1988-1990-ZBA APPEALS (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOARD OF APPEALS Minutes - May 24, 1989 Page 2. • William E. Burtis, owner of Little River Boatyard, reviewed the history of the boatyard. It has been in existence since 1903 and the Burtis family purchased the property in 1978. He said he had repaired the bulkheads and renovated the docks and had always been conscious of the need for preserving the environment. He said he had an offer to sell the property to a developer who planned a private condominium project with private boat slips. The family decided to refuse the substantial offer and turn their efforts to modernizing and improving the boatyard. • *,I In 1986 he obtained a building permit for a rack storage system. He said the Burtis family members had discussed the project with the neighbors and there were no objections. Plans called for the removal of 11 cottages and 13 septic systems and have improved the water quality in the area. During the fourteen months of tearing down the cottages and rebuilding he had received only positive response from the neighbors. The removal of the cottages eliminated heavy water use from summer tenants and the problem of noise and heavy traffic from late parties. He said the marine impact of the rack system is also positive: 1. less chance of oil spills from bilges 2. less chance of boat sewage dumped overboad 3. less demand for moorings and docks 4. no leaching of bottom paint into the environment 5. less sunlight contact with fiberglass which means less harmful gases that would harm the ozone 6, less plastic used to cover boats 7. less chance of marsh damage due to broken moorings and boats washing up on the marshes 8. less congestion of the estuaries and the Bay due to too many moorings and docks. He explained that the.rack system was built to meet the needs of the people of Mashpee for more boat storage. The yard will be operated in summer from 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. A marine fork lift will lift and launch boats. He estimated that 75% of the tack will be used for winter storage only and the rest will be for in and out summer service. He said that traffic would not be increased and will be limited to working hours unlike the all-night traffic from the rental cottages formerly on the property. He presented a picture of the rack frame from the Enterprise as well as some photos he had taken from abutting property. He claimed the rack would not block views. He furnished the Board with a petition in favor of the permit signed by neighbors. Mr. Hanrahan asked for information on the yard capacity now and with the rack system. Mr. Burtis said he had a capacity of 104 boats now with storage on land and would be able to have 125.with the new rack. He said there was sufficient parking area.