HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment from Desrochers in Support9/16/2026
To: Anna Brigham, Zoning Board of Appeals
Re: Support for ADU renovation of Barn at 1595 Main Street, West Barnstable (Corner of
Plum Street)
Dear Anna,
My name is Lisa Desrochers and I live in West Barnstable, at 1525 Main Street, where my family
has had a home for 57 years. Deede Tonelli and her family have been my neighbors for many
years, both in a house directly next to our home, and now at the corner of Plum Street and
Parker Rd. in their current home. Deede has shared with me her hope to convert the historic
barn on her property into an ADU. I understand that it is her intent to preserve the barn and
provide a place for her daughter and her husband to live and support her in the 24 hour a day
care for her severly disabled son.
My family home, including a barn, were built in the early 1800s and I am aware of how
extensive and expensive it can be to preserve a historic structure, especially a barn. As a single
homeowner of an older property on Cape Cod, I understand how difficult it can be to maintain
and afford to stay in one's home. I admire that Deede wants to do whatever it takes to keep the
barn intact and provide a year round living space for her family members. I would much prefer
that every effort to be made to preserve the barn rather than raze it and replace it with a
newer building that would be less in character with the historic neighborhood. I understand
that the Old Kiing's Highway Committee already approved improvements to the exterior and
that the remodel is within the current footprint of the building. I believe that the impact of
these improvements would only benefit the neighborhood, as well as give a young family a year
round place to live. Given all of these considerations, I am in full favor or the remodel and
would urge the board to vote in favor of this application.
Please contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Lisa Desrochers