Letter to Eastham Jan 11 2021

Jacqui Beebe
Eastham Town Administrator Eastham, MA

Dear Jacqui,

Members of the Rock Harbor Alliance (RHA) met to review and discuss the new Harbormaster building design that was presented to the Capital Planning Committee on December 28, 2020. We would like to express our appreciation for the time and effort invested in the new design. The RHA views both the new design and the northward movement of the building as significant improvements and we look forward to continuing our engagement with the Town as the Town finalizes the new design and moves through the finance and approval processes.

As you work with the design, we ask that you consider decreasing the height of the building to the minimum requirement and include a FEMA and NHESP compliant enclosure that will limit access to the space underneath the building, prevent debris from washing or blowing under the building, and eliminate the concern of an eyesore beneath the building.

We believe that it is important to state (or perhaps restate) that our concern regarding development at Rock Harbor reaches far beyond the design, location, and cost of the Harbormaster building. We believe that most any development at Rock Harbor that is not germane to the operation of this small fishing harbor risks overburdening this resource area.

From the beginning, we have stressed the need to protect and preserve the natural environment and the beauty of Rock Harbor and the surrounding area. Rock Harbor is in a flood plain; the area regularly floods at higher tides; it is extremely vulnerable to storm surge; it is designated, along with Dyer Prince and Bridge Road, as a Priority Heritage Landscape by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and it is home to a Priority Species Habitat.

We continue to be hopeful that the Town may reconsider the wisdom of spending $1,3000,000 to build a Harbormaster office building to house three staff members in this tenuous environment. We will continue our partnership with the Town with the intent of being a positive influence on both current and future plans for Rock Harbor.

Sincerely,
The Rock Harbor Alliance

January 11, 2021