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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10152012 Coastal Management Plan Work Group Minutes1 MINUTES: Coastal Management Plan (CMP) Work Group – October 15, 2012 PUBLIC HEARING: SECTOR 2 PRESENT: Sarah Oktay, Bob DeCosta, Bam LaFarge, John Stover, Carl Borchert, Jamie Feeley, and Emily MacKinnon ALSO PRESENT: Dave Fronzuto, Jeff Carlson and Steve McKenna (CZM) and members of the public Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm Steve McKenna announced to the Committee and the public that some errors have been discovered in the dataset that was used to produce the new shoreline change maps for MA. The release of these maps will be delayed until these errors are corrected. The preliminary agenda, minus the 6:15-7:15 scheduled discussion of CZM’s new maps, was approved with a motion from Carl and a second from Bob. The minutes from September 24, 2012 were approved with a motion by John and a second from Jamie. Sarah introduced the Coastal Management Plan (CMP) work group (the Committee)’s charge and mission to the public: to draft a Coastal Management Plan for the Town owned coastal properties on Nantucket, with public input gathered through a series of hearings. The Town has received a grant from the state that enables the Committee to retain assistance from MA Coastal Zone Management experts, such as Steve McKenna, and their StormSmart coastal program. The Committee will look at an inventory of properties and infrastructure throughout the Town’s coastal properties around the island and make recommendations on the management of these properties and infrastructure to the Board of Selectmen. Dave and Sarah reviewed the Sector map and specifically the boundaries of Sector 2 and all Town properties or roads within this area. Jeff reviewed all erosion control structures currently in place with google earth images. Dave noted the evidence on these aerial images of end scour and loss of beach surrounding the hard armored portions of the coast. These properties had very little accessibility to the public fronting their structures and looked to be out of compliance with Chapter 91 regulations. Bob asked if this was an issue for the Con Com? Jeff said that the Nantucket Wetland Protection Regulations do consider recreation as a protected interest, so indirectly it is an issue for the Con Com. Sarah added that the Committee could recommend enforcement of Chapter 91 to the Board of Selectmen. Sarah reviewed the CMP matrix of issues that has been drafted. Bam asked where “storm preparedness” fits in…homeland security or coastal hazards? After some discussion it was determined that this topic would fit in under coastal hazards. The Committee discussed each topic of the matrix and how it should be applied to Sector 2. The public provided comments. HOMELAND SECURITY: - One paragraph stating that if the channel was made impassible, Jetties Beach could be used as an alternate landing location for necessary vessels. WATER QUALITY: - The Board Of Health should continue coliform testing at all Town beaches including Jetties, Jefferson Avenue, water 2 tower beach, Dionis, and 40th pole beach. - D. Anne Atherton asked if there was any formal water sampling in Capaum pond or Washing pond? Sarah responded that UMASS does some informal sampling through their adopt-a-pond program. Dave responded that the Health Department has tested for mercury in the past, but otherwise the Town’s resources focus primarily on the great ponds. Dave asked the Committee if a recommendation should be made to the BOS for the Town to test these ponds? Bam suggested that perhaps a future pond management committee could address these questions. Sarah stated that the Harbor Plan Implementation Committee has made recommendations for a water quality management plan. HABITAT: - MA Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program may have mapped habitat within this Sector, especially around Eel Point. - Bob pointed out that there are substantial eelgrass beds off of 40th pole beach that should be protected from excessive sand nourishment and smothering. The area should be flagged to be surveyed prior to any erosion control project that includes a nourishment component. - Carl inquired about nesting shorebird habitat along the beach within Sector 2 (Jetties beach, Hinckley Lane, Eel Point, etc). This habitat should be identified under this section. COASTAL HAZARDS: - Sarah and Dave emphasized the importance of this topic. - Bob identified one major issue for this Sector is to get the Army Corps of Engineers to raise the height of the Jetties. Dave pointed out that the west Jetty is in better shape than the east Jetty. - Carl asked about potential storm damage to the bath house at Dionis or the facilities at Jetties beach and it was confirmed that the DPW would be in charge or cleaning up debris from these locations. - Jeff discussed the Con Com’s recent practice of requiring applicants to set up escrow accounts for the removal of any materials they are permitted to place on or near the beaches. It was discussed that even though these projects are typically occurring on private property, it is an important issue for the Town because once something ends up o n the beach or in the nearshore environment it becomes the Town’s problem. The CMP should recommend that the Con Com continue requiring escrow accounts to be set up for the removal of debris that originates on private property. EROSION CONTROL: - John asked if erosion control projects were likely to ever be exercised by the Town on Town owned land. Bob declared that it was very unlikely in this day and age but would not want to preclude it from ever happening. It was agreed that at this time there does not appear to be a need for them on the Town properties within Sector 2. - Dave brought up the concern that with regard to beaches such as Jetties beach, the tourist industry and economy of the Island might motivate the Town to use tools such as beach nourishment should erosion threaten to damage them as recreational resources. Jeff agreed, but stated that this scenario was unlikely any time in the near future. Emily also pointed out that the Committee should be including recommendations on how and when to revisit and amend this plan into the future. - Bob suggested that the CMP be worded to discourage hard armoring within this Sector. Emily agreed and stated that the CMP could be worded using CZM’s no adverse impact protocols to recommend an order of preferred alternatives to hard armoring projects. - D. Anne inquired about one big beach easements and reminded the Committee that the Town does have an interest in these private properties. She asked if the Town or the CMP could influence coastal projects on those properties? Jeff stated that he is working on a list of easement properties. They are all written a little differently making it a challenge to determine what is and is not allowed for all easements. He suggested that construction of coastal engineering structures should definitely become a part of all one big beach easement discussions with property owners in the future. 3 - Jamie stated that it is important to not tie anyone’s hands regarding the type of erosion control methods allowed. He suggested that a project, even one involving hard armoring, may be able to meet the no adverse impact policies if they include nourishment. -Steve McKenna addressed this and suggested that public benefit/impact also needs to be considered as part of this discussion. -Bob suggested a list of priorities with criteria for each. Perhaps a point system can be established to help determine which properties and infrastructure are eligible for different methods of protection. - Steve added that the long-term viability or sustainability of a project must also be carefully considered. HARBORS: - Not Applicable for Sector 2 PUBLIC ACCESS: - It was agreed that for Sector 2 this section could be written as drafted in the matrix to reflect the policies of those “agencies currently involved”. BEACH ACCESS: - The Town beaches within Sector 2 include: Jetties, Capaum Pond, Washing Pond, Dionis, and 40th pole. - The Town already has a Beach Management Plan that covers recreational issues at these locations. None of these access points is likely to need significant nourishment or coastal erosion protection projects; but other areas or locations might and we should prioritize those. OFFSHORE RESOURCES: - Bob stated that the Town is responsible out to 1500 feet offshore. Dredging is the primary concern for this section and the only potential dredging within this Sector would likely be for nourishment projects. - Sarah suggested listing the offshore resources found within this Sector such as shellfish beds, eelgrass beds, conch, etc… - Jeff brought up the state’s Ocean Management Plan and that it has already identified and mapped preferred dredging locations so the CMP could simply reference this plan and those locations. - Bob mentioned that within this Sector there are many sandbars within 1500 feet that are important for the protection of the shoreline and that they should all be protected except in the event of an extreme navigational emergency. - Dave reminded the Committee that for future discussions of the remaining Sectors it will be very helpful to get slides of the shoreline change maps once they are available. They will show the erosion and accretion against various Town properties and infrastructure. HOMELAND SECURITY: (see above) ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: - Sarah asked if this topic was relevant to Sector 2? - Carl stated that most of the coastline in the state has some potential for alternative energy. He suggested that wind energy is not likely within 1500 feet of the shoreline, but that wave and tidal energy could be included on a list. - Sarah pointed out that the Con Com had recently permitted some data collection to take place for wave and tidal energy within 1500 feet of the south shore of Nantucket so agreed that it should be listed. - Bam questioned if there was potentially enough energy within Sector 2 for either wave or tidal energy and Carl and Bob agreed that there was not. It was decided that this topic is Not Applicable for Sector 2. 4 FISHERIES: - It was agreed that there should be extensive surveys and research done on potential fisheries impacts prior to the permitting of any project within Sector 2. DATA ACCESSIBILITY / CONSISTENCY: - Sarah stated that these topic should include goals on educating the public about where to find available data for Sector 2 resources. INTEGRATION WITH MUNICIPAL HARBOR PLAN: - Sector 2 can refer to or integrate the HP around the Jetties and around Eel Point where it is adjacent to Nantucket and Madaket Harbors. The Committee decided to continue moving west around the island and to end discussions with Sector 1A and Sector 1B (Nantucket Harbor). The meeting was adjourned at 7:50pm with a motion by Bob and a second by Bam. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 29 from 5-7pm at 4 Fairgrounds Road. This meeting will serve as an opportunity to draft the CMP for Sector 2. The following meetings will be held November 5 (public hearing for Sector 3) and November 19 (drafting for Sector 3). Respectfully Submitted, Emily MacKinnon