Buckley project draws neighbor concern over shrub removal and commission conditions for dock and tree mitigation

Bill Cawley of Cawley Site Services and landscape designer Elaine Johnson presented the Buckleys’ notice of intent on July 22 for work at 32 Surrey Lane in East Falmouth: a reconstructed dock and ramp, a proposed seaward retaining wall, patio replacement in the same footprint, two dry wells to capture roof runoff, and mitigation plantings totaling roughly 230–240 square feet.

Cawley said the patio would be reconstructed with granite or similar material, that a small amount of fill (a maximum of 15 cubic yards) would level a sitting area behind a proposed wall, and that two new dry wells would reduce runoff to the bordering vegetated wetland (BVW). He said the dock vendor’s ramp sections are modular and that adding two sections would likely keep the walkway out of the wetland.

Neighbors raised concerns about removing five well‑established shrubs near the garage and replacing them with ‘‘Cape Cod lawn’’ in a shaded area near the house. The neighbor warned that those shrubs were intentionally planted as a border and that turf may not grow in the shade. Joseph Buckley, promoted into the hearing by staff, said the shrubs are in poor condition, that removing two large trees (a permitted 20‑inch pine and a proposed 24‑inch oak) will increase sunlight in the area, and that he prefers a cleaner access and flexible modular dock (he said he has two sets of wheels to move the dock depending on water levels).

Staff (Alyssa) and commissioners discussed mitigation accounting: Cawley said mitigation calculation focused on the wall (3:1 ratio for 62.8 sq ft → 188.4 sq ft) and that removing 144 sq ft of asphalt would be replaced with stepping stones and Cape Cod lawn. Commissioners asked for clearer delineation on the plan of areas used to calculate mitigation and asked that the applicant propose replacement trees sized and sited so they can mature without creating future conflicts.

The commission asked the applicant to submit a revised plan showing two additional ramp sections so the dock ramp clears the wetland, to provide clearer mitigation calculations and plant lists, and to propose the location and species for replacement trees (staff suggested a 1:1 replacement minimum and recommended involvement in siting to ensure survival). The hearing was closed and taken under advisement with those conditions.

Next steps: applicant to submit revised plan showing ramp extension, revised mitigation calculations, and proposed tree plantings for staff and commission review; no final order of conditions was adopted at tonight’s meeting.