The Harwich Conservation Commission paused a major residential pier and seawall project at 4 Millpoint Road this week, as concerns regarding microplastic pollution and crab predation on the Herring River dominated the session. Cole Baitman of Tighe & Bond presented the plan on behalf of Vincent Yakabonis, which includes dredging 92 cubic yards of material and installing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheet piles. Baitman noted that The proposed project entails the construction of a private water-dependent use recreational pier and floating dock system in the Herring River.

However, the board raised significant environmental questions regarding the materials and the site's ecology. Sophia Pilling scrutinized the durability of the proposed seawall components, asking, For the FRP sheet pile wall, is there any risk for degradation into microplastics? I would feel more comfortable with documentation on that. The proposal also involves salt marsh creation using encapsulated soil lifts, but members were skeptical of the design's longevity. Wayne Coulson remarked, My concern is the potential failure or longevity of stacking these bags. It's a unique situation.

Chair John Ketchum questioned the choice of fill material for the marsh bags, specifically how it might attract local pests. Regarding the crabs, if you fill the bags with muddy sand, which they like, isn't that a bigger risk than using clean sand? Ketchum asked, referring to the known Sasarma crab predation issues in the Herring River. Susan Cyr also pressed for more recent data on the local habitat, asking, The last shellfish survey was June 2024. Is that the baseline? To allow the applicant time to provide construction protocols and address the microplastic concerns, Motion Made by M. Coleman to continue this hearing until May 6, 2026. Motion Passed (5-0).

The commission also advanced regional policy discussions regarding the Cape Cod Commission’s draft Coastal Resilience Zone regulations. A primary point of debate was the substantial improvement threshold, which triggers stricter regulations if a project's cost exceeds 50% of a property's value. Conservation Agent Amy Usowski suggested the town could offer flexibility in how that value is calculated, noting, Typically, we suggest an appraisal because the value is higher than the town assessment. Vice Chair Mark Coleman pushed back on using private appraisals, stating, I would stick with the assessment. If the property is damaged, an appraisal is going to come in a lot lower.

In other business, the board approved a Request for Determination of Applicability for Strandway, following the submission of more detailed site data. Lesley Fields of the Woods Hole Group explained that the applicant added bulkhead, some decking, some riprap, salt marsh boundaries, and some vegetation edge of sedge to satisfy the board’s previous requests for clarification. Vivienne Mulhall-Maguire seconded the motion to approve the mapped boundaries. Motion Made by M. Coleman to approve a positive determination for numbers 1, 2, and 5. Motion Passed (5-0).

A hearing for Queen Acres LLC and Midcape Church Homes regarding wetland delineations on Queen Anne Road and Main Street was delayed due to administrative errors. The Conservation Agent informed the board that there were issues with their abutter notification, necessitating a postponement. Motion Made by S. Cyr to continue the hearing to May 6, 2026. Motion Passed (4-0).

Closing the meeting, Member Coulson reported on a visit to a local company producing topsoil with biochar and worm castings, highlighting it as a potential positive for town-wide nutrient management. Agent Usowski also confirmed that shorebird season is in full swing, with pairs of piping plovers spotted at Red River and Allen Harbor, alongside a bachelor piper currently holding territory at Red River.