Stone Horse Seeks To Expand Year-round Occupancy

 HARWICH – The owners of the dormitories at the former Stone Horse Inn property will be going before the planning board on Nov. 12 seeking modifications to expand the year-round use of the facility.

Route 28 Holdings LLC is seeking to expand the occupancy time frame and to add an additional 10 parking spaces. The property is owned by Corcoran Jennison Companies of Boston, which owns Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster. It purchased the property last January from Main Street Stone Horse LLC.

According to information accompanying the application to the planning board, the owners want to modify the special permit to increase the number of rooms available for use in the off-peak season, between Nov. 15 and April 14, from 20 to 82. Additionally the applicant requests an increase in parking spaces from 20 to 30.

“The rationale for the request is based on the demand for workforce housing that we expect during the off-peak season,” Justin Holstrom, regional manager, Corcoran Jennison Companies, wrote. “By expanding our capacity during this period, we can better serve the workforce housing needs of the community, thereby contributing positively to the local economy.” 

Holstrom added that the parking expansion will ensure that the increased number of rooms does not lead to inadequate parking facilities and safety issues for the guests and neighbors.    

 The board of appeals in October 2018 approved a use variance that allowed the removal of three motel buildings on the 2.61-acre site and the development of the two dormitory buildings, each containing 45 rooms. The planning board approved the plan in May 2019. Conditions of the approval limited use of 70 units to summer, spring and fall with no more than 20 rooms used between Nov. 15 and April 14.

The site plan special permit also stated any changes of use may require additional relief from the zoning board of appeals.

“In 2018 the zoning board of appeals did issue a use variance with no conditions,” Planning and Community Development Director Christine Flynn said. “The variance goes with the property, and the applicant will not have to go before the zoning board of appeals relative to the two proposed modifications,” 

After several hearings in 2023, the planning board also approved a site plan special permit modification for Main Street Stone Horse, allowing hardscape and landscape changes that included a change from four originally approved patios to one larger patio. That approval finally led to an approved certificate of occupancy for the dormitories. 

The planning board hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at town hall.