4 Cedar Hill Road renovation clears wetland buffer, board advises ARB referral and building‑inspector check on courtyard rules

An applicant team presented a renovation proposal for 4 Cedar Hill Road that realigns the driveway, replaces a dilapidated garage and proposes a small courtyard backup area.

Alan Filch of ALP Engineering described the 4‑acre corner lot, noted the northern wooded area and said the proposal avoids the wetland buffer and removes seven interior trees. "All the trees are in the interior portion of the lot. None are in the 25 foot regulated setback," he said. The team proposed Caltech chambers for stormwater management and said they will provide calculations.

Board members discussed whether the proposed backup/courtyard meets the code definition of a courtyard (which can carry front-yard design implications and require a variance) and advised the applicant to consult the building inspector and present to the Architectural Review Board. The applicant said they may act concurrently to maintain project momentum and to begin demolition and soil testing before winter.

Next steps: applicant to consult the building inspector about courtyard/hammerhead definitions, proceed to ARB review, and submit stormwater calculations and tree/planting details for the next meeting.