08/08/2012 ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Minutes

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MASHPEE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MINUTES • AUGUST 8, 2012 change in setbacks or lot coverage. The neighborhood received all of the benefits without suffering any of the detrimental effects. The petitioners also claim that the proposed design is more compatible with the changing character of the neighborhood. 1 maintain that the changing character of the neighbor- hood is in conflict with the intent of the zoning regulations and that continued issuance of variances ultimately will destroy the environmental beauty of this neighborhood. The lots in Bright Coves Village are small averaging 13,875 sq. ft. — as such they are not suitable for large footprint homes. There are approximately 105 parcels of land in Bright Coves Village located on Town Map 111. An analysis of a random sample from this population showed that the existing average lot coverage is 14.1 percent. Consequently, the proposal to build a structure with lot coverage of 32.5 percent most certainly is not compatible with the neighborhood. There is no merit in the trend to cover over every square inch of ground space so that the only views left are those of your neighbor's bedroom. If the goal of the petitioners truly is to upgrade the structure presently on the parcel at 172 Waterway to be compatible with the neighborhood, then the building's current design needs to be modified to more closely blend with the Bright Coves Village environment. is Variance It is, my opinion that the Board should withhold approval of a variance on the proposed building design pending a suitable modification to this design. The lot at 172 Waterway is just too small for the proposed size house thereby causing substantial detriment to the public good and substantially derogating from the intent or purpose of the zoning ordinances. Sincerely yours, Paul Morgenstern The ZBA office received the following email on August 7, 2012: Dear Zoning Board staff I'm writing to express a Mashpee land owner's opinion on the zoning question at 171 Waterway. The zoning laws were put into place for a reason: to protect the beauty and ecology of the Cape. These laws were carefully thought-out by people with the best interests of the entire populace and future generations in mind. I can see that area already has many • places that have built on the entire lot and down all the way to the water. That makes the pockets of trees and natural shoreline all the more important to birds, plants, fish and all the other elements that make the Cape attractive. Natural shoreline fills an important