Sconset beach preservation project advances to ConCom for next step
The Board of Selectmen last night voted 4-1 to sign the Notice of Intent for the Sconset Beach Nourishment Project which will allow the proponents to proceed with the permitting process at Conservation Commission.
As a property owner within the project area, the town had to give its permission to allow the Conservation Commission review to begin, and the board approved a motion last night that contained five conditions drafted by Town Counsel Paul DeRensis to protect the town’s rights as the project moves forward.
The Sconset Beach Preservation Fund (SBPF) has proposed the ambitious project to dredge 2.6 million cubic yards of sand from the western edge of Bass Rip Shoal, located about two miles off Sankaty Head, and dump it along the foot of Sconset Bluff in order save homes from coastal erosion.
“The Board of Selectmen and the Land Bank could at any time pull the plug if they’re not satisfied with what’s going on,” chairman Whitey Willauer said. Only Selectman Catherine Flanagan Stover voted against the motion to sign the Notice of Intent, and said she wanted the town’s consultant to have more time to review the project.
The board must still sign off on the proponent’s application for a Chapter 91 waterways license, and will also have to give its written approval for the project to proceed on municipal property.
The selectmen also approved a $32,000 contract last night with Applied Technology & Management, of Gainsville, Fla., to be its consultant on the project. The company, which also has an office in Newport, RI, was endorsed by a five-person bid review group that included Selectmen Michael Kopko and Whitey Willauer, town biologist Keith Conant, projects administrator Diane O’Neil and beach manager Jeff Carlson.
The contract provides for the company to issue its report and address all the public concerns about the project by April 13.
The $32,000 will be funded by SBPF.
On Tuesday, the Land Bank, another property owner within the project site, voted to sign the Notice of Intent, but held back on SBPF’s request to sign the state’s Chapter 91 Waterways application.
The Land Bank owns two parcels near Codfish Park and the Town owns most of the 3 mile stretch of beach which will be affected by the $23-million SBPF beach nourishment project . Both boards are required sign the applications for SBPF to enter the local and state permitting process as the Land Bank and the Town are listed among the property owners affected by the plan, which is one of the largest public beach nourishment projects funded by private money in New England.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners decided to take their lead from the selectmen when entering the state’s Chapter. 91 permitting process after the two boards met in executive session.
“It sounds like after discussions with the selectmen, we’ll hold off signing the Chapter. 91 application pending what the selectmen are doing,” said Eric Savetsky, Land Bank executive director.
At the beginning of the joint meeting, selectmen chairman Whitey Willauer announced the two boards would be going into executive session to discuss the terms of signing off on the Chapter. 91 license. The Town’s attorney, Paul DeRensis, outlined terms of the agreement, which were not disclosed to the public.
During the public session of the meeting, William Hunter, attorney for SBPF, said, “We’re not going to negotiate the NOI with individual homeowners who want to control the project. At the end of the public hearing process, if the home owner is not happy, he can refuse work to be done on his property.”
“The Coast Guard is more than happy to have us go forward,” said Hunter. “ North of the Coast Guard, we are in discussion with property owners about One Big Beach. Between the Coast Guard and Codfish Park, the Town of Nantucket will benefit and the two Land Bank properties as well.”
The commissioners will sign the NOI for the Conservation Commission stipulating that signing the application does not mean they agree to or authorize the project.
“We urge the public go to the Conservation Commission hearings,” said Land Bank chairman Ken Holdgate. “We aren’t in a position to do anything, but to allow them to file an application and to have a public forum to ask questions. We are not in favor or against the project.”