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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence 5.28.2025 Jerolimo,Joseph From: DiRienzo,Brittany Sent: Wednesday,May 28,2025 3:27 PM To: Jerolimo,Joseph Subject: FW:Smugglers Beach,South Middle&Judan Way Beach Management Plans,Yarmouth Can you please print and file this? Regards, Brittany DiRienzo Conservation Administrator Town of Yarmouth bdirienzo@yarmouth.ma.us 508-398-2231 x1288 Conservation Website From:Whitehouse,Roby<RWhitehouse@yarmouth.ma.us> Sent:Wednesday,May 28,2025 2:14 PM To:Amy Ball<aball@horsleywitten.com>;DiRienzo,Brittany<BDiRienzo@yarmouth.ma.us> Subject:RE:Smugglers Beach,South Middle&Judan Way Beach Management Plans,Yarmouth Hi Amy and Brittany, I just had a brief conversation with MA Audubon Program Manager;Jamie Infanti she concurred with Brittany's comments and added a couple additional thoughts. I will be out of the office tomorrow to attend a family member funeral,but I plan to be in the office on Friday,in the event you would like me to participate in a conversation with Amy. Best wishes, Roby Yarmouth Beach Rules&Regulations-June 9,2009 1.1.Site Plan/Map:The Smugglers Beach Management Plan narrative identifies specific beach uses or activities at the site including but not limited to a)volleyball court b)shade structure(s)c)annual beach grass planting,etc.;however,the site plan/map(Attachment A of the Beach Management Plan)does not identify these features,dimensions,or locations.Please provide an updated site plan/figure. 2.2.Volleyball Area:In addition to the figure(s)requested above,please identify how this activity will be managed if state-listed species are in the vicinity of the volleyball court.This area is monitored by MA Audubon and if a nest is found in or near the volleyball area,nets will be removed,and fencing will be placed as recommended by Audubon monitors. 3.3.Beach Grass Plantings:Please provide additional details regarding the scope of American beachgrass plantings.Specifically,please clarify the location(s),planting density,and frequency of beach grass plantings at the site.Additionally,please clarify whether this occurs within the coastal dune or coastal beach and quantify the approximate the size of the area(s)planted per year.See Brittany's response 4. 4. Beach Operations: Please provide additional details regarding hours of operation and staffing, beach rules or regulations, entity responsible for compliance or enforcement of beach rules, commercial or venders on the beach (e.g., kiosks for equipment rentals, tours, etc.), and public and or private events (e.g., weddings, festivals, tournaments, fireworks, etc.). Providing a copy of the general rules see link below, having town staff and Audubon staff on site, along with a good process to keep all interested parties informed about events on beaches is key. Most recently, an event was requested at Seagull Beach for a rowing competition, all Divisions within Town offered comments to the requesting party and Audubon met with the party to create a site plan and the proposal was accepted,that event has subsequently been postponed for other reasons, but this great communication mechanism for applying for use of Town owned property is a great way to ensure all parties are included in the conversation, for weddings and other events. Having an adaptive management plan with open communication, is key to successfully having events on the beach. Audubon provides weekly reports to the Town that keep Town updated with status of nesting birds, and other concerns, these reports are shared with any interested parties.There are no equipment rentals on site, and boat landing regulations are in a separate location away from the beach area. Roby Whitehouse MCPPO She/Her (Here's ►►h► !) Assistant Public Works Director Town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts 74 Town Brook Road, West Yarmouth, MA 02673 Office: 508-775-2516 From:Amy Ball<aball@horsleywitten.com> Sent:Thursday, May 15, 2025 6:28 PM To: DiRienzo, Brittany<BDiRienzo@yarmouth.ma.us>; Whitehouse, Roby<RWhitehouse@yarmouth.ma.us> Subject: RE: Smugglers Beach, South Middle&Judan Way Beach Management Plans, Yarmouth Attention!:This email originates outside of the organization. Do not open attachments or click links unless you are sure this email is from a known sender and you know the content is safe. Call the sender to verify if unsure. Otherwise delete this email. Hi Brittany— Thank you for those additional details. My understanding was that plovers typically next between the primary dune and the water, but then I found this excerpt from the NHESP website: In Massachusetts, piping plovers nest on sandy, coastal beaches and dunes void of plants. They build nests in the narrow section of land between the high tide line and the foot of coastal dunes. Occasionally piping plovers will build nests on plant-covered or in eroded areas behind dunes. Roby—Once we have a good sense of our resopnses, I'd like to set up a call with Amy Hoenig. Thanks, Amy 2 Amy M. Ball, PWS, CWS Senior Associate- Ecology Office: 508-833-6600 xl 19 I Cell: 508-564-3119 From: DiRienzo, Brittany<BDiRienzo@yarmouth.ma.us> Sent:Thursday, May 15, 2025 1:42 PM To: Whitehouse, Roby<RWhitehouse@varmouth.ma.us> Cc:Amy Ball <aball@horsleywitten.com> Subject: RE: Smugglers Beach, South Middle &Judan Way Beach Management Plans, Yarmouth Hi Roby and Amy, Some additional info on the beach grass planting: if you are proposing planting on the dune crest and back slope they prefer 12-18" spacing(2 culms per hole, or plugs)and if the front slope of a dune, 36"spacing(2 culms per hole, or plugs with a time of year restriction between april1-aug 31.This info is from NHESP comment on a previously permitted project in plover territory. I would recommend keeping proposed planting in there with the above details on an as needed, annual basis for improved dune stability and costal resilience, or removing it for now if too big of a permitting hurdle. Perhaps the beach will be assessed for erosion (or damage from beachgoers) and no more than XXX area of BG planted in March annually if determined by natural resources, conservation, and DPW to be of significant concern. Volleyball-Audubon has been fencing past two years and never mentioned the courts, so they remain open and fencing is installed on the seaward side of that dune. All requests to use public property are reviewed by division heads for concerns and monitored by DNR if needed. Best, Brittany DiRienzo Conservation Administrator Town of Yarmouth bdirienzo@yarmouth.ma.us 508-398-2231 x1288 Conservation Website From: Whitehouse, Roby<RWhitehouse@yarmouth.ma.us> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 4:02 PM To: DiRienzo, Brittany<BDiRienzo@varmouth.ma.us> Cc: aball@horsleywitten.com Subject: RE: Smugglers Beach, South Middle &Judan Way Beach Management Plans, Yarmouth Hi Brittany, We are hopeful that we can be added to the June 5`h agenda, with any luck our responses will be satisfactory, and approval will be granted by Natural Heritage, if not we would need to delay again for the July 3rd meeting. Thank you for understanding, Roby Roby Whitehouse MCPPO She/Her (Here's why!) Assistant Public Works Director Town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts 74 Town Brook Road, West Yarmouth, MA 02673 Office: 508-775-2516 3 From: DiRienzo, Brittany <BDiRienzo@yarmouth.ma.us> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 10:40 AM To: Whitehouse, Roby <RWhitehouse@yarmouth.ma.us> Cc: aball@horsleywitten.com Subject: RE: Smugglers Beach, South Middle & Judan Way Beach Management Plans, Yarmouth Hi Roby, The next meetings are on June 5 or July 3, since Juneteenth cancels our second meeting in June. I was confused on that because id dint see anything in the proposed plans about beachgrass planting, but it is usually planted in March. Regards, Brittany DiRienzo Conservation Administrator Town of Yarmouth bdirienzo( yarmouth.ma.us 508-398-2231 x1288 Conservation Website From: Whitehouse, Roby <RWhitehouse@yarmouth.ma.us> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 10:11 AM To: DiRienzo, Brittany <BDiRienzo@yarmouth.ma.us> Cc: aball@horsleywitten.com Subject: RE: Smugglers Beach, South Middle & Judan Way Beach Management Plans, Yarmouth Hi Brittany, Thank you, I think that would be best. It may take some time to pull together the responses, as some of the information requested are regulated through divisions outside of Public Works. I sent a message to Natural Resources and Recreation last night in hopes they might have some information; Brittany do you have any knowledge of when beach grass is planted? In some cases, there may not be a specific plan (for example: Volleyball area management; Beach operations hours etc.) I doubt that will be an acceptable response. Roby Roby Whitehouse MCPPO She/Her (Here's why!). Assistant Public Works Director Town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts 74 Town Brook Road, West Yarmouth, MA 02673 Office: 508-775-2516 From: DiRienzo, Brittany <BDiRienzo@yarmouth.ma.us> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 10:00 AM To: Whitehouse, Roby <RWhitehouse@yarmouth.ma.us> Cc: aball@horsleywitten.com Subject: RE: Smugglers Beach, South Middle & Judan Way Beach Management Plans, Yarmouth Hello, 4 Would you like to request a continuance to provide the requested information?The commission won't be able to vote to issue the permit until NHESP completes their review. Thanks, Brittany DiRienzo Conservation Administrator Town of Yarmouth bdirienzo@yarmouth.ma.us 508-398-2231 x1288 Conservation Website From: Holt, Emily(FWE)<emily.holt@mass.gov> Sent:Tuesday, May 13, 2025 4:25 PM To: Whitehouse, Roby<RWhitehouse@yarmouth.ma.us>; DiRienzo, Brittany<BDiRienzo@yarmouth.ma.us> Cc: aball@horsleywitten.com; SERO_NOI (DEP) <sero noi@mass.gov>; Hoenig, Amy(FWE) <Amy.Hoenig@mass.gov> Subject:Smugglers Beach,South Middle &Judan Way Beach Management Plans,Yarmouth Attention!:This email originates outside of the organization. Do not open attachments or click links unless you are sure this email is from a known sender and you know the content is safe. Call the sender to verify if unsure. Otherwise delete this email. Please find attached the Division's comments on the submitted NOI/MESA filing. Please note you will also receive a notification from Heritage Hub and must submit the requested information via the Heritage Hub in order in initiate the review. Best, Emily Holt Endangered Species Review Assistant Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Massachusetts Division of Fisheries &Wildlife 1 Rabbit Hill Road,Westborough, MA 01581 p: (508) 389-6385 I f: (508) 389-7890 mass.gov/nhesp Important: Please use our updated MESA Project Review Checklist form,which is available at www.mass.gov/how-to/how-to_file-for-a-mesa-project-review. In addition, submittal of MESA Project Review Checklists and Information Requests is now available electronically via Heritage Hub. For more information and to create an account,visit:www.mass.gov/heritagehub. 5