address: 394 Strawberry Hill Road, Centerville, MA
Assessor's Map/Parcel: 248/228
Zoning: Residence B(RB)
Filed: October 17, 2024 Hearing: December 11, 2024 Decision Due: January 25, 2025
Copy of Public Notice
Scott and Melinda McGill have applied for a Special Permit pursuant to Section 240-91 H. (3)
Developed Lot Protection. The Applicants are seeking a Special Permit to allow the demolition of the
existing house and construction of a new dwelling on a nonconforming lot. The proposed dwelling
will comply with all setbacks, lot coverage will be less than 20%, floor area ratio will be less than
30%, and the building height will not exceed 30 feet. The subject property is located at 394
Strawberry Hill Road, Centerville, MA as shown on Assessor’s Map 248 as Parcel 228. It is located
in the Residence B (RB) Zoning District.
Background
Scott and Melinda McGill have applied for a Special Permit pursuant to Section 240-91 H. (3)
Developed Lot Protection. The Applicants are seeking a Special Permit to allow the demolition of the
existing house and construction of a new dwelling on a nonconforming lot. The proposed dwelling
will comply with all setbacks, lot coverage will be less than 20%, floor area ratio will be less than
30%, and the building height will not exceed 30 feet. The subject property is located at 394
Strawberry Hill Road, Centerville, MA.
The subject lot is 0.25 acre and developed with a single-family dwelling which appears already
demolished and the new dwelling appears to have been partially reconstructed. The (original)
dwelling was a 3-bedroom dwelling containing 1,080 square feet (2,352 gross), 1 story, and
constructed in 1974 and had frontage on Strawberry Hille Road, Centerville. The area contains
similar sized residential lots.
Section 240-91 H. reads:
(3) By special permit. If the proposed demolition and rebuilding cannot satisfy the criteria established
in Subsection H(1) above, then the Zoning Board of Appeals may allow the demolition and
rebuilding by special permit, provided that the Board finds that:
(a) If the proposed new dwelling does not comply with Subsection H(1)(a) above, then the
proposed yard setbacks must be equal to or greater than the yard setbacks of the existing
building; and
Town of Barnstable Planning and Development Department Staff Report
Special Permit No. 2024-041 - McGill
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(b) All the criteria in Subsection H(1)(b)[1], [2] and [3] above are met.
(c) The proposed new dwelling would not be substantially more detrimental to the
neighborhood than the existing dwelling.
(d) This section shall only apply to Subsection H(2) to the extent that the proposed
demolition and rebuilding cannot satisfy the criteria established in Subsection H(1) above
and shall not be available for relief from any of the other provisions of Subsection H(2).
Proposal & Relief Requested
Scott and Melinda McGill have applied for a Special Permit pursuant to Section 240-91 H. (3)
Developed Lot Protection. The Applicants are seeking a Special Permit to allow the demolition of the
existing house and construction of a new dwelling on a nonconforming lot. The proposed dwelling
will comply with all setbacks, lot coverage will be less than 20%, floor area ratio will be less than
30%, and the building height will not exceed 30 feet. The subject property is located at 394
Strawberry Hill Road, Centerville, MA.
The preexisting dwelling had a front setback of 26 feet where 20 feet is required, side yard setback
was 21.3 ft where 10 feet is required, and the rear yard setback was 41.3 feet where 10 feet is
required. The existing lot coverage was 17.6%. The existing Floor Area was 21.3%.
The proposed dwelling front yard setback is 28.8 feet where 20 feet is required, a side yard setback
of 12.6 feet where 10 feet is required, and a rear yard setback of 19 feet where 10 feet is required.
The proposed lot coverage is 19.4% where 20% is maximum, and the proposed Floor Area Ratio is
29.9% where 30% is the maximum.
Section 240-91(H)(3) requires a special permit for all demolition and rebuilding projects if the
proposed demolition and rebuilding cannot satisfy the criteria under Section 240-91(H)(1) “As of
Right”, but the following criteria must be met:
• Lot Coverage: 19.4% (20% maximum) – 1,986 square feet (2,047.6 square feet allowed)
• Floor-Area Ratio: 29.9% (30% maximum) – 3,061square feet (3,071.4 square feet allowed)
• Building Height: 26 feet, 6 ¼ inches (30 feet maximum)
Procedure - NEW
A complete application has been received and as such the Board shall open the hearing by vote of
the Board. The Board shall then assign members and hear the matter before them. If the Board
needs additional information the Board may continue this matter to a date certain. Once the Board
has exhausted their review the Board shall motion to close the public hearing. At this time no new
information or public comment is to be accepted by the Board. The Board shall now deliberate
render a decision. When rendering a decision, a motion shall be made to (approve, approve with
conditions, or deny) with the following findings and conditions. The Board shall state findings and
may state or reference proposed conditions. Once findings and conditions are completed, a second
is called for. The Chair then asks for any discussion on the motion made prior to calling for a vote.
Lastly a vote is then called for.
Proposed Special Permit Findings
For all Special Permits, the Board is required to make general findings pursuant to § 240-125(C).
The Board should review the evidence presented by the Applicant, staff, and members of the public
and, after weighing such evidence, is encouraged to articulate if and how the evidence contributes
to each of the required findings.
Town of Barnstable Planning and Development Department Staff Report
Special Permit No. 2024-041 - McGill
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1. The application falls within a category specifically excepted in the ordinance for a
grant of a special permit. Section 240-91(H)(3) allows for the demolition and rebuilding of
a residence on a nonconforming lot.
2. Site Plan Review is not required for single-family residential dwellings.
3. After an evaluation of all the evidence presented, the proposal fulfills the spirit and
intent of the Zoning Ordinance and would not represent a substantial detriment to the
public good or the neighborhood affected.
Further, Section 240-91(H)(3) requires the Board to find that if the proposed demolition and
rebuilding cannot satisfy the criteria established is H(1) As-Of-Right, then the Board may allow
the demolition and rebuilding by Special Permit provided the Board finds that:
4. The proposed yard setbacks must be equal to or greater than the yard setbacks of the
existing building. All proposed setbacks will conform to the Ordinance.
5. The proposed lot coverage shall not exceed 20% or the existing lot coverage,
whichever is greater. The proposed lot coverage is 19.4 feet which does not exceed the
threshold.
6. The floor area ratio shall not exceed 0.30 or 30% the existing floor area ratio of the
structure being demolished, whichever is greater. The existing FAR is 21.3% and the
proposed FAR is 29.9%, which does not exceed the threshold.
7. The building height, in feet, shall not exceed 30 feet to the highest plate and shall
contain no more than 2 ½ stories. The proposed height for the principal dwelling 26 feet,
6 ¼ inches.
The Board is also asked to find that:
8. The proposed new dwelling would not be substantially more detrimental to the
neighborhood than the existing dwelling.
Suggested Conditions
Should the Board find to grant Special Permit No. 2024-041, it may wish to consider the following
conditions:
1. Special Permit No. 2024-041 is granted to Scott and Melinda McGill for a Special Permit
pursuant to Section 240-91 H. (3) Developed Lot Protection to allow the demolition of the
existing house and construction of a new dwelling on a nonconforming lot. The proposed
dwelling will comply with all setbacks, lot coverage will be less than 20%, floor area ratio will be
less than 30%, and the building height will not exceed 30 feet. The subject property is located
at 394 Strawberry Hill Road, Centerville, MA.
2. The site development shall be constructed in substantial conformance with the plan entitled
“Site Plan 394 Strawberry Hill Road Barnstable (Centerville) MA” by Demarest Land Surveying
dated October 14, 2024.
3. The total lot coverage of all structures on the lot shall not exceed 19.4% and the floor-area ratio
shall not exceed 29.9%.
4. The proposed redevelopment shall represent full build-out of the lot. Further expansion of the
dwelling or construction of accessory structures is prohibited without prior approval from the
Board.
5. All mechanical equipment associated with the dwelling (air conditioners, electric generators,
etc.) shall be screened from neighboring homes and the public right-of-way.
Town of Barnstable Planning and Development Department Staff Report
Special Permit No. 2024-041 - McGill
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6. The decision shall be recorded at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds/Land Court and
copies of the recorded decision shall be submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals Office and
the Building Division prior to issuance of the building permit. The rights authorized by this
special permit must be exercised within two years, unless extended.
Copies: Applicant (c/o Attorney Boudreau)
Attachments: Application
Site Plan
Building plans