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Dennis Conservation Commission approves Harbormaster facility redevelopment with conditions
Summary
The commission approved a redevelopment of the Susuet Neck Road Harbormaster facility that removes pavement, raises new buildings on pile foundations and adds stormwater controls, reducing over 6,000 sq. ft. of impervious surface and adding about 3,800 sq. ft. of native plantings; staff will draft an order of conditions.
The Dennis Conservation Commission on Sept. 19 approved a redevelopment of the Harbormaster facility on Susuet Neck Road that, proponents say, will reduce runoff to the harbor and improve coastal resilience.
Taria McGrail, the project representative, told the commission the plan removes existing office, garage and restroom buildings, reconstructs a new Harbormaster building on piles at least 1 foot above the design flood elevation, and replaces more than 6,000 square feet of impervious surface within the 0–50 foot coastal bank buffer with naturalized planting and pervious surfaces. "We're proposing about 3,800 square feet of hardscape removal and replacement with native plant areas that will be naturalized," McGrail said.
The proposal also includes a new garage set on helical piers, flood vents to meet building code, revised grading to capture stormwater that currently runs down the boat ramp, and pretreatment (catch basins and deep-sump manholes) tied into the existing outlet network. McGrail said the changes will reduce peak flow to the existing outlets and result in "a large improvement in comparison with existing conditions." The project team said runoff exceeding the 25-year storm will use an overflow connected to existing outlets.
Commission staff and members sought plan clarifications before finalizing conditions: show bulkhead and grading details, confirm final elevations and flood-venting counts, and incorporate the planting and impervious-reduction commitments into an enforceable order. The commission voted to approve the project under the Wetlands Protection Act and instructed staff to prepare an order of conditions for the next regular meeting; the board also approved a variance to allow certain work within the 50-foot buffer as part of the redevelopment.
The commission's action requires the final, revised plan and the drafting of a written order that will spell out timing, inspection and construction conditions. Staff will return the order of conditions for the commission's review at the next scheduled meeting.
