HomeMy WebLinkAboutNarrative 6.4.2026Request for Determination of Applicability
20 Perch Pond Way
Yarmouth Port, MA
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The project located at 20 Perch Pond Way, (the Site) in Yarmouth Port involves a proposed
addition to the southern face of an existing single-family dwelling over existing lawn and
landscaping, within the outer 100-foot Buffer Zone to the Bank of Perch Pond. This
application is submitted in accordance with the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act
(WPA) and the Town of Yarmouth Wetlands Protection By-law (Yarmouth By-law).
2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION
The Site consists of a single-family dwelling bordered by other single-family dwellings to the
east and west. The Site is also bordered by forested areas and by Perch Pond to the south.
The wetland resource areas and areas of conservation jurisdiction on the Site that are
protected under the Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Yarmouth's Wetland
Protection By-law include the locally regulated 35-foot Buffer Zone, the 100-foot Buffer
Zone to Inland Bank, and Inland Bank associated with Perch Pond. A portion of the Site is
within NHESP Priority Habitat 337 (PH). The Site is outside of all other jurisdictional resource
areas and associated buffer zones.
3.0 PROJECT ACTIVITIES
The project involves an addition to the southern face of the dwelling, totaling in 176 square
feet (sf) of structure. The proposed addition will be located over an area which is currently
occupied by a lawn and landscaping surrounding the dwelling. This portion of the site is
located within the outer limit of the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Inland Bank and within NHESP
PH. This portion of the buffer zone is developed, while the majority of the Buffer Zone on the
slope above Perch Pond is forested. The required excavation, which will be minor, will be
limited to the footprint of the addition and no areas of natural vegetation will be removed in
association with this work or to provide construction access to the work area.
Project activities may be considered Minor Activities within Buffer Zone under the WPA, 310
CMR 10.02(2)(b.)(1), because the activities are solely within buffer zone, work will be
conducted in a manner that will reduce the potential for any adverse impacts to the resource
area during construction, and all disturbed areas will be restored and stabilized following
construction. Additionally, the Project is exempt from filing an application under
Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) because the project involves the
activities/complies with the associated restrictions listed under, 321 CMR 10.14(4), which
covers "the maintenance, repair, or replacement, or additions… for an existing single family
or two family home within existing paved and lawfully developed and maintained lawns or
landscaped areas, provided there is no expansion of such existing paved, lawn and
landscaped areas". No mapped NHESP Estimated Habitat is located on the Site.
The proposed construction schedule will likely follow typical procedures for additions to
dwellings. Access will be gained from Perch Pond Way and the existing driveway. Sediment
controls will be installed at the limits of work around the Site. Temporarily staged materials
will be kept outside of resource areas and buffer zones. Roll-off containers will be positioned
in driveway/northern lawn areas, which will be used to temporarily store construction
debris. Various construction machinery which may include a skid steer, backhoe, etc will be
Request for Determination of Applicability
20 Perch Pond Way
Yarmouth Port, MA
employed. The addition construction work will occur, followed by various restoration and
landscaping activities. Any rutting will be buffed and/or filled with clean fill, loamed, and
seeded with grass seed. Once the Site reaches appropriate levels of stabilization, the
sediment controls will be removed from the Site.
4.0 MITIGATION
The proposed project has been designed to reduce impacts to jurisdictional resource areas
to the greatest extent practicable. A line of staked straw wattles and/or silt fence will be
installed at the limit of work prior to the start of project activities. These controls will remain
in place and in operational condition until final site stabilization is complete. All construction
materials will be staged as far from resource areas as possible. All debris from the removal
of various structures, landscaping components, and various construction materials will be
contained within an appropriate receptacle (roll-off containers or similar) and/or
immediately removed from the Site.
No changes to existing site grades or removal of native vegetation will result from the
proposed work. Although the proposed work will occupy additional area within the outer
Buffer Zone to Inland Bank, the structure will be built over developed areas adjacent to the
dwelling and should not result in significant alteration to the condition of the buffer zone or
the habitat surrounding Perch Pond. Therefore, it is not anticipated that the proposed
addition and expanded deck will have significant negative impacts on jurisdictional resource
areas and their associated buffer zones.