Engineer says septic replacement at 165 Shadhole Road will restore house to three bedrooms; commission issues determinations

At the Aug. 6 meeting the commission heard a request for determination of applicability (RDA) for a septic system replacement at 165 Shadhole Road. Bob Reed, engineer with JM O'Reilly & Associates, represented owner Lorenzo Rauli and said the replacement locates the leaching facility more than 100 feet from an isolated wetland but the septic tank sits slightly inside the 100-foot buffer.

Reed told the commission the homeowner "bought it as a 3 bedroom dwelling under the impression that it was 3 bedrooms," and that a portion of the finished basement effectively created two additional bedrooms. "Part of this project will involve unbedrooming two of the five bedrooms in the home to get it back into compliance," he said, so the replacement system could remain sized for three bedrooms rather than be upsized to a more advanced system.

After questions from commissioners about the house plans and the system design, the commission voted to issue a Positive 5 determination (area and work subject to review under the Town of Dennis Wetlands Bylaw) and a Negative 2 determination (work in jurisdiction that will not alter the resource). Staff will prepare the order of conditions and provide the applicant with the required documentation.