Falmouth Planning Board Continues Hotel and Solar Projects, Reorganizes Leadership

FALMOUTH -- June 9, 2026, Falmouth's Planning Board continued two major special permit applications and reorganized its leadership at its June 9 meeting. John Gerulli was reelected chair unanimously, while Pat Perfoot was elected vice chair four to two. The board continued the Red Horse Inn expansion application at 28 Falmouth Heights Road, a proposal to grow the inn from 26 to 34 rooms with 38 parking spaces, to June 23, directing staff to draft a positive motion pending resolution of engineering referrals including a drainage issue at the driveway entrance. A solar canopy application for 709 and 737 Gifford Street, filed by NextGrid through land surveyor Kieran Healy of BSC Group, was continued to July 7 after the Falmouth Fire Department issued a referral stating it "is against this project at this time," citing unpermitted wood milling, log storage, more than 15 unidentified trailers, and inadequate fire apparatus access; staff also flagged that the property's 1980s special permit authorizes only boat storage for marine businesses, not the range of uses currently operating on site. The board also accepted a continuance of the 402 North Falmouth Highway parking lot application to August 25 and extended that decision deadline to October 31, 2026.