Brooks demolition/rebuild at 39 Major Arnold Road
Summary
A 1967 oceanfront house would be torn down and replaced with a taller, FEMA-compliant home on a substandard coastal lot. Neighbors say it's too big for the lot and sets a pattern of ever-larger rebuilds along the shore; the board will decide in August.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jul 23, 2026.
Impact analysis
The existing home is valued around $266,000, and FEMA rules mean major repairs would force a costly full upgrade — part of why the owner wants a rebuild.
The Brooks family gets a safe, code-compliant home for their large blended family.
Abutting neighbors on Captain Freebody Road say the taller mass blocks light and views down their street.
Mentions & discussions (2)
Zoning Board - Jul 23, 2026
A 1967 oceanfront house would be torn down and replaced with a taller, FEMA-compliant home on a substandard coastal lot. Neighbors say it's too big for the lot and sets a pattern of ever-larger rebuilds along the shore; the board will decide in August.
Planning Board - May 19, 2026
The Brooks family wants to tear down their coastal home and rebuild it safer — higher, further from the coastal feature, and out of the VE flood zone — but needs modest height and floor-area variances. The board unanimously endorsed sending it to the Zoning Board with a positive recommendation.
Related development
Brooks demolition and new dwelling
Reduces lot coverage but adds height and floor area on a small coastal lot; abutters object to mass, height and neighborhood character impacts.
Brooks Demolition and Rebuild
A safer, storm-resilient home replaces a flood-vulnerable one, with site coverage cut from 28% to 20.5% and the deck pulled 8 feet further from the coastal feature.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
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