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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20141207-BaxterResidentsCitizensLettertoGovernor_Addl_Signatures_201501021319485764 To: Erika Mooney From: Josh Posner, President, Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund Re: Letter to Governor Patrick Attached please find a letter to Governor Patrick as well as our elected officials including the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager. This letter was prepared in response to a letter on the Baxter Road erosion situation from the Nantucket Coastal Conservancy and others dated October 30, 2014. We felt it was important to set the record straight on the erroneous statements in the NCC letter in a timely fashion. Our letter was sent on November 4, 2014. Since then there have been many Nantucketers who have expressed a desire to be co-signers, at this point totaling about 300 and growing. These people were added to the letter as their names became available. The co-signers represent a wide range of people who support the current effort to protect the ‘Sconset Bluff community in a privately funded and environmentally responsible way. Please let me know that you have received this and that it can be put on the Town website next to the NCC letter so people can gain a more balanced understanding of this important issue. Thank you. November 4, 2014 The Honorable Deval Patrick, Governor The Honorable Dan Wolf, State Senator The Honorable Tim Madden, State Representative Members, Nantucket Board of Selectmen Dear Governor Patrick, Senator Wolf, Representative Madden and Members of the Nantucket Board of Selectmen: The beaches and bluffs of Nantucket are one of Massachusetts’ most precious resources. The historic houses and communities along those beaches have been home to generations of residents who value the natural beauty of these locations. The Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund (SBPF) shares that focus and is making every effort to preserve ‘Sconset Beach and Bluff, as well as the adjacent community, with a thoughtful erosion management plan. It has come to our attention that as the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) prepares to rule on the merits of the SBPF proposal our opponents are continuing to attempt to politicize the decision-making process with a “disinformation” campaign based on inaccuracies and fear. We believe that decisions in this process should be based on the applicable law and science as applied by the experts in the State agency not on the basis of political appeals. Our opponents present a false choice, indicating that our efforts to protect the community adjacent to ‘Sconset Beach and Bluff will result in losing the beach or that retaining the beach requires losing our homes. In their extreme view it is “either/or”. However, we are confident that our project can protect both and are assured by highly qualified experts that this approach can be successful. Residents along Baxter Road in ‘Sconset look with concern at the impact of ever more severe weather patterns will have on the nearby ‘Sconset Beach and Bluff. While recognizing that erosion is a natural process, there is no clear benefit from letting erosion occur. In fact, in ‘Sconset, there have been serious downsides, including closing of half of View from the top of the bluff; project blends into the beach. Wide beach in front of geotubes the historic and enormously popular Bluff Walk used in the summer by over 100 people a day, the threat to Baxter Road (which provides the only access point for Sankaty Light, a National Historic Landmark), and the loss of many homes and thousands of dollars in assessed property value and tax dollars to the whole island community. Erosion does “happen” as some project opponents say, but we would add “only if you let it.” Where would the Dutch be if they took this defeatist approach? Why would we choose to ignore environmentally responsible methods that can effectively address erosion? The members of the SBPF have proposed a solution that is environmentally and scientifically sound. We have invested private dollars in implementing a system of geotubes and sand cover that will protect ‘Sconset Beach and Bluff without negative impact on adjacent beaches. This is an appropriately high standard and one which the DEP will have concluded has been met if they decide to approve SBPF’s proposal. As the Department of Environmental Protection considers our request that the geotube system be approved as designed, we wanted you to have the central facts about this project.  MA law supports the use of coastal engineering structures (this includes seawalls, revetments, bulkheads, groins, and geotextile tubes, which are considered a “softer” option than the aforementioned structures) to protect homes built prior to 1978.  Geotubes are an effective way to limit the impact of erosion without limiting access to the beach. These tubes are made of soft, flexible material filled with sand and designed to withstand the impact of extreme storms.  The material used for the geotubes is more effective than biodegradable products such as jute or coir, which will not withstand the storms that cause significant erosion.  Full access to the beach is preserved. Since the geotubes were put in place in the early part of 2014, there has been no day when local residents or visitors were unable to access the beach and use it for walking, quiet recreation, birding and fishing. Even at high tide, access is fully maintained.  The additional sand used to cover the geotubes (sacrificial sand) exceeds all requirements, is replenished as needed, and is designed to wash away naturally assuring that nearby beaches do not suffer from additional erosion due to this project. We propose to re-vegetate the eroded bluff face, like in this segment planted one year ago.  Monitoring measures the impact of the project for miles in either direction and there are funds in place to remove the project if our commitments regarding sand replenishment and impact are not met.  Our opponents have circulated photos of the beach (and the fully eroded bluff) in this area to underscore their assertion that our project would destroy it. We have included some photos of the project as now in place to show how the beach is in fact preserved and blends into the landscape, as well as photos of the bluff in its pre-erosion natural state and a sample area where the face of the bluff itself is being re-vegetated, (something that we propose to extend). Dozens of local residents have written to DEP as part of the formal review process to offer comments in support of this important effort. We have every confidence that the science behind this project makes it appropriate for full DEP approval. SBPF is prepared to make its expert advisors and consultants (listed below) available to the DEP staff at any time to answer questions or concerns they might have. Our team of professionals:  Lester B. Smith, Jr., M.S. B.S. – Principal/Coastal Geologist and Maria B. Hartnett, M.A., B.A. – Senior Consultant/Geologist, Epsilon Associates; Environmental engineering and permitting  Azure Dee Sleicher, P.E., ENV SP – Project Manager/Coastal Engineer, Ocean and Coastal Consultants; Coastal engineering and design  Dr. Michael S. Bruno, Dean of the School and Engineering and Science, Stevens Institute of Technology. Founder New Jersey Coastal Protection Technical Assistance Service a model program which provides assistance to the State of New Jersey; Peer review of coastal engineering design  Mitchell Buck, M.C.E., B.S., P.E. - Coastal Engineer and Robert Hamilton, Jr., M.C.E., B.S. - President/Coastal Engineer, Woods Hole Group; Bank, beach and off-shore monitoring  Michael May, Nantucket Preservation Trust; Advice on historic significance  Attorneys: Goulston and Storrs; Cohen and Cohen; Reade Gullicksen Hanley and Gifford.  Jamie Feeley, Cottage and Castle; Construction management  Pete Kaizer, Local waterman; Practical local knowledge and input into project design and evaluation Pre-erosion bluff with stair access to bluff walk Sincerely, David and Dorothy Bailey Rob and Carol Benchley Nancy Broll Liz Claudy Stephen Cohen Barry Cooper Tom Cunningham, President Sankaty Head Golf Club Norwood and Marguerite Davis Mark Donato, Owner 'Sconset Market Caroline Ellis Beth English Robert Felch, Executive Director, The 'Sconset Trust Sam and Ann Furrow David Golden Larry Guido Win Hindle Barbara and Amos Hostetter Dallas Kirk Dan Korengold Richard and Linda McKay Mary Warren Moffett Katherine Murphy Deborah and John Osborn Holly and Marc Pagon Dexter and Susan Paine Josh Posner, President SBPF Priscilla and Kermit Roosevelt Eileen Rudden Susan Ruddick Girard Ruddick Julie and Brian Simmons Elizabeth Singer Karen Urban Laurie and Toby Webb Philippe Wells Helmut and Caroline Weymar Walter and Donna Wick Liz Winship Loretta Yoder and Kyle Latshaw Updated with additional signatures as of November 6, 2014 Georgine Anton Austin Bentley Elizabeth Russell Boe Virginia K. Cargill John and Annie Carter William Charlton William D. Cohan Rhett Currier Charles and Judy Darby Christian Darby John and Susan DeAngelis Alice F. Emerson William Ferrall Barr and Grier Flinn Patrick and Margaret Fox Robert Franklin Donald and Jerelynn Freedman Steve and Erin Freeman Deborah Futter Richard Green Will and Margaret Hearst Carole E. Heaton Sandra and Perry Helm Bill and Juliet Hunter Carl Jelleme Bertyl V. and Gail N. Johnson Jr. Paul and Susan Lancaster Bonnie Levison Nat Lowell Ellie and Dan Lugosch Michael and Karen Lynch Alex Mackay Charles Mappin Mr. and Mrs. Craig Massey Marilee and Bill Matteson Kim Merlin Jim and Wendy Mnookin Kimball and David Moriniere Michael Morrow Jean and David Nathan Rolf and Cindy Nelson Catherine O'Brien Saynor, MD Susan and Henson Orser Bo Overlock Nancy and Phil Polakoff Jennifer and Michael Price Bruce and Diane Ritter Andrew and Denise Saul Catharine and Jeffrey Soros Daisy M. Soros Pamela and Eric Suan Tom Tuttle Chad and Emily VanDixhoorn Mary Lathrop Will Rhoads and Marcella Zimmerman Updated with additional signatures as of November 12, 2014 Polly Arnoff Ken Bartles Philip and Erin Boeckman Buzz Brown Ara Charder Elizabeth Churchill Tiffany and George Cloutier Marybeth Gilmartin Sam and Vanessa Halpert Sara and Jeff Hodges Ann and John W. Johnson Connie and Dennis Keller Nicholas LeBlanc Margaret and Larry McQuade Donald J. Meyers Scott and Dallas Pioli Noreen and Jack Poulson David and Eliza Silva Susan and Robert Starbuck Colleen Wurts Paige Yates Updated with additional signatures as of December 1, 2014 Frank Balester John and Caroline Barr Emily Barr Hilary Barr Rick and Richelle Beaudette Anne A. Becker Paul Belanger Edward M. Bernard Jackie Boucher Catherine R. Bowman William P. Bowman David and Dana Boyce Michael F. Boylan Mrs. William J. Brennan Charles and Mary Murray Bruno Carlos and Fulya Castrello Brian Chadwick Mike and Renee Coleman Mark R. Conley Richard Courtney Marcy Crimmins Pam Crowley David E. Davendorf Edith Delker Michael Erickson Jamie and Elizabeth Feeley Michelle M. Feeley Brook Gibbs John and Alicia Gonsalves Donna Hamel Susan Handy Susan E. Hanna Judson and Christina Henderson Judy Holding J.Carr Holland Tom Hollister Steven Hollister Emily Ott Hollister Jamie and Michelle Holmes Christopher Humphrey Peter and Thea Kaizer Margaret and Patrick Keenan Kay and Jack Davies Kendall Robert J. Lahey Ted Leonsis Edmund W. Liddle William W. Lockwood Jr. Luke Gutelius Gregory Maskell Jon Mason Cecilia and Michael Mathews Peter and Liz McCusker Paige and Bart Mckenzie Chapin Mechem Cristin Merck D.W. and Krista Moffett Maxwell Mundy Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Murray Dr. Philip M. Neches Lynne and Greg O'Brien Bill and Patty Ott Doug Painter Ellen and Tom Petrone Mary and Robert Pickens Homer F. Ray III Kennedy Richardson Cynthia B. Roberts Michael A.F. Roberts Swing Robertson Nancy and Will Robins Audrey Schuster Frederick Singer William Stephens Caren V. Sturges Patricia A. and Oliver B. Taylor Geoffrey Thayer P. Corbet Thomas Criss and David Troast Peter and Vicky Tulloch Robert S. Tulloch Conrad and Marguerite Wetterau Chris Young Additional Co-signers will be submitted as available. Cc: Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett, Office of Energy and Environment Affairs Commissioner David W. Cash, Mass DEP Mr. James Mahala, Mass DEP, Southeast Region Ms. C. Elizabeth Gibson, Town Manager, Town of Nantucket