Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Coastal Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves Gill dock, revetment and float at 206 South Street with shellfish mitigation and planting conditions
Summary
After extensive discussion over pier length, depth and revetment design, the commission approved the Gill family’s dock, ramp, float and revetment replacement at 206 South Street with conditions including a shellfish mitigation fee and planting plans.
The Yarmouth Conservation Commission approved a notice of intent on March 20 for Henry and Nadine Gill at 206 South Street to replace a revetment and construct a pier, ramp and float, subject to special conditions including a shellfish mitigation requirement and detailed planting plans.
Bob Perry of Cape Cod Engineering described the proposal as three parts: reconstructing a failing riprap revetment, relocating a dock to a historical north-end location within an alcove of Bass River, and installing a ramp and float positioned to reach deeper water. Perry said the revetment would be reassembled with larger grade stone and a fiber-core lift where appropriate, and that the proposed float would be sited where field soundings indicate "slightly more than 3 feet of water at average mean low tide at the outboard end of the float." He said the site has no eelgrass and that quahogs were present in some areas; the plan includes relaying shellfish as required.
Commissioners pressed the applicant on dock length. Perry said the unique shoreline alcove required a longer structure to reach navigable depth while avoiding vegetated shallows, and he argued the additional length would have minimal additional environmental impact given the altered, armored shoreline and historical dock presence. Commissioners asked for clearer depth and contour notations on the plan and for planting/shoreline restoration details; staff asked that planting plans be consistent across related permit documents.
After discussion the commission approved the project with special conditions to include the shellfish mitigation agreement with the waterways authority, time-of-year restrictions, and a unified planting plan that matches other site mitigation. The vote carried with more ayes than nays (recorded in the minutes as four ayes and two nays). The commission noted the approval will include standard DMF (Division of Marine Fisheries) conditions and coordination with waterways for any shellfish mitigation fee or program.
