HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment from S Connolly1
Ziino, Genevey
From:Sue Connolly <skhconnolly@yahoo.com>
Sent:Saturday, February 21, 2026 9:37 AM
To:Ziino, Genevey
Subject:Centerville Cove - Flow Neutral, Emergency Services, Traffic impacts
Dear Genna - Would you be able to forward to the board? Or let me know the best way to do that? Thank
you!
Dear Members of the Zoning Board,
I am writing regarding the proposed Centerville Cove development on Great Marsh Road by Michael
Eaton.
Flow Neutral - The Town of Barnstable adopted its Flow Neutral policy so it could qualify for 0% sewer
financing from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The idea is straightforward: total wastewater flow
in the sewer service area cannot increase beyond the benchmark set in the Comprehensive Wastewater
Management Plan.
At its core, this is simple math. If a project adds wastewater — more units, more bathrooms, more
gallons per day — then something equal has to come out somewhere else. If nothing is being removed or
permanently reduced, then the system flow goes up. That is not flow neutral.
I also agree completely with the Board member who stated that the claimed nitrogen reduction was a
farce. The pending public sewering project will reduce nitrogen levels regardless of this development.
That reduction is the result of taxpayer-funded infras tructure, not this private proposal. It cannot be used
to justify adding a significant new volume of wastewater.
Flow Neutral is about total gallons entering the system — not just nitrogen concentration. If this project
increases overall wastewater volume and does not provide a real, enforceable offset that removes an
equal amount of flow elsewhere, then it does not meet the Town’s policy.
The burden is on the applicant to clearly and simply show, with real numbers, that the net result is zero
increase. If that cannot be demonstrated, then the project should not move forward. Adding flow without
removing flow is not neutral.
Emergency Services - Additional housing units mean additional residents, additional calls for service,
and increased demand on the Fire Department. That is simply a reality of growth. Before this project
moves forward, the applicant should be required — at his expense — to provide a clear, independent
analysis of how the development will affect response times, staffing needs, roadway access, and water
supply for fire suppression.
If upgrades are necessary — whether wider access lanes, improved hydrant capacity, enhanced on-site
fire suppression systems, or other infrastructure improvements — those costs should be borne by the
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project, not shifted to taxpayers. If the Fire Chief determines that additional staffing or equipment will be
required because of this development, that impact should be addressed up front as part of the approval
process.
Public safety is not a secondary issue. It is a core responsibility of the Town. Development should not
move ahead unless it can be shown, clearly and in writing from the Fire Chief, that emergency access,
fire flow, and staffing capacity are adequate to protect both current residents and future occupants of
the project.
Traffic -Summer-only traffic data does not capture operation impacts during the school year when bus
activity and commuter patterns differ. A full study should address these conditions so the Board can
evaluate true year-round effects. Again at the developers expense.
The core message here is that growth is not free - if a project increases wastewater, traffic, and demand
on emergency service, the project must internalize the cost - not tax payers.
Thank you for your time and dedication to our beautiful, unique treasured Barnstable.
Respectfully,
Sue Connolly
Centerville