Fall 2026 Duplex Zoning Amendments
Proposal to allow duplexes by right in residential and agricultural districts raises concerns over neighborhood character, infrastructure strain, and loss of site-plan review.
A five-duplex co-living proposal at 538 North Falmouth Highway was introduced to the Planning Board on June 2, 2026, prompting immediate concerns over traffic, parking, and neighborhood scale. The board continued the hearing unanimously to July 7, 2026, requiring a traffic study and engineering responses. No decision on the special permit or site plan has been reached.
The co-living development proposal at 538 North Falmouth Highway first appeared before the Planning Board on June 2, 2026, during a combined Special Permit and Site Plan Review hearing.
Applicant Anthony Amaru, represented by Kevin Clower, presented a plan for five duplex townhouses configured as ten dwelling units under a co-living model that includes shared kitchens and living spaces, along with front-yard parking.
Board members and members of the public immediately raised questions about traffic safety at the busy intersection, whether the 43 proposed parking spaces would suffice for up to 50 occupants, and whether the scale and height of the buildings would fit the surrounding residential neighborhood.
The board determined that additional information was required, including a traffic study and an itemized response to the engineering referral, before any decision could be made.
No vote on the merits occurred; instead, a motion to continue the hearing was approved unanimously so the applicant could address the outstanding concerns.
The hearing was rescheduled for July 7, 2026, establishing the next formal opportunity for the board to review updated materials.
The hearing is scheduled for July 7, 2026, after the applicant completes a traffic study and responds to engineering/staff concerns.
Members feature
Ask questions. Get answers with receipts.
Ask about anything covered on this page and get a plain-English answer that links to the report, the official records, and the exact moment in the meeting video.
Create a free accountFree with a MeetingWatch account — no card, no spam.
Already a member? Sign in
Ask questions about any meeting
Open a community, board, issue, or meeting and I can answer from its records — with links to the report, official documents, and the exact moment in the video.
Then reopen this button to start asking.
AI-generated from meeting records — verify against the linked sources. Conversations are stored (privacy).