Cape Cod house plans to be reviewed

BARNSTABLE - After listening to impassioned pleas from a handful of Truro residents and preservationists, the Cape Cod Commission took the unusual step last night of voting to examine a controversial plan to build a 6,500-square-foot mansion in the hills of South Truro.

The 9-acre property, owned by Donald and Andrea Kline, is next to the former home of celebrated American artist Edward Hopper. The property lies within the "Hopper landscape," and some locals have opposed Kline's plan to build a large house there.

The issue has escalated into a battle royale of sorts between the rich and the richer, between Cape Cod residents who say they're trying to guard the sacrosanct and a husband and wife who say they want to build their dream house.

Enter the powerful Cape Cod Commission, a regional land planning agency that has jurisdiction over 15 towns on the Cape, which has further muddied the process.

Robert S. Jones, chairman of the Cape Cod Commission, said the board has no plans to stop or stall Kline's project from moving forward, only to take a closer look at the project to be built in the Cape Cod's smallest town.

"We certainly aren't stalling the project," said Jones, who added that the commission has less than 90 days to decide. "We intend to move as rapidly as we can."

Jones said no one disputes the land is buildable; the question is whether the proposal and location of the house is appropriate, which may very well be the case, he said.

The commission cannot deny Kline the right to build his house, Jones said. A commission subcommittee will examine Kline's plans, hold public meetings, and ensure all of the negotiating options have been exhausted before issuing a reccommendation.

If residents believe the commission did not not do its job, they can appeal to the courts, Jones said. "We are not the be all and end all," he said.

The commission, which rarely reviews proposals for developing single-family houses, voted seven to four to review Kline's proposed house, which they said could have "a development of regional impact" designation and deserves closer scrutiny.

Their decision last night was almost unprecedented and paves the way for the commission to review the proposal and hold public meetings on it. The commission will schedule meetings in the coming weeks to review and discuss the plan for the property and the location of the house.

Kline appeared at last night's meeting and defended his decision to build a house on the site. He also has offered to put 6 acres of the property into a conservation trust, which would protect it from futher development.

"The design and siting of our house was done with great care," said Kline, adding that it was designed to be "as low as possible, to blend in, and be as unobtrusive as possible."

Slideshows, maps, photos, and drawings of the Hopper landscape were shown at last night's meeting by commission staff and residents opposed to the project. Architectural renderings of the proposed home depict a flat roof, a cedar wood exterior, and a modern design reminiscent of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Many at the meeting on both sides praised the look of the proposed house.

But some neighbors have accused the Klines of planning a monstrosity and a trophy house when a smaller house or the existing 191-year-old house on the property would suffice.

John Marksbury, of the preservationist group Truro Conservation Trust, was "thrilled" with the commission's decision to review Kline's project. Without it, Marksbury said, "I think we would have lost this landscape."

Kline's attorney, R. Jeffrey Lyman, also was present at the meeting, and said no one has offered to buy and protect the property, which Kline bought in May for $6.75 million.

Meanwhile, Kline, a wealthy man with a history of land battles in Truro, is moving forward with the state permit process.

Nick Brown, chairman of the Truro Planning Board, has said that despite their reservations, neighbors might have a hard time stopping the project.

"We can try to prevail upon civic mindedness," Brown said last summer. "By rights, he could build more than 36 bedrooms. I'm not suggesting he is. I'm just saying that's how far he could take this."