HomeMy WebLinkAboutNarrative 7.14.202607-14-2026
To: The Town of Yarmouth Conservation Commission
From: Frank & Diane Puzio, 83 Thacher Shore Road, and Lori & Richard Olsen, 89 Thacher Shore Road
Re. Vista pruning maintenance, location on map, 122.5
History: Since the 1940s, this vista has been maintained for all to enjoy as you see it today. It was
originally listed as one of Yarmouth's official Cape Cod Bay vistas. The land was originally donated to the
Town of Yarmouth by the Thacher family. At a conservation commission hearing on June 71h, 2012,
supported by scores of neighbors, permission was granted by the Yarmouth Conservation Commission
for the Puzio's and the Olsen's to twice yearly, although we have only done it once yearly, to hire a
professional arborist to vista prune according to the Town of Yarmouth vista pruning guidelines. An on -
site visit took place on June 15t'', 2012 between the Town of Yarmouth's conservation commissioner, Kerry
Muldoon, and the company we hired, the Save -a -Tree company. That process has consistently been
performed by the same company, under the direction of their professional arborist once annually since
then. Town guidelines have now changed. In 2012, the town's vista pruning guidelines stated, that once
work was completed, it could be maintained in a consistent manner over time. Guidelines now require
vista pruning projects to be renewed every three years. As such, we are completing all required
paperwork and will present our application to continue with vista maintenance as it has been done
previously with conservation commission permission since 2012.
Proposal
1. We do not expect to perform any vista maintenance more than once yearly in a mid -summer
timeframe. We were originally instructed to maintain the hedge and vine understory bordering the
mowed grass area to a height of no less than seven feet, although it has been more like nine feet.
The trimming will be at varied heights, done by bonded and insured arborist professionals in a
fashion to mimic, as best as possible, natural growth. Cuttings will be removed from the site. No
pruning will be done to push back the hedge facing the north beyond the grassy area. When
possible, the work will be done by one person in a bucket truck to avoid causing any unnecessary
disturbance to the understory, and no work will be done in the wetland beyond the hedge.
2. The area on the east, immediately to the right of the grassy area, develops an overgrowth of thick
vines that threaten contained trees. That area will be maintained to limit invasive vines to the edge
of the grass area. All clippings will be removed.
3. Originally, we were given permission to cut branches no more than 4" diameter, although, not
much of that work is required going forward. Our arborist is aware of the new 30% canopy
regulations and all of the other vista pruning regulations.
4. On the west side of the grassy area, originally, we were given permission to keep any pruning
efforts to the limit of the stone wall, exposing the wall. That effort will continue as before.
5. No chemicals of any kind witl be used to maintain this vista.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank and Diane Puzio, Lori and Richard Olsen