A proposal for a sprawling detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 7 Dunbar Lane met a swift end Thursday night as the Scituate Planning Board signaled it would not support a structure they deemed too large for the neighborhood. Following significant pushback regarding the unit’s scale and its impact on local traffic near First Parish Road, the applicant chose to pull the request entirely.

The project at 7 Dunbar Lane had returned to the board with several revisions intended to soften its impact, including a one-foot reduction in roof height and the designation of the basement as storage space. However, board members remained unconvinced that the 1,367-square-foot building met the town’s requirement of being subordinate to the main house. Member S. Pritchard argued that despite the tweaks, the building remained visually dominant. The apparent vertical mass of the house from the road is going to overwhelm the primary dwelling, Pritchard said. I don't think they've accomplished presenting a dwelling here that is clearly subordinate.

Member A. Burbine was equally blunt regarding the density of the proposal in an already congested area. I can't support it. It's too big. It's shoehorned in, Burbine said, noting that First Parish is incredibly busy. Public concern echoed these sentiments, with neighboring resident Cast questioning how the height of the ADU—situated 12 feet above ground level in the back—would affect surrounding homes. The entire property would require significant fill, Cast noted, asking, how can our privacy be secured? Sensing the board's direction, Paul Gunn of Morris Engineering opted to end the pursuit. Without significant revision, the special permit is not something you think you can entertain, Gunn acknowledged. Motion Made by A. Burbine to allow the applicant to withdraw without prejudice. Motion Passed 5-0.

While the Dunbar Lane project stalled, a four-lot development at 48 Neilgate Street moved forward with the approval of both a scenic road tree removal plan and a stormwater permit. The project will involve the removal of 11 trees, including several totem pole trees with missing tops and a 24-inch white pine identified as a hazard by Tree Warden Mike Green. Motion Made by R. Lewis to approve the removal of specified trees with conditions for native replacements. Motion Passed 5-0.

The stormwater hearing for the same Neilgate property revealed a surprise: a paved-over catch basin within the public right-of-way. Applicant Steve Gard agreed to restore the basin as an amenity to the project. Despite this, neighbor Ever Oaks raised alarms about the high water table in the area. We're still dumping water into the drywells, Oaks told the board. That water still has no place to go. It's going to go into the water table. The water table is already very high. To ensure the neighborhood is protected, the board set a $10,000 construction guarantee for the work. Motion Made by A. Burbine to approve the stormwater site plan with 36 conditions and the $10,000 guarantee. Motion Passed 5-0.

The board also took a preliminary look at a potential bylaw amendment that would allow self-storage facilities in Scituate. Attorney Paul Helpotis, representing resident Brian Fraser, argued that the town has a high market demand for such facilities, which offer low impacts on traffic and utilities. Self-storage facilities don't generate a lot of traffic, Helpotis said. They don't use a lot of water or generate a lot of wastewater. Chair P. Lambert expressed skepticism about finding suitable land, noting, we have very limited space in town where this could go.

Finally, the board effectively buried Article 50, a tabled Town Meeting article regarding deck setbacks. Frustrated by the presentation process at the recent Town Meeting, the board decided not to revive the measure. I think we're going to get the same blend of differences and opinions, and we're not going to get a consensus on this, S. Pritchard said. Member M. Burke agreed, stating, I'm not interested in going back. Chair P. Lambert noted that with Zoning Enforcement Officer Bob Vogel retiring in July, any future attempts at the bylaw should wait for his successor.

Financial matters for the evening included the approval of several peer review costs, including Motion Made by A. Burbine to approve purchase order 2609492 in the amount of $4,200 for stormwater peer review services. Motion Passed 5-0.