08/05/2019 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda Packet

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To: Wayne Taylor, Assistant Town Manager (wtaylor@mashpeema.gov) From: Patricia Colella and Paul Colella, vlashpee, MA Re: Seconsett Island beach parking and beach access Thank you for contacting us today about the August meeting of the Mashpee Selectman when the possibility of a Seconsett Island Rd. parking sticker was discussed. We will attend the August meeting and will notify neighbors of the meeting. Last weekend was a typical summer weekend with vehicles parked on the east side of the road across from the beach far beyond the no-parking signs. In addition, six vehicles were parked overnight. often weekend campers who go out to Washburn Island as well as parties who have moored boats in the Bay park alon-g the beach road park overnight and on weekends.,During the day times,there have been many additional cars parked therewith m_anyout,-of-state licenses and others with Falmouth beach stickers. As many moorings are issued to non- residents, boat owners are allowed free parking. Parking has become so limited on summer weekends-that Mashpee taxpayers and residents of Seconsett Island in particular are excluded from parking at the beach. .Likewise beach access has become increasingly limited for local residents.-The beach area is overcrowded, debris litters the small-beach, and small rafts and boats,despite the new signage, are often left on the sand and some are now,piled on top of each other on the rocks. one boat is actually tied to a tall pole set in a concrete base poured by a boat owner last summer.Safety is also an issue, as vehicles dropping off passengers, small boats, clamming equipment, beach chairs etc., crowd the narrow road and create hazardous driving conditions as vehicles travel much too fast along the causeway. Mashpee residents cannot park at the Falmouth Beach areas or lots, so it seems unfair that Falmouth residents (some merely a few hundred feet up the road) are able to park on the Mashpee roads and beach areas. The number of boat moorings has increased significantly in the past 2-3 years. Where in Falmouth, the mooring list wait is up to 5 years, in Mashpee the mooring have been handed out much more freely--a further significant impact on the marking and overuse of the beach. Just recently, we met someone in Falmouth who said he was coming to Mashpee (to Waquoit Bay) because it's easy to get a mooring there. These are a few"of the concerns that are affecting local residents as well as the environment on Seconsett Island. Thank you. Patricia and Paul Colella Mashpee, MA