Residents urge protection of Shoestring Bay access after Bay Ridge application withdrawn

The Mashpee Planning Board accepted a withdrawal without prejudice July 15 of a Bay Ridge Realty LLC subdivision petition that sought removal of an unbuilt private way at 28 and 34 Quaker Run Road, a move that prompted several nearby residents to tell the board they feared losing long-standing access to Shoestring Bay.

Town planner Brian (Town Planner) told the board he had received a written request—submitted on behalf of the applicant’s engineer Matthew Eddy—asking the board to accept the application’s withdrawal because of ambiguities about property rights. A board member made a motion to accept the withdrawal “without prejudice,” which the board approved by voice vote.

Local residents said the right-of-way has been used for decades for water access and fishing. Chris Sherman, who said he submitted written comments on behalf of a coalition representing 16 neighbors, argued the petition “appears to be predicated on legal title established through the derelict statute, which I would argue does not apply” because the area (Bayview Terrace) includes a dedicated road used for resident access to the water.

Connie Abare, who said she lives at 47 Quaker Run Road, described continued, generational use of the path and said recent site changes — lumber piles, gates and “no trespassing” signs — have impeded passage. “You can no longer walk up and down,” she said, adding that neighborhood families have historically placed docks and maintained access points. Sean Days, who said he has fished the area for 36 years, told the board he had been “kicked out” multiple times and that the waterfront is part of the community’s shared heritage.

The board and planner told residents that acceptance of the withdrawal closes the current hearing but does not preclude renewed review if the applicant returns. Planner Brian said that if the application is refiled, the town would request thorough title documentation (a certificate of title and comprehensive title search) to be sent to town counsel for review; he also encouraged a point of contact between residents and town staff to coordinate responses and ensure interested neighbors get notices.

The public record for the matter includes the hearing notice read under MGL c.41, §81W and a reference to section 174-25(18) of the Mashpee Zoning Bylaw in the plan materials. Residents and the planner said the town mails certified notice to abutters and property owners within 300 feet per state statute, but the planner acknowledged a small percentage of certified mailings sometimes get returned and encouraged people to contact the Planning Department to update assessor records.

Next steps: the applicant may refile with clarified title documentation; if that happens, the board said residents will have another opportunity to comment at public hearings.