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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11182013 Coastal Management Plan Work Group Minutes 1 MINUTES: Coastal Management Plan (CMP) Work Group – November 18, 2013 PRESENT: Bobby DeCosta, Carl Borchert, John Stover, Jamie Feeley and Emily MacKinnon Also Present: Dave Fronzuto and Jeff Carlson Meeting called to order at 5:02pm Agenda: Bobby suggested that the review and approval of minutes be moved to the end of the meeting as they were not distributed until this afternoon. With that change the Agenda was approved unanimously. Sector 10: The Committee reviewed the public access and beach access points within Sector 10. Jeff identified a vehicle access at the end of Sesachacha Pond Road, a proprietor’s way at Chase Lane, a public way from Squam Road out to the beach near Squam Pond and an access at the Wauwinet House on the ocean side. This is a publically maintained access point. Bobby asked if the Sesachacha Pond Road access was actually a legal vehicle access. Jeff said that the beach map identifies it as technically closed and only to be used by vehicles for emergency purposes. He believes this has to do with MA Audubon land and state listed shorebird habitat to the south. Dave and Jeff confirmed that this is where the equipment used to open Sesachacha Pond accesses the beach but that it was questionable whether it was suitable for standard vehicle access. Bobby suggested this be determined as it would be a valuable access for beach fishing. Dave will confirm the status of this access point and whether it can be opened or used for vehicles. Sector 1A: This Sector extends from first point around the inside of Nantucket Harbor including Coskata Pond and Polpis Harbor. Bobby indicated that this Sector has been dealt with extensively by the Harbor Plan. Issues of water quality, habitat, shellfish, etc has been covered. The CMP should simply state that it is a unique body of water and is extremely important to the island’s economy for fishing and for tourism. Bobby suggested a statement be included that erosion control projects should be carefully evaluated for impacts to aquaculture and to the fisheries. There are many public access points and beach access points. Jeff indicated that locations had been set for spoils piles from dredging projects within the harbor. John voiced a concern regarding excessive erosion that is occurring at the end of Pocomo Road from stormwater runoff. Bobby agreed and said that he has been paying close attention to the end of Madaket Road and has been observing the same issue there. He is also very concerned about how close Ames Avenue is getting to the top of the bank in Madaket. Dave mentioned that the LeCains who own 2 the house on the right at the end of Madaket Road have just filed an emergency permit request to move their house back. Bobby suggested that the Town should be proactive at this location as it could be as soon as 3-5 years when this will suddenly be a huge issue for the Town. Also there could be issues regarding access to Smith’s Point. The Committee agreed that there are likely many access points within this Sector of Nantucket Harbor where accelerated erosion issues can be and should be mitigated for. This should be one of the Committee’s recommendations to the Town. A list of access points should be reviewed so that those in need of attention can be identified. Bobby recalled the old custom of piling Christmas trees out on the beach to help build up dunes in the winter and others agreed that his had been a successful endeavor. It is no longer done and was unclear why. Bobby will look into why this is no longer practiced. Bam asked if there was an official list of access points for this Sector? Jeff said yes that he will get it to the Committee before the next meeting. Rick asked if the list is available anywhere and Jeff said he and Nathan Porter are working on the lists and will get them put up on the website as soon as possible. Bobby suggested putting 1A on hold until the Committee can review the list of Town properties and access points. He also suggested that it would be a good time to clear up any questionable ownership issues on any of the access points too. Emily asked if anything should be included regarding flooding issues downtown. Bobby mentioned Easy Street as the only real problem area and that the Town is working towards raising the Easy Street bulkhead. The issue is that if adjacent property owners don’t also raise their bulkheads it will not solve the problem. Rick brought up property owners in the downtown area that are dealing with trying to get HDC approval for increased building height as they comply with flood zone requirements. John mentioned that he recently received approval on a Jefferson Avenue project. Bobby stated that Madaket residents are having a harder time because their height restrictions are lower at 24-25 feet while downtown is closer to 30 feet. A conversation ensued regarding HDC height restrictions and increasing flood zone elevations and building code requirements that must be complied with. The Committee all agreed that it is important for property owners to be able to easily comply with flood codes. Bobby identified CZM’s Fact Sheet 5 which discusses the importance of storm damage prevention through appropriate building in a flood zone. D Anne pointed out that many of the Island’s area associations are the ones that created specific area plans with height restrictions, so it is often the case where the neighborhoods have made the decision on house height. 3 Bobby reminded the Committee that we are only concerned with Town land, but that the Committee could recommend to the Town that height restrictions be based off of floo d zones rather than elevations. The Committee agreed. Sector 1B: This Sector essentially includes the Jetties. Public access includes 4 points on Hulbert Avenue, Brandt Point, Charles Street (Johnson and Johnson), and the Jetties. Bobby suggested that this Sector should identify the importance of the main channel for Nantucket Harbor. Dave has language that can be inserted regarding the importance of the Jetties and the channel. Bobby mentioned the Jetties as important habitat to adjacent fisheries as well as creating the flow in and out that is hugely important for water quality. Dave mentioned that the contract for the raising of the jetties should be out in April and this work should begin next year. Alternative Energy: Bobby and Carl agreed that tidal should be identified specifically, but that we could include the same “bold” statements as drafted for all other island Sectors. Coastal Hazards: The hazards surrounding the jetties are pretty self explanatory. Homeland Security: The channel is hugely important for all water access including emergency access to the island. Dave stated that the small boat opening in the east jetty will definitely be maintained. Bobby agreed that this was extremely important because the tide against the wind effect at the end of the east Jetty will only get worse and more dramatic with the increase in height. Erosion Control: The Committee agreed to include the same “bold” statements as drafted for all other island Sectors. Bobby mentioned that the increase in height of the west Jetty could cause an increase in scour on the outside. Jeff agreed this is likely to cut in somewhat from the beach’s current location. Jamie asked if the Committee should make a recommendation regarding the flood plain elevations as they relate to building height restrictions in this Sector as well? John stated he thinks the Committee should make this recommendation for every Sector. Bobby suggested again holding off on finishing with Sector 1B until the Committee gets the final list of Town properties and access points from Jeff. 4 CZM’s NAI Approach: Jamie drafted some language for the Committee to consider. He distributed the following language and Bobby suggested the Committee discuss it at the next meeting: “All erosion control projects and structures will minimize any adverse impacts to the extent that they can, relative to the nature of these structures and the requirements of their installations”. Minutes: The minutes of the 10/28/13 meeting were approved as drafted with a motion by Jamie and a second by Carl. Public Comment: None. The next meeting will be held on Monday, 12/09/13 at 4 Fairgrounds Road from 5-7pm. (Dave will confirm). Bobby suggested that we could review a very basic draft at this time and Emily will plan to meet with Jeff during December to complete a more thorough draft. The Committee can then plan to meet once or twice in January before beginning the public hearing process by the end of January. The meeting was adjourned at 5:52 with a motion by Emily and a second by Carl.