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State fishing access project at Old Boston Turnpike delayed for local posting and public comment
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Summary
Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game representatives presented a redevelopment of a boat-launch parking area and an accessible seasonal floating pier at Old Boston Turnpike; the commission agreed to continue the hearing so the public can be given proper notice, while the agency flagged chapter 91 permitting and a tight funding window tied to bond allocations.
Representatives from the state’s fishing-and-boating access program presented a redevelopment proposal for Commonwealth property at Old Boston Turnpike that would repave and regrade the parking and driveway, reduce the paved footprint by about 11%, improve stormwater controls and add an accessible seasonal floating fishing pier.
Terry Smith, acting director for the Office of Fishing and Boating Access, told the commission the project is a full‑depth reclamation and regrading job that will also create accessible parking and a wheelchair‑accessible route to the boat ramp and proposed T‑shaped floating pier. The floats are seasonal and will be installed and removed each year; agency staff said the pier will require a Chapter 91 waterways permit before installation, which can only be applied for after the commission issues order of conditions.
Smith also told the commission that construction funding for the fiscal year was available from environmental bond allocations and that roughly $450,000 of project funding had become available through competitive bids. Because those bond funds are allocated on an annual basis, agency staff said the project needs to proceed this fiscal year if it is to use the current allocation, creating a short schedule if the commission issues order conditions in May and the 20‑day appeal period elapses.
DEP reviewers raised technical questions about temporary disturbance of existing riprap along the shoreline, potential shading impacts from a structure in the water (the agency noted the pier is seasonal), and the need for an O&M plan for the stormwater BMPs; the presenters said the NOI and O&M narrative address inspection, trash removal, winter operations and other routine maintenance items and that the project would stay within the existing fenced footprint.
Because the commission had not properly posted its meeting, members said they could not close the hearing and moved to continue the item to their next meeting to allow for public comment and for staff to circulate DEP’s written comments. The commission indicated it is comfortable with the project in principle but requested revised plan sheets and a chapter‑91 timeline before taking a final vote.
Next steps: the commission will accept public comment at the continued hearing; state staff will submit any missing plan pages and a sequencing/timing plan for chapter‑91 permitting and construction that aligns with the agency’s funding window.
