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Harwich Conservation Commission approves consultant hire, septic and coastal repair permits; several hearings continued
Summary
At its June 17 meeting the Harwich Conservation Commission approved hiring SWCA for a third‑party wetlands review, approved a septic replacement and boardwalk reconstruction, granted a retroactive change of plan for a retaining wall/tight tank, and continued several hearings pending revised plans or D/SC numbers.
The Harwich Conservation Commission on June 17 approved several motions and orders of conditions addressing septic work, coastal repairs and a consultant hire, and continued other items for further materials.
Key votes at the meeting included: selection of SWCA as the third‑party wetlands reviewer for the Queen Anne Acres / Pine Oaks Village project; a retroactive approval of a change in plan for 0 & 45 Snowing Road that allowed raising a Title V tight tank and installing a Versilock retaining wall after crews encountered the water table; approval of a notice of intent to replace an existing cesspool with a Title V septic system at Six Paradise Path (SE32‑2643) with issuance of an order of conditions; and approval of an order of conditions to reconstruct a private residential boardwalk at 17 & 0 Dunes Road (SE32‑2639).
Commissioners also reviewed a detailed application for substantial site work at 29 and 31–33 Snow Road (SE32‑2628). That application — which involves demolition, relocation of septic components outside the 100‑foot buffer, a new retaining wall and proposed screening plantings — was continued to give staff and applicants time to submit additional detail including top/bottom elevations for the coastal bank/retaining wall, a performance‑standards narrative for the coastal bank, a site plan showing patios and grades, and a planting plan (recommended fescue/micro‑clover mix, compost enhanced soil, and native interior plantings behind arborvitae screening).
Other procedural items: 12 Old Camp Brown Road (proposed single‑family home) was continued pending issuance of a D/SC number for the file; work at Mill Point Road (dock/seawall and salt marsh creation) was continued to July 15 at the applicant’s request; and an order of conditions for 38 South Chatham Road (deck and driveway modifications with mitigation plantings) was approved.
The commission also discussed townwide coastal resiliency drafting efforts with neighboring towns and heard public concern about water quality and an apparent cyanobacteria bloom at West Reservoir. Commissioners directed staff to follow up on water‑quality testing and to schedule a future public hearing to consider reservoir management options if warranted.
Next procedural steps: applicants with continued hearings were given deadlines for revised plans or D/SC numbers ahead of the commission’s July meeting schedule.
