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.