HomeMy WebLinkAboutSE48_2824 Posner letter to Chair Erisman regarding 2019 Annual Review meeting 03_22_21From:Josh Posner
To:"Ashley Erisman (ashley.erisman@gmail.com)" (ashley.erisman@gmail.com)
Cc:Jeff Carlson; Dawn Hill Holdgate; Libby Gibson; Ken Beaugrand; Matt Fee; George Pucci;
Steven@Cohenlegal.net; GWood@rubinrudman.com; rdfelch@gmail.com; Jamie Feeley
(jamie@cottageandcastleinc.com); Hostetter, Amos (Amos.Hostetter@pilothouse.com)
(Amos.Hostetter@pilothouse.com); Helmut Weymar
Subject:Follow-up to March 22 ConCom meeting
Date:Monday, March 29, 2021 1:02:22 PM
Ashley ErismanChair, Nantucket Conservation Commission
Nantucket, MA 02554
Dear Chair Erisman:
At the special ConCom meeting on March 22, you asked if SBPF had thoughts on how theConCom should address concerns with compliance raised by some commissioners. Let me
respond on behalf of SBPF in its effort to work cooperatively and constructively with theCommission.
While the criticisms have been raised and answered periodically before, it really comes down
to two issues: 1) The appropriate amounts of sacrificial sand to be delivered and 2) thefrequency of monitoring.
SBPF’s experts provide thoughtful, fact-based analysis (as they have done previously) to show
that the volume of sand and monitoring is substantially in compliance with the permit andwholly adequate to assure that there has been no harm to neighboring beaches. The ebb and
flow of erosion on unprotected beaches continues, but the data shows it does so in the sameways it did before the Geotube project was installed.
As you know, SBPF privately has funded the installation and maintenance of the 900-foot
Geotube pilot since 2013 at a cost that now exceeds $10 million. At that time all the partiesinvolved came to an understanding that the success of the pilot would lead to the project being
expanded to protect all the threatened homes in the 4000-foot area described and agreed uponin the 2013 MOU signed by the Select Board.
After eight storm seasons and with the project tied up in a long and expensive litigation
process, SBPF can no longer justify paying the approximately $1 million per year to operatethe pilot project. As we have stated on prior occasions, it is not reasonable to expect us to
continue funding a pilot that is primary protecting public infrastructure and Baxter Roadwithout a clear path to the previously agreed-upon protection for the many homes in harm’s
way.
At the request of the Town Manager and members of the Select Board, SBPF has agreed totemporarily extend its project maintenance and keep the geotubes re-covered after storms
through the summer. This will regularly add the appropriate amount of sand to the beach asthe system has been doing. It is SBPF’s hope that this extension will give Arcadis the time it
needs to achieve a constructive resolution. If the process results in full-length protection,SBPF will continue to operate the project. If it does not, SBPF will “hand over the keys” to
the Town for it to decide whether or not to provide public funding to manage the existing pilotwhich is keeping Baxter Road open.
SBPF will not be walking away because the geotubes were unsuccessful. In fact, the oppositeis true. The pilot has proven itself and provided a significant benefit by keeping Baxter Road
open and accessible to residents and the public, alike. In addition, SBPF has shown it canmeet the major funding requirements that will be required going forward. SBPF is encouraged
that this success has come without negative impact on neighboring beaches. It is expected theentire island will continue to benefit and learn from this first major effort to protect a crucial
portion of the island’s coastline and neighborhoods, something that Nantucket will certainlyface as a community in other coastal locations during this time of sea level rise. SBPF has
also proposed a major new initiative, a Sand Bank that can provide clean mitigation sand in aneconomically viable way from safe offshore dredging locations to this and other coastal
projects on Nantucket. SBPF is fully prepared to proceed, but only if, at long last, theprotection the southeastern coastline needs is approved.
Therefore, in accordance with our promise to the Town, SBPF proposes that the ConCom
accept, for the time being, that it keep the Geotubes re-covered after storms through thesummer so that there continues to be no shortfall in sand going to the beach in anticipation of a
comprehensive resolution emanating out of the Arcadis assessment process.
SBPF trusts this is helpful to you in your consideration of these issues and ConCom’s plan.
Sincerely,
Josh Posner
Josh Posner, President
Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund
PO Box 2279
Nantucket, MA 02584
617-549-3232
www.sconsetbeach.org
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