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Dennis Conservation Commission approves multiple wetland projects; grants variances and conditions
Summary
At its Feb. 6 meeting the Dennis Conservation Commission approved several notices of intent, issued variances to allow work within the 50‑foot buffer, and instructed staff to prepare orders of conditions; one larger bulkhead/float proposal was continued for revisions.
The Dennis Conservation Commission on Feb. 6 approved a slate of shoreline and waterfront projects, granted variances to allow some work within the 50‑foot buffer zone and directed staff to draft orders of conditions setting requirements for mitigation and construction practices.
Darren Meyer, representing the owners at 50 Fiddlers Green, told the commission his revised filing removed a proposed septic upgrade and narrowed the scope of work to a deck expansion, a roughly 3‑foot shed relocation and a small fence replacement. "The total impact of vegetation that will be disturbed is about a 109 square feet," Meyer said, and the applicants proposed a 2:1 mitigation planting plan (about 220 square feet) on the easterly side of the house.
After questions from commissioners about whether the existing Title 5 septic system was failing, the commission closed the hearing and voted to approve the project as revised and to grant the requested variance to allow work within the 50‑foot buffer, with conditions that include a planting plan and the usual order of conditions.
The commission also considered several other shorefront matters. An after‑the‑fact filing at 5 Lower County Road, where crushed stone seating had been installed during the COVID period, drew discussion about prior enforcement reductions and led commissioners to require a revised plan showing a 15‑foot vegetative buffer in the southern corner, plus a planting plan for mitigation. Kieran Healy of BSC Group said the crushed stone actually improved on‑site drainage compared with prior vehicle traffic and lawn.
Several pier, ramp and float proposals and bulkhead reconstructions were presented by Mark Burgess of Shorefront Consulting. Most of those projects drew routine agent and DMF (Division of Marine Fisheries) comments; commissioners reserved standard special conditions such as no jetting to install piles, silt control measures for in‑water work, and shellfish mitigation fee assessments where floats extended into mean high water.
Administrative items included approval of a certificate of compliance request for SE162680 (486 Main Street) and a staff report about Pelham Farms noting that USDA follow‑up is delayed by agency backlog.
Votes at a glance - 50 Fiddlers Green (notice of intent, revised): approved; variance granted for work in 50‑foot buffer; staff to prepare order of conditions (motion initiated by Clark; conditions to include planting plan). (See SEG 014–176.) - 5 Lower County Road (after‑the‑fact notice of intent): closed; commission requested revised planting plan and 15‑foot buffer be shown in plans (See SEG 271–482.) - 135 Old Wharf Road (foundation repair): approved; staff to prepare order of conditions (See SEG 541–569.) - 55 Lower County Road, Unit 11 (sunroom/addition): positive determination and negative 2 determination issued; work subject to town wetlands bylaw review (See SEG 1217–1404.) - Multiple docks/piers (39 Albion Way, 11 Thursdays Way, and others): approved with standard conditions including mitigation fee where applicable (See SEG 1410–1968.)
What’s next The commission instructed staff to draft orders of conditions for the approved permits. One larger, contested project at 7 Harbor Way (bulkhead replacement and float adjustments) drew sustained concern and was continued to Feb. 20 so the applicant can revise plans addressing buffer, float size and potential dredging or mitigation (See SEG 896–1216).
