In Plymouth, a group of people concerned with protecting the town’s natural resources, have sent a letter to the Conservation Commission.
The letter expresses fear that due to the composition of the Commission, protective wetland regulations that took years to develop, could be tossed out.
Bobbi Clark has more.
Frank Mand involved in composing the letter, is a Planning Board Member, a Charter Commission Member, and heads up the Pine Barrens Alliance:
“We’re concerned that some of the statements coming from the Conservation Commission suggest they’re going to throw out all the old regulations—a lot of people concerned with that for a variety of reasons, So we’d like to have an open discussion with members of the Commission, and our ad hoc committee, to come up with perhaps compromises that are reached after long discussions—not just simply the abolishment of the regulations,” said Mand.
The group is a suggesting a time frame:
“We think it would be reasonable to suggest that take three months–meet as often as we can to do this, rather than, again, rush to a completion or throw out these things immediately—as has been threatened.”
Mand says the group understands…
“… that some of the new commissioners, including the Chairman Mr. [Randy] Parker, are specifically concerned with, let’s say, bureaucracy —with some unnecessary delays, things that impact homeowners disproportionately,” said Mand. “We believe we can plan a compromise solution that perhaps makes these meeting and such more efficient but at the same time, does not throw the baby out with the bathwater—that we retain those regulations that protect our natural resources.”
The Commission meets tonight at 6:30 via Zoom. Go to the town’s website for information to join this meeting.
Below is a copy of the letter sent to the Conservation Commission.
To: Conservation Commission
From: Citizens Conservation Coalition
Re: A Request for a Collaborative Review of Commission Rules & Regulations
We are writing to you as individuals and organizations concerned with protecting Plymouth’s natural resources. Since you have volunteered to give your time and effort to address the protection of our wetlands as Commissioners, we are hoping you will see this letter as an offer of assistance and an opportunity to highlight the positive effects Wetland Regulations can have on the community.
Let’s be blunt: the dramatic change in the composition of the Commission and the suggestion that regulations that took four years to develop, review and ratify might be jettisoned wholesale concern us, and appear to be at odds with the growing awareness of the critical part our natural resources play in the long-term health and vitality of the community.
In the past year the Select Board has declared a climate emergency in Plymouth, a Climate Resiliency Planner has been hired in the Town Manager’s office, a two-year Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant was awarded by the Commonwealth, and a variety of other grants and initiatives aimed at protecting the species, habitat and biodiversity of this globally rare ecoregion have begun.
As those forward steps have been taken however, development pressures have only increased, cyanobacteria blooms are becoming commonplace, our coastal banks and beaches are threatened by increasingly destructive storms and even the availability of water from our ancient aquifer has come into question, making it even more important that there are regulations to protect these resources and that they are enforced.
At the same time, we acknowledge that many of the newly appointed Commissioners have other concerns including concerns with fairness, process and efficiency and, an overall sensitivity to the property owners who are subject to the regulations now under scrutiny.
We firmly believe that, though our focuses are different, we share a desire to maintain the quality of life that Plymouth offers all of its residents, and that our priorities can be attained without abandoning our principles.
Now that the wider community is aware of the importance of the Wetland Regulations and the role of the Conservation Commission, we are asking for the opportunity to have an open and extended discussion of those priorities, and how they can exist side by side for the benefit of the community.
In that spirit we request that the Commission commit to a three-month review of the existing regulations, beginning August 16 or at any other date thereafter, during which representatives from the Commission and our ad hoc committee can meet to review and refine the existing regulations.
Let’s surprise the cynics by finding common ground.
Respectfully,
Evelyn Strawn, former Chair, Conservation Commission
Bruce Howard, former Chair, Conservation Commission
Malcolm MacGregor, former Chair, Conservation Commission
Ann Lynch, former Chair, Open Space Committee
Sharl Heller, President, SEMass Pine Barrens Alliance
Glorianna Davenport, President, Living Observatory, Inc.
Linda Lancaster, Group Leader, South Shore & Cape Citizens Climate Lobby
Sustainable Plymouth
The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance
League of Women Voters of the Plymouth Area
Ken Tavares, former Selectperson
Matt Tavares, Precinct 2 Town Meeting Representative
Pat McCarthy, Precinct 18, Town Meeting Representative
Ann Pizer
Laurence R. Pizer
Kathryn Holmes
Diane Harting
Patricia Adelmann
Pam Harding
Birgitta E. Kuehne
Judy Savage
Connie Melahoures
Gordon Dunn
Kathy Dunn
David Buckman
Frimma Buckman
Bill Abbott
Dale Bryan
Frank Mand
Ginny Davis
Lois Post
