HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment from Lapolla1/16/26
We attended Wednesday night’s meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals and left with a
sense of confidence in the Board’s process. The members listened carefully to both the
applicant and members of the public, which was appreciated.
That said, we are concerned that the project proposed for Great Marsh may already be too
far along in the planning process for any meaningful changes to be made. The applicant
stated that he has been working on this project for more than five years and that he and his
staff have met with numerous state and local agencies during that time. However, it
appears that one significant group was excluded from these discussions—the neighbors.
As those who will be most directly impacted by the project, we question why neighbors
were not notified or engaged earlier in the process. Had the applicant and residents met at
any point during those five years, many of the current concerns could have been discussed
and potentially resolved prior to these public meetings.
We understand the need for additional housing on the Cape and recognize that all
communities should contribute to addressing this need. However, the concept of “needs
of the community” must work both ways. The addition of new housing should be balanced
with the needs and concerns of the existing community in the Great Marsh area.
We will not restate all of the concerns raised during the meeting, as they were well
articulated by multiple speakers. We are interested in how the applicant intends to
address these issues, particularly those related to traffic and safety along Great Marsh.
Additionally, we believe that the construction of a three-story apartment building in this
residential area does not align with the existing character of the neighborhood. We
respectfully ask that the Board consider eliminating the third story building and instead
explore alternatives such as additional single-family homes that will align more closely
with the Great Marsh neighborhood.
Thank you for taking the time to consider our comments, and thank you for your service to
the community. Lastly, when will the next public meeting occur?
Sincerely,
Cindy and Tony Lapolla
35 Laurel Road
Centerville