HomeMy WebLinkAboutillegal basement bedroom 2011.l
TOWN OF YARMOUTH
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, MA0266/
Ph 508-398-2231x 126l Fax 508-398-0E36
November 17, 201 I
Mr. Roy D. Lemmon
Ms. Kimberle E. Lemmon
3 Summit Ridge
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Dear Mr. and Mrs. [-emmon:
Youn truly
Andrew L. Arnault
tocal Building Inspector
Received:
On November 15, 201l, I visited your house at 5l Arowhead Drive, on the basis of a notification from the
Yarmouth Fire Department. I was accompanied by Mr. Jerry Epstein. I observed what appeared to be a
sleeping space in the finished basement. It includes a closet, a casement window, baseboard heat, and a
doorway from which the door had been removed. It lacks ventilation, other than the small casement
window.
I have examined the Building Depanment file on the propeny. According to Assessor's records, there was
a section of finished basement, but no bedroom, in 1996. However, it appears possible that a permit was
issued in 1999 for work that would cover this room, as part of a "fire repair" job. Since this permit
included a final inspection, I can only assume that the work performed was considered code-compliant.
For this reason, I can't compel the redesign or removal of this room-
But at no time would this mom ever have been considered a code-compliant sleeping space - not in
1999, and not now. It lacks emergency egress. Regardless of whether or not you, orir"-n you.
prospective purchaser, have, in fact, any intention to use it as a bedroom, the mere fact of iti design makesit appear viable for such use. I would strongly recommend, rherefore, that it be reconfigured.
Please note, additionally, that per the Yarmouth Health Department, the septic system for this house wasdesigned for three bedrooms only, which are located on the first floor. The projerty is lo cated inZnne 2,which, means that a fourth bedroom would not be allowed, even with a largir siptic system.
Please make sure that the purchaser of this property is made fully aware of the life safety issuessurrounding this basement room.
Date
Copy: Yarmouth Hea.lth Depanment
Yarmouth Fire Department
Mr. Jerry Epstein