Planning Board votes 5-2 to close housing hearing

Planning Board · Meeting of October 13, 2026

FALMOUTH — The Falmouth Planning Board voted 5-2 to close the hearing on a special permit for front-yard parking at a proposed 10-unit project on North Falmouth Highway. Attorney Kevin Clower, representing applicant Anthony Amaru, said the project meets and exceeds zoning setback requirements and maintains lot coverage well below the allowable standard. Abutter attorney TJ Hoey argued the board lacked technical capacity to verify traffic and nitrogen data, saying "as lay people, you're not able to come to a conclusion with that technical data," and urged adoption of Section 53G independent review fees.

Members voted to share "the gist" of a confidential memo from Associate Town Counsel Hamelin after Chair John Druley questioned withholding it. An initial vote to draft a positive site plan review decision failed 3 votes to a needed 4 before the board reversed course, directing staff to prepare positive draft decisions on both the special permit and site plan for a November 10 final vote.

In the full story:

• Minutes and Procedural Items
• William Lucchini Application Withdrawal
• Solar Carport Continuance, Gifford Street
• Approval Not Required Plan, Brick Kiln Road
• Special Permit and Site Plan Review: 538 North Falmouth Highway (Applicant Anthony Amaru)
• Mixed Residential Commercial Overlay District Design Guidelines
• Select Board Joint Meeting Summary
• Committee Reports and Future Agenda Items
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,907 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.