Board carries 205 Hillside corner‑lot proposal after design, height and massing questions

The board heard a full presentation of application ZB26‑008 (205 Hillside Avenue) but agreed to carry the matter to the Oct. 28 regular meeting to allow absent members and the town planner to review additional technical material.

Applicant counsel introduced the case and called architect Douglas Miller, who told the board the existing Cape‑Cod house was "in extreme disrepair" and said rebuilding at a similar footprint would remain nonconforming. Miller presented architectural plans and renderings for a raised, 2.5‑story house with a porch and garage and listed requested c‑variances including interior side and exterior side setbacks, front‑yard and rear‑yard deviations, building coverage and an FAR increase that the applicant said would require a five‑vote supermajority. Engineer Andrew Clark reviewed the variance plan and survey, explained the lot is undersized (7,667 sq ft vs. required 9,300), described the site's slope and proposed grading and a dry well for stormwater, and said the average height calculation yields roughly 34.9 ft — just under Chatham's 35‑ft standard. Clark agreed to provide the requested 50%/basement calculations to confirm the basement is not a walk‑out.

Neighbors asked about potential sunlight loss and bulk; the engineer said the proposed dwelling is northeast of one neighbor and offered measurements to demonstrate limited impact. Several board members expressed concern that the proposal's bulk may be "overwhelming" on the small, corner lot and emphasized the value of hearing planner testimony. The board therefore carried ZB26‑008 to Oct. 28, 2026 without further notice and asked the applicant to file the additional calculations and any revised plans in advance of that hearing.