Seawall funds, public safety study approved; proposal to take Beach Avenue land fails

By Carol Britton Meyer

Voters attending the second town meeting session Tuesday night approved seven of eight warrant articles drawn by lottery. The meeting was continued to the following night to address the remaining articles.

EMINENTLY OPPOSED. John Ferrara, the owner of the home at 169 Beach Avenue, objected to the town’s plan to take a portion of his property by eminent domain in order to rebuild the dune system on Nantasket Beach. The 124-123 vote on the article failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority. [Skip Tull photo]

The proposed $150,000 combined police/fire public safety facility study was approved, as was appropriating $6 million for the town’s share of repairs to the deteriorating seawall along Nantasket Avenue near the Allerton lagoon, a floodplain overlay district, and funds for the replacement of the float at Pemberton Pier.

A proposal that would have authorized the eminent-domain taking of property along Beach Avenue failed on a vote of 124 to 123 because its passage required a two-thirds affirmative vote.

The town said it needed the land abutting three Beach Avenue and Malta Street properties to restore the Nantasket Beach dune in that area. While the town believes it owns Beach Avenue, the purpose of the article was to “remove any clouds on the town’s rights,” Town Counsel James Lampke said.

“While we understand that people are trying to protect their interests, the town is trying to protect the majority of people in Hull who would be adversely affected by flooding” if the dune is not restored, he said.

“We all have a shared interest in this dune for the protection it provides,” Climate Adaptation and Conservation Department Director Chris Krahforst said.

A number of Beach Avenue and other residents advocated for the town and the neighbors involved to collaborate in order to reach a solution to the issue rather than the town taking the property by eminent domain.

In response, Krahforst said the town conducted outreach to the community a number of years ago and invited residents of Beach Avenue to share their feedback regarding unpermitted paths to the beach, which is another issue.

“At that time, we explained the vulnerability of these paths and that they could decimate the primary dune [in the area],” he said. “I don’t think anyone wants that dune compromised.”

One possibility at that time was to close some of those paths and create a new shared path from the Malta Street entrance to the beach.

The town is currently involved in a Massachusetts Land Court case with some residents living in this area who believe they own portions of the property the town claims to own.

Public safety facility study funding approved

Voters approved $150,000 for the public safety facility study following a slide presentation by Police Chief John Dunn and details provided by Deputy Fire Chief William Frazier about the inadequacies of the police station and the A Street fire station.

They also approved the town’s share of $6 million for the seawall, along with easements on two properties that abut the project, as well as authorizing the town to bond $2.5 million over 20 years to replace the town-owned commuter float at Pemberton Point.

The town will seek federal and state grants to help fund the cost and is working with the MBTA for a possible cost-sharing opportunity.

“This is a vital link for the residents of Hull to get to Boston – to work, medical appointments, and sports events,” Advisory Board Chair Jason Frady said.

One of many residents in support of the seawall project noted that if it’s not fixed and fails during a major storm, “we won’t have anything to protect.”

Also approved was up to $350,000 to pay the costs of outfitting the Hull Community Television Media Center in its new location at Memorial School as part of the school consolidation plan. Voters agreed to amend the town’s zoning bylaws to establish a floodplain overlay district bylaw mapping special flood hazard areas as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for administration of the National Flood Insurance Program, effective July 3, 2024.

Failure to pass this article would have resulted in the loss of Hull residents’ ability to participate in this flood insurance program.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion on this issue? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.