HomeMy WebLinkAboutAbutter Letter April 14, 2026April 14, 2026
Barnstable Conservation Commission
200 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Re: Hearing – April 14, 2026
Property: 536 Shootflying Hill Road, Centerville, MA
Dear Members of the Barnstable Conservation Commission,
We are writing regarding the above-referenced property and the hearing scheduled for April 14,
2026.
We understand that the property owners, Robert and Thomas Remmes, installed a brick paver
patio within 50 feet of Wequaquet Lake without first obtaining the required approval from the
Conservation Commission. This work was performed in a sensitive resource area, and the
permitting process exists specifically to prevent unreviewed impacts of this nature.
While we appreciate that a remediation plan has now been proposed, we have significant
concerns with the current approach—particularly as it relates to the proposed and already
installed plantings.
The applicants have already installed seven (7) green giant arborvitae’s that will grow 60’ tall
next to the patio area and their proposed remediation includes planting another 32 plants ranging
from 6’ to 12’ tall directly in the path of our view of Wequaquet Lake. This is a defining feature
of our property, and any planting around the patio or driveway will materially diminish both our
enjoyment of the property and its market value. As discussed during the last hearing (March 31,
2026) the applicants have the ability to install their mitigation planting on the East side of the
property that would not cause any abutter impacts.
We are deeply concerned that we are being unfairly and disproportionately impacted as a direct
result of the applicants’ failure to follow the required permitting process. Had the proper
approvals been sought prior to construction, these impacts could have been identified and
addressed in advance. As such, we respectfully request that the seven (7) green giant arborvitae’s
already installed be replaced with Emerald Green Arborvitae’s.
In addition, the current remediation plan should acknowledge the existing ten (10) foot wide
right-of-way (ROW) deeded path (Barnstable Deeds Plan Book 85, Page 7). The proposed
plantings appear to encroach upon, or conflict with, this deeded access area, where such
plantings cannot legally be installed.
Given the above, we respectfully request that the Commission:
1. Carefully review the impacts of both the installed and proposed arborvitae on abutting
properties;
2. Consider alternative remediation measures that restore compliance with Conservation
Commission requirements without causing undue harm to neighboring property owners.
We understand there is sufficient planting area on the East side of the property that would
achieve compliance without negatively impacting abutters across Shootflying Hill Road.
3. Replace the seven (7) Green Giant Arborvitae’s already installed adjacent to the patio
with Emerald Green Arborvitae’s, as these were planted without approval and create a
significant and unnecessary adverse impact on neighboring properties.
We fully support the Commission’s role in protecting Wequaquet Lake and ensuring compliance
with applicable regulations. However, remediation should not result in a neighboring property
owner bearing the burden of another party’s non-compliance.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Guy and Allison Tlapa
547 Shootflying Hill Road
781-983-3764
Lake Wequaquet
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Major Associates, Inc.All Rights
Reserved
TRE
IGS
ERE DPRO
FESSIONA
L E N GINEERSTTESUH
C ASSAMFOHTLAEWNOMMOCMICHAEL A.MALYNOWSKI
No. 47269 CIVIL 04-07-20
2
6REGISTERED
LANDSC A P E ARCHITECTMA S S
A
C
HUSE
T T SJacqu e
l i n
10' tall
Relocate to East
side of property
12' tall
Relocate to East
side of property
6' tall
Relocate to East
side of property
Replace with Emerald
Green Arborvitae
View from ROW Deed Path to 547 Shootflying Hill Road
Any
Planting in
this area will
negatively
impacting
abutters
across
Shootflying
Hill Road
These new
arborvitae next to
the patio already
obstruct abutters
views and they
will grow to 60' tall
View from 547 Shootflying Hill Road