Guidelines for Walkways and Stairways in Fresh and Marine Resource Areas in Pleasant Bay

 

The guidelines are intended for use by local conservation commissions and boards of appeal/planning boards in the review of permit applications for walkways or stairways over marine or freshwater wetland resources.  The guidelines provide a framework for permitting walkways and stairways that can be implemented through changes in local regulations governing the structures, and also raise issues for consideration in the application of such bylaws and regulations.  It should be noted that the guidelines were developed for the Pleasant Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) study area, and it is up to the discretion of each town to apply policies or adopt regulations on a broader basis.

 

A Shoreline Structures Work Group convened by the Alliance developed the guidelines.  Work group members included representatives from the Orleans, Chatham and Harwich Conservation Commissions, the Chatham Planning and Coastal Resources Departments, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, WHOI/SeaGrant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. The work group met over more than a year to identify issues, review current regulations, and develop standards for application within the Pleasant Bay ACEC.  Draft guidelines were submitted for public comment to local conservation commissions, planning boards, state environmental agencies, engineers and attorneys.  Comments received during that process have been incorporated in the guidelines. 

 

The extraordinary system of marshes is perhaps the most unique and significant wetland resource within the Pleasant Bay study area.  The Pleasant Bay Resource Management Plan notes the importance of marsh resources to the Pleasant Bay ecosystem and the need to manage human impacts to protect them.  Among the human impact issues highlighted in the plan is the development of walkways to provide access over or through marshes and other marine resource areas.  The plan recommends that performance standards and design criteria be developed for construction of marsh walkways and related structures to minimize impacts on tidal marshes.

 

The Alliance would like to thank members of the work group who participated in the development of the guidelines, and the businesses, citizens and local officials who offered their comments and suggestions.

 

 

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Download the Guidelines for Walkways and Stairways in Fresh and Marine Resource Areas in Pleasant Bay in PDF format.