Dear Editor:
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 pm at the Old Hammondtown School. The hearing will consider public comments about the large pier proposed for a private home at 3 Goodspeed Island. The proposed pier will be a 290-foot long pile-supported structure with a floating dock and 75-foot long wave attenuator structure at the southern end. The design will allow slips for one to two boats in 30 inches of water at mean low tide. Complete plans for the pier can be viewed at the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission office at Town Hall.
More than 200 citizens have formed the Friends of Mattapoisett Harbor to oppose the pier as presently designed. We believe the proposed pier is far too large for the proposed site, and will create environmental harm as well as limit the rights of the public to use the waters, bottom and shoreline of inner Mattapoisett Harbor. We have prepared a fact sheet about the pier; to receive a copy, please send an email to goodspeedislandpier@comcast.net or write to us at P.O. Box 817, Mattapoisett, 02739.
We urge everyone who enjoys the harbor and shoreline to learn about the proposed pier and attend the hearing on March 5.
Mike Huguenin
Friends of Mattapoisett Harbor
The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.
I will be unable to attend the meeting this week but want to express my support to the Friends of Mattapoisett Harbor who are clearly working hard on behalf of so many residents who totally oppose this project. And a big Thank You to Bob Moore who so perfectly articulated the reasons so many of us cherish the rare gift we have in Goodspeed Island and adjacent harbor area!