Orleans ZBA Continues Eppinger Garage Permit to July, Citing Unresolved Conservation Issues

ORLEANS — June 3, 2026 — Orleans ZBA continues Eppinger garage special permit to July 15 amid unresolved conservation and zoning questions. The Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 at its June 3 meeting to continue Case 2026-07, in which Frederick and Patricia Eppinger seek a special permit to construct a detached 4,200-square-foot garage at 32 Hayward Lane — above the 4,000-square-foot threshold requiring board approval under Orleans Zoning Bylaw Section 164-21-A. Acting Chair Austin Higgins presided in place of the absent regular chair. Sam Ellie of JC Engineering, appearing for the Eppingers, reported that a parallel Conservation Commission review was continued to July 7 after a hearing the previous evening, with a site visit scheduled for the following week. Board member David Little, who also sits on the Conservation Commission, told the ZBA that "without a very significant amount of mitigation on the site, I don't think the project is going to go well." Member Matt Cole separately raised concerns that the application's stated 17-foot building height — which equals the proposed side-yard setbacks — may have been calculated from the finished slab rather than from natural grade as the bylaw requires, potentially putting the structure out of compliance with accessory-building setback rules. The board directed the applicant to submit a corrected height calculation and to request a further continuance before July 15 if conservation approval has not been obtained.