Preserving Public Access To Beaches and Landings During the Peak Season (8/16/18)

The Town of Brewster Coastal Committee has prepared a discussion paper on Preserving Public Access To Beaches and Landings During the Peak Season, one of a series designed to highlight management issues that will be addressed in the Brewster Coastal Resource Management Plan. The paper will be presented at a community workshop at 6 pm on August 16th at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, to engage stakeholders in discussing management issues and trends, and evaluating potential strategies and action items.

Each paper discusses current conditions and future trends, and explores a range of potential management strategies and actions. Proposed strategies and actions could encompass physical improvements, policies and regulations, management practices, technical studies/analyses, or communications measures.

This paper addresses peak season shoreline access for resident and visitors. Specific measures for enhancing beach access opportunities are identified and explored. Management actions explored include regulations, operational or management of facilities, and physical improvements.

The White Papers and other related documents are located on the Town’s web page.

Public Presentation and Work Session for Millstone Road 8/16/18

The Town of Brewster Department of Public Works is working with our consultant, VHB to evaluate a redesign of Millstone Road to allow for greater pedestrian and bicycle use. Meeting will be held Thursday August 16th at 7:00pm at Town Hall, 2198 Main Street, Meeting Room B

Please join us. Citizen input is greatly encouraged and appreciated.

A presentation on the project is available in PDF format.

Agenda:

Millstone Road Public Meeting #1 - Agenda

1. Project status presentation
2. Questions and answers on presentation
3. Working session - survey roll plans
   a. Members of the Town and VHB will collect comments on various aspects of the roadway b. Samples of topics where comments are sought include
   i. safety concerns
   ii. areas of high pedestrian and/or bicycle usage
   iii. property specific information for consideration in the re-design of the roadway

Planning Board Public Listening Session Wednesday August 22, 2018

On Wednesday August 22nd at 6:30pm at Town Hall, the Planning Board will hold a public listening session to hear community input on a proposed new Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw. This is part of the process as they make revisions and decisions on the draft bylaw. 

Brewster residents are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on this potential zoning bylaw amendment.

Please note, after the Planning Board makes a specific recommendation for a zoning article for the Town Warrant, a Public Hearing will be scheduled. This August 22nd listening session is an opportunity for the Planning Board to receive input from the community before completing the draft bylaw.

Fall Town Meeting Moved to Dec. 3, 2018

Please note that the Select Board has voted to move the date for the Fall Town Meeting, originally scheduled for October, to December 3, 2018.

Barnstable County Farm Lease Opportunity

Parties interested in farming may submit bids to lease sections, or the entirety, of the Barnstable County Farm on Route 6A in Barnstable Village. The County has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for those wishing to lease areas that include pasture, vegetable/fruit production sections, and greenhouses.

Information about the farm and lease process is available at the County website:

• Go to: www.barnstablecounty.org.
• Click on “Purchasing,” then “Bids & Proposals,” and scroll down to “Lease of County Farm.”
• Parties will need to register with the website to proceed to the RFP, maps, and other information.

The deadline for proposals is September 6, 2018 at 11AM, and farm parcels will be available in February 2019. A lease agreement will be executed between the successful applicant and the County Commissioners after approval by the Assembly of Delegates. (Mary Chaffee, Brewster Delegate, Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates)

Be WELL Informed Tool

MassDEP is pleased to announce the release of the Massachusetts version of the U.S. EPA online tool called “Be Well Informed” (BWI). This tool allows private well-owners to anonymously compare their lab results to state or federal standards or guidelines that exist for public drinking water. The tool also provides information about any potential health risks, and known water treatment options available to homeowners.

The BWI tool may be obtained at the following EPA web page: https://www.e-enterprise.gov/eenterprise-new

1. From here, select “browse as guest” at top right side of web page.
2. Agree to the “conditions of use”.
3. The Be Well Informed tool is at the top left side of the next web page.
4. Open the dropdown menu arrow in the box labeled “Select a State/Tribe” and select “Massachusetts”, then click on the “check your water” box.
5. A data entry page will open for the entry of water quality results.
6. There is also a “State/Tribe Resources” menu item at the top of the data entry page where you may obtain links to information that is relevant to private well owners from MassDEP, MADPH, EPA, and other entities.

The Water Quantity section of MassDEP’s Private Well Guidelines has been updated and is available at: https://www.mass.gov/media/1514836

An updated version of the Model BOH Regulation for Private Wells is available at: https://www.mass.gov/media/1238521

If you have any questions about the Massachusetts version of the BWI tool or the guidelines and model regulations please contact the MassDEP Drinking Water Program at program.director-dwp@mass.gov or Joe Cerutti at joseph.cerutti@state.ma.us or 617-292-5859.