Bellingham Planning Board approves 40 Grove Street backlot special permit 4-0

BELLINGHAM — June 12, 2026 — Bellingham Planning Board reorganized its leadership and approved a backlot subdivision special permit for 40 Grove Street at its June 12 meeting. The board elected Marty Walsh as chair by a 3-to-1 vote with one abstention, then unanimously appointed Phil Devine as vice chair and Patrick Sullivan as clerk. The board voted 4-to-0 to approve the backlot special permit for applicants John and Robin McCart, with attorney Scott Ambler presenting updated plans that included a 50-foot no-cut buffer easement reviewed by town counsel, a 16-foot driveway, and a hammerhead turnaround. At least two residents raised concerns about property values and the absence of physical lot markers; Walsh told them a denial lacking legal justification "would be overturned in a New York minute" and directed them to the building commissioner. Two other pending matters — applications covering 182 through 198 on one street and 316 Highford Avenue — were continued to July 23.