Bob Perry presented a revised plan for the reconstruction project of the pier, platform, ramp, and float, which had previously raised concerns due to its potential impact on shellfish habitat. After careful review and modifications to the plan to address these concerns, the commission voted in favor of the project, attaching special conditions to ensure the protection of the local environment. This project stood out due to its scale and sensitivity of the location.

Another discussion revolved around an enforcement case on Mariners Lane, where unpermitted vegetation removal within a bordering vegetated wetland was brought to the commission’s attention. The property owners’ representative explained that the work carried out in December 2023 was not intended to violate regulations but was an effort to clean up debris and invasive species. The commission debated the severity of the violation and discussed the need for a restoration plan, with some members suggesting that a wetland specialist should be involved in creating the plan. The property owners’ representative expressed a desire to work with the commission to rectify the situation and avoid an appeal to the Barnstable Superior Court.

Enforcement hearings were a reoccurring theme, highlighting the commission’s enforcement role in upholding environmental laws. In addition to the Mariners Lane case, the commission addressed an unpermitted deck construction on Southshore Drive, where the homeowner explained that the deck was a replacement for one destroyed in a storm. The commission required an after-the-fact filing with a stamped plan showing the deck’s dimensions. A separate case on Horse Pond Road involved unpermitted shed construction and tree removal. The commission raised concerns about the structures’ proximity to the pond and the size of the new shed.

The commission also reviewed a project on Baxter Avenue, where a single-family dwelling was to be raised and replaced. The majority of the new dwelling was to be located outside the 100-foot buffer zone of a vegetated wetland and coastal bank, and the septic system would remain in its current location. A neighbor expressed support, and the commission approved the project with special conditions.

The Girl Scouts’ initiative to install bat boxes was well-received, with the commission expressing interest in the project’s environmental benefits, such as natural pest control. The troop’s dedication to enhancing local ecosystems was acknowledged as a positive community contribution.

Other items on the agenda, deemed less urgent, were continued to future meetings. These included discussions on a proposed detached garage with living space within land subject to Coastal Storm Flowage, beach raking, and management, as well as a project to restore a collapsed pipe aimed at providing overflow during significant storms. The commission stressed the importance of designs that consider climate change impacts and the safety of neighboring properties.