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Planning board grants waivers, approves Broad Cove Path subdivision as submitted; Buzzards Bay Coalition to buy wetland parcel
Summary
The board granted requested waivers and approved the Form C subdivision for Broad Cove Path (20–22 Long Neck Road), allowing the Buzzards Bay Coalition to acquire conservation land while preserving existing access for two homes; conditions and standard conditions will be finalized by staff.
The Wearham Planning Board voted May 11 to grant the applicant’s waiver requests for a Form C definitive subdivision at 20–22 Long Neck Road and to approve the plan as submitted, subject to standard and project-specific conditions to be finalized by planning staff.
Applicant representatives described the filing as a preservation-style subdivision that splits an existing parcel to separate wetland‑restricted conservation land from two existing homes. The plan does not create new building lots and therefore asks relief from many typical roadway and construction standards; the board discussed the long-term maintenance implications of keeping the access as a private or paper roadway and the limits that waiver grants place on future development. After hearing from staff advisers and the applicant, the board voted to accept the roughly dozen waivers dated April 9 and to approve the plan pending staff-prepared conditions.
Bob Rogers of GF Engineering, representing the applicant, described the request as a way to preserve wetland reserve easements while maintaining existing access. Board members pressed staff and counsel to ensure that the decision documents clearly state that the applicant accepts responsibility for long‑term maintenance of the access if town standards are not imposed now; members also asked for conditions to be tailored so future development would trigger standard subdivision review.
The Buzzards Bay Coalition is purchasing the conservation parcel and plans restoration work on the old cranberry bogs under the existing wetland reserve easement; the coalition will later sell the remaining buildable house lot. Board staff said they would reconcile standard conditions with granted waivers, produce a final decision, and record the approval with the town clerk.
The board’s action preserves the conservation intent while allowing the property transfer to proceed. Staff will circulate and attach to the minutes a copy of the conditions and the list of waivers granted.
