HomeMy WebLinkAboutAbutter Comment Heraghty 8.2.20251
August 2, 2025
Yarmouth Conservation Commission
Town Hall
1146 Route 28
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
To the Chairman and Commissioners,
Thank you for providing our family with this platform to put forward our concerns regarding
the project outlined under SE83-2492.
Our family home is located less than 100 feet directly across from 88 Mill Lane on the
Water Street side. For more context, our home gives a full view of the barn structure and
the entrance gate to the property.
Farming runs in our family. Both of our family lines come from farming families. Our
parents were born and raised working on family farms in Ireland before they came to this
country. We often visited these farms on our return trips. These farms operated in farming
communities, outside of residential areas. 88 Mill Lane is in a residential community, and it
is not a suitable location for a commercial farm of this size and scale.
We are writing to express our flrm opposition to the proposed development of a goat farm
on 88/100 Mill Lane, which adjoins protected wetland conservation land. We believe this
proposal, due to its proximity to sensitive ecological resources, poses a threat to the
wetland area in question. Speciflcally, our areas of concern are prioritized below:
Wetland Ecosystem
• Nutrient Runoff and Water Quality Degradation: Goats produce substantial amounts
of manure, which can lead to elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in nearby
water bodies. Even with the best management practices, runoff from grazing areas
and manure storage can seep into the wetlands—threatening aquatic life,
promoting algal blooms, and undermining water quality.
• Soil Erosion and Sedimentation: Goats are known browsers and can quickly strip
away vegetation, particularly near fences and watering sources. This increases the
likelihood of soil erosion, especially during heavy rain, leading to increased
sedimentation in wetland areas and restricting aquatic habitats.
2
• Disturbance to Hydrology: sheds and fencing can alter natural drainage patterns.
Wetlands are sensitive to changes in hydrology; even minor disruptions can have
outsized effects, potentially drying out some areas or increasing fiooding in others.
o The plan cites infrastructure changes to the barn, introducing fencing to the
pasture areas surrounding it, all within approximately 200 feet of Mill Pond
and Mill Creek. As mentioned by many of those opposed to the project, the
plan to support 30-plus goats (and 2 donkeys) presents a clear drainage
threat to shell fishing in Mill Pond and Mill Creek.
Wildlife
The presence of a goat farm introduces several areas of harm:
• Fencing impedes the movement of species that rely on uninterrupted stretches of
habitat for breeding, feeding, and migration.
• Additionally, goat farms can attract coyotes, foxes, and other predators, which may
disrupt existing wildlife balances.
• Livestock-Wildlife Disease Transmission: Goats are susceptible to and can transmit
diseases such as Johne's disease or cryptosporidiosis, which could infect local
wildlife populations.
Quality of Life Considerations
The introduction of the proposed goat farm abutting wetland conservation land not only
adversely affects the abutters, but also the broader Yarmouth Port neighborhood:
• Odor and Air Quality: Even small-scale goat farms produce signiflcant odors,
especially during the warm summer months, which will diminish the enjoyment of
neighboring properties and public roads used by walkers, runners, and cyclists.
• Noise Pollution: The sounds associated with livestock—bleating, feeding
equipment, and increased vehicular traffic—are incompatible with the tranquility
that the conservation area currently provides to the neighborhood.
3
Unclear Commercial Operations
• Thirty or more goats and two donkeys are cited in the initial phase of the plan. There
is no information provided as to herd expansion over the 3-year plan.
• Creamery & dairy operations. There is little to no concrete information provided as
to the size and scale of the operation in any of the phases mentioned in the 3-year
plan.
As we are all aware, wetlands are among the most productive and ecologically valuable
resources we have. When viewed through the lens of conservation and legal precedent,
wetland conservation land is often protected by legal agreements to restrict development
and activities that could impair the land's natural values.
Several legal concerns have been raised by my neighbors, who have cited sections of the
Wetlands Protection Act, EPA regulations, and Yarmouth's own bylaws, among other
reasons. We would also add that allowing high-impact use, such as the goat farm
presented in this proposal, is too close to protected acreage and may run counter to the
letter of these restrictions.
Our neighborhood and its roadways have evolved over time, and they are now designed for
residential use. Furthermore, the proposed project is not compatible with a commercial
enterprise of this scale.
The applicant states in their Notice of Intent (NOI) that the property can remain ("as is"),
which is more aligned with the expectation of a residential neighborhood. We ask the
Commission to evaluate all of our neighbors' concerns and deny this application.
Sincerely,
Michael and Kathy Heraghty