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Harwich commission hires SWCA for third‑party wetlands review of Queen Anne/Pine Oaks project
Summary
The Harwich Conservation Commission voted June 17 to hire SWCA to perform an independent review of wetland delineations submitted for the Queen Anne Acres/Midcape Church Homes (Pine Oaks Village) project, a choice commissioners said favored technical thoroughness though it carries a higher price tag.
The Harwich Conservation Commission voted June 17 to retain SWCA to perform a third‑party review of wetland resource area delineations submitted for the Queen Anne Acres / Midcape Church Homes (Pine Oaks Village Homes) project on Queen Anne Road.
The decision followed presentations from the applicant’s representative, Robert Don, and consultant Brian Madden of LEC. Don told the commission he and LEC vetted four proposals and, after reviewing technical responses before considering price, recommended SWCA because “they went…above and beyond in their elaboration,” offering GIS shape files, hydrologic connectivity evaluation and the ability to attend up to two meetings and make an in‑meeting presentation.
LEC’s Brian Madden noted the other firms were competent but urged the commission to weigh cost: “they were over 2,000 dollars more than the next highest being Lucas,” and some costs could be reduced through virtual attendance, he said.
During public comment, Eric Schwab of Barnstable urged the commission to ensure the selected reviewer can perform groundwater or hydrologic modeling. “What we’re finding is that these vendors are not looking at the groundwater modeling…you could potentially be putting your vernal pools at risk,” Schwab said, asking the commission to ask SWCA whether it can advise on suitability of the proposed development given potential dewatering effects.
Commissioners said they favored the most thorough technical review given the project’s public profile and the complexity of the resource areas. After brief discussion, a motion to approve the SWCA proposal was moved and seconded; the commission voted to hire SWCA and directed staff to set up project billing and coordinate site access for the reviewer and commission staff.
The commission and LEC agreed to request that SWCA clarify whether and how it would address groundwater/hydrologic connectivity in its scope and if virtual attendance could reduce costs. Next steps: staff will execute the contract, notify the applicant and SWCA, and coordinate any site visits and the subsequent SWCA report to inform a later decision on the project’s formal permit application.
The matter had been continued from the commission’s May 20 meeting and was discussed at length on June 17; the commission’s vote authorizes a third‑party assessment of the wetland delineations already submitted under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.
