HomeMy WebLinkAbout1664 Main Street - Agent Ed Hoopes commentsFrom: Karle, Darcy
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 1:12 PM
To: Cavanaugh, Kimberly
Subject: FW: 1664 Main St. Cotuit - Gomez & Cable
HI Kim,
Can you please add this to our file for the hearing.
Thank you
From: Hoopes, Edwin Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 12:48 PM To: Bill Hearn; ggillmore55@comcast.net; jabodeely@hotmail.com; larry.mariner@comcast.net; 'Louise Foster';
psampou@yahoo.com; Tom Lee (tlee@horsleywitten.com) Cc: Karle, Darcy; Assing, Emil; Cavanaugh, Kimberly Subject: 1664 Main St. Cotuit - Gomez & Cable
Good A ernoon Commissioners,
I just realized this NOI is before you this evening and I would like to make a few comments. The previous owners of this
property had a vista cu ng permit and maintained the area slated for restora on in the standard fashion (undula ng
height of the understory shrub layer and maintained at no less than 4’ above ground. The current owners bought the
property late in 2021 and was told by the former owner about the vista cu ng permit. The new homeowners however
hired a different landscaper to do the work and did not inform the Conserva on office prior to ini a ng the cu ng last
summer. As a result, the landscaper cut well below the 4’ minimum height requirement and a Commissioner informed me
of the cu ng in June of 2022. I sent a le er to the homeowner in June but never received a reply un l early September
2022. A er discussions with them, they had no idea they were required to no fy conserva on before cu ng or what the
condi ons of the permit were. I was set to send a Warning Le er this week to let the homeowners know they were going
to have to take a one-year break from any cu ng to allow the vegeta on to grow back (and before they could resume
vista cu ng, next year). That brings us to today when I saw the NOI for the restora on of the area that had the vista
cu ng permit.
First, I do not have an issue if they want to go this route with a restora on plan. A er years of cu ng under the vista
permit the cut vegeta on tends to get bushy and harder to manage. I like what they have proposed for the restora on
plan and support the plan ng they are proposing; HOWEVER, I think they need to add some more plan ng ’s to the
restora on. Certainly some smaller, understory trees/shrubs (10’-15’ ht) could be planted within the restora on area.
These smaller trees would grow to maximum ht and should be specifically designated as not to be cut under any vista
maintenance plan. The Commission strives to add vegeta ve height diversity wherever possible (it is the basis of the
undula ng pa ern of cu ng in all vista permits!). The plan as it is currently proposed removes all hint of height diversity
and replaces it with na ve plants that are only going to grow to a maximum of 3’. By adding a few taller shrub/trees that
are le untouched, it maintains the height diversity that is beneficial to wildlife and maintains the spirit of the vista view
(it is supposed to be a view, not a clear cut). I’ve discussed this with Darcy and she concurs. Again, I like the restora on of
this area, I just think it needs a li le more!
Ed Hoopes
Conserva on Agent
Town of Barnstable
230 South St.
Hyannis, MA 02601
508-862-4093 (main)
508-862-4042 (direct)