HomeMy WebLinkAbout5250 28 Little Dipper Ln Letter of Opposition 17Fallon, Dolores
Subject: 5250 - 28 Little Dipper Lane - Letter of Opposition
RECEIVED
From: Penny Agallianos
Sent: Friday, September 4, 2026 5:53 PM SEP Q 4 2026
To: Fallon, Dolores <dfallon@yarmouth.ma.us> YARMCUTH
Subject: Project 5230, 28 Little Dipper Lane, South Yarmouth BOARD OF APPEALS
Dear Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals,
My name is Penny (Helen) Agallianos. My husband, Eric Johnson, and I own the cottage at 7-9 Little Dipper Lane.
While we are represented by Terrence J. Hurrie, who has articulated the legal support for our position, I thought
I'd offer a few more personal thoughts about our opposition to the petition for the proposed new structure at 28
Little Dipper Lane.
My parents bought our cottage on Little Dipper in 1973. What my parents loved about the neighborhood — and
what our own family now loves — is how quiet it is. Though right off South Shore Drive with its hotels, Little Dipper
Lane is a pocket of calm.
Over the last 50 years, many of the homes on the circle have been renovated and some have been enlarged. My
family has made updates and renovations to our cottage, and my husband and I have mused about making
more substantial renovations someday. And we certainly can believe that it might be better to raze and replace
the structure at 28 Little Dipper rather than try to renovate it.
The issue with the petitioners' proposed replacement structure is that it is completely out of scale with the
homes in the neighborhood. All the other homes on the circle are modest single -story or story -and -a -half
cottages. None have widow's walks or roof decks. None, as far as I am aware, have five bathrooms. It seems
probable that this house will be used for large -group rentals, which would increase traffic and change the
nature of the circle.
The petitioners suggest that because the current structure is nonconforming, another nonconforming structure
should be permitted. But the current home's nonconforming aspect is imperceptible to anyone without
blueprints and a measuring tape. If, however, the petitioners' proposed structure is built, anyone glancing down
the street will be able to see that it is out of place: abnormally tall and towering over the neighbors' homes.
A new, and bigger, house could be perfectly welcome at 28 Little Dipper. But we ask the Board to deny the
petitioners' request to build the structure as proposed.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can provide any other information.
Sincerely,
Penny Agallianos
208 W. Oregon St.
Urbana, Illinois