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Consultants present Ocean Street vulnerability assessment, pledge July report
Summary
Consultants from Fuss & O'Neal told the Select Board that Phase 1 of the Ocean Street project produced a localized vulnerability assessment, flood modeling and community workshops; a preliminary concept and final report are expected in July and will note regulatory constraints and recommended next steps.
Consultants from Fuss & O'Neal outlined Phase 1 of the Ocean Street coastal vulnerability planning effort on Ocean Street and nearby White and Black Beach, saying the area has sustained repeated flooding, dune erosion and roadway impacts.
Alex Maxwell, principal planner with Fusten O'Neal, described the technical work done over winter and spring: centerline and coastal resource surveys, tide‑gauge deployments and localized flood mapping to project conditions for planning horizons around 2030, 2050 and 2070. "This work really helped kind of lay the foundation for the scientific underpinnings behind the project," Maxwell said.
Ariel Sasser, project manager, summarized public outreach: a site walk and a pin‑up session on June 1–2 that drew strong turnout and produced community feedback on alternative concepts ranging from modest repairs to more transformative roadway reconfigurations and beach nourishment options. The team pinned up sketches showing different parking configurations, dune concepts and roadway layouts to gather reactions.
Board members and residents asked detailed questions during a follow‑up Q&A about what will appear in the consultants' July deliverable. Maxwell said the preliminary concept will explicitly note regulatory considerations — for example, permitting constraints for seawall repairs, culvert replacement, beach nourishment and road‑raising — and will include recommended phasing and suggestions for follow‑up fieldwork, including a structural assessment of seawalls and culverts that the Town may want to commission.
Residents also asked the team to report and address a privately funded due‑diligence analysis prepared by Weston & Samson; Maxwell confirmed the consultants received that report and will address relevant items in the final documentation. Several attendees urged the town to prioritize options that keep Ocean Street two‑way where feasible; consultants said they heard that preference and will evaluate both preservation‑oriented fixes and more substantial adaptations.
The team said the technical analysis used the Massachusetts Coast Flood Risk Model (MCFRM) and probabilistic sea‑level and storm surge scenarios. Maxwell cautioned that projections grow more uncertain farther into the century but said the modeling helps identify where near‑term vulnerabilities are likely to occur.
The consultants will post scanned sketches and the slide deck on the project engagement page and provide static copies for the town website. A more in‑depth presentation of findings and a formal report are expected in July; town staff and consultants said the final report will outline possible funding pathways, permitting considerations and recommended next steps for design and implementation.
