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Commission continues Miramar Avenue and 28 River Lane coastal protection proposals for further review
Summary
The commission continued Notices of Intent for shore protection at 85 & 92 Miramar Avenue and a coir array/revetment at 28 River Lane after presentations by Arlene Wilson; commissioners requested Mass Natural Heritage input, clearer dune/coastal bank delineation and plan revisions and set a continued hearing date.
The Dennis Conservation Commission continued two coastal protection proposals in Dennisport after lengthy presentations and commissioner questions.
Arlene Wilson of AM Wilson Associates described proposed work at 85 and 92 Miramar Avenue — replacing failing sandbag revetments with a stone revetment, sandbag replacement, beach nourishment and plantings — and at 28 River Lane — extending a coir array/drift fence, limited sandfill and plantings. Wilson said the Miramar work would extend an existing un‑dredged seawall roughly 175 feet and that the design aims to be long‑lasting (she estimated design life in the neighborhood of 30 years). She said the proposed vertical bulkhead would be mostly buried and complemented with plantings (about 825 square feet of new planting versus roughly 1,200 square feet of wall footprint) and noted the coir envelopes proposed to replace exposed sandbags are visually less intrusive.
Commissioners pressed the applicant on several technical points: the inland extent of the western wall return, the health and root depth of the coastal bank, where heavy equipment would stage and whether work would occur in the intertidal zone. Wilson told the commission the shoreline erosion rate in parts of the area is 3–4 feet per year and that, because of the proximity of the house and bank morphology, some landward extension of protection may be necessary. She also said both projects require review by Mass Natural Heritage and that the applicant is awaiting that agency’s response.
Several commissioners said they were uncomfortable approving the full western run shown in the plans without clearer delineation of the dune and coastal bank. Commissioners suggested reducing the return length so the revetment can tie into the neighboring property’s proposed measures at 28 River Lane and urged clearer showing of construction access, equipment staging and dune limits. Wilson said the coir array proposal includes a plan for annual nourishment (about 30 cubic yards) and long‑term bird monitoring (a Mass Audubon contract) and that seasonal restrictions are likely if Mass Natural Heritage identifies shorebird issues.
After discussion, the commission voted to continue the matters to allow staff to obtain the Mass Natural Heritage response, updated plans showing exact dune/coastal bank limits, and clearer access/staging information. The applicant was told to provide revised plans and any additional alternatives analysis before the continued hearing.
