Certificate of compliance for 69 Barn Neck Road set for site visit after staff flags missing drainage and stepping-stone deviations

Margaret Carr, representing the property owner, asked the commission to issue a certificate of compliance for work at 69 Barn Neck Road. Staff explained that the as-built work differs from the approved plans in two ways: a small drainage/leaching feature shown on the approved plan was not installed, and a run of stepping stones near the boardwalk differed from the plan submitted with the permit application.

Carr said the drainage capture would be negligible and that the contractor — per her consultant — believed the cost of retrofitting the two parking spaces to install the drain would be disproportionate to environmental benefit. She also said some stones preexisted earlier work and that inconsistencies appear to trace to files and plans that were not coordinated between previous engineers, contractors and landscape designers.

Staff recommended a site visit and asked the commission to continue the matter. Commissioners agreed and set a continuation for Jan. 22, 2025, and requested staff provide both the original approved plan(s) and the as‑built/landscape plan in advance so members can inspect the site and confirm whether the drainage and stone features require correction or mitigation. Carr asked the commission to be mindful of additional engineering fees for her client while the commission completes its review.

Why it matters: certificates of compliance confirm whether approved work was completed in accordance with permit conditions; missing drainage infrastructure and undocumented alterations can increase erosion or affect the dune and nearshore flows if not addressed.

Next steps: staff will circulate the approved and as‑built plans; commissioners will visit the site before the Jan. 22 continuance. The matter remains open.