[HISTORY: Adopted by the Conservation Commission
of the Town of Barnstable 6-2-1988; revised 7-6-1988, 7-1-2003; 3-14-2006. Subsequent amendments noted
where applicable.]
Under the terms of the Conservation Commission
Act, Conservation land is received and held "in the name of the city
or town." The Conservation Commission has a clear authority under
the Conservation Act to adopt rules and regulations for the use of
its land. The Town of Barnstable Conservation Commission's goal in
management of its property is to protect the values of the land. The
values are related to the protection or preservation of biological
and ecological diversity, water supply and water quality, aesthetics
and recreation, and community character. These values are related
to public health and safety and environmental protection. The Commission
is charged with balancing these values with public use and accessibility.
The Conservation Commission discourages the following land use practices.
Unfortunately there are people who find open
space parcels a quick answer to their unwillingness to drive to the
solid waste station or pay the necessary dumping fees. Illicit dumping
is a large problem in West Barnstable Conservation area. The Town's
Public Works Division has removed items, time and time again, such
as sofas, chairs, mattresses, tires, rugs, cardboard boxes and refrigerators.
Other items dumped throughout all the Conservation parcels include
household trash, landscaping debris and weekend party debris. Illicit
dumping and littering impacts not only public health and safety, but
also aesthetics and community character.
Illegal motorcycle and ATV use on Conservation
parcels is on the rise. The unauthorized motorcycles and ATVs race
along the narrow winding paths that the hikers, horseback riders and
mountain bikers share. This raises a public safety concern. Gates
and other barricades are placed to discourage unauthorized vehicle
use, but the smaller vehicles continue to make new paths around them.
Many times gate locks are broken or even the large steel gates themselves
are cut or torn out of the ground allowing the larger vehicles access.
The Commission depends on the Town's Natural Resource Officers to
patrol; however the mere size of West Barnstable Conservation Area,
which boasts over 1,000 acres with 15 miles of trails makes this a
difficult task.
A.
Unauthorized use of firearms on Conservation lands is clearly a public
safety issue. The Conservation Commission provides the public a shooting
range at the West Barnstable Conservation Area. The range is managed
by the Commission and policed and maintained by the Natural Resource
Division. A fee is charged for the permit and a key to unlock the
entrance gate. Hunting is allowed on certain Conservation parcels
so as long as the person follows the state and federal laws. The discharge
of a firearm, unrelated to the actual hunting of a game species for
any reason, including but not limited to, target practice and/or the
discharge of live ammunition is strictly prohibited on all property
managed by the Conservation Commission. The firing of blanks, including
the use of starter's pistols, is limited to property managed
by the Conservation Commission where hunting is allowed.
[Amended 6-16-2015]
A.
For public safety reasons, unpermitted fires are not
allowed. Area Fire Departments are called on an average to at least
one or two fires a year occurring on Conservation parcels that have
been maliciously started. Fire Departments reach many of these fires
by using a brush breaker, which also causes damage.
B.
For public health, safety and environmental reasons
camping is unpermitted on the lands. Public rest rooms are not available
which would be a public health issue and campsites can damage the
environment if not managed properly. Unpermitted camping can also
lead to unpermitted fires.
C.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted on Conservation property. This regulation is in conjunction with the Chapter 20, Article I, Open Containers, of the Code of the Town of Barnstable. The consumption of alcohol seems to be prevalent at Long Pond and Whelan Conservation Areas in Marstons Mills and Crocker Neck Conservation Area in Cotuit. Associated with underage drinking is unpermitted fires and littering which are also public health, safety and environmental issues.
Vandalism is prevalent in most of the large
Conservation parcels that promote public access with parking areas,
trails and signage. Only to mention a few incidences: gates, barriers
and fences have been cut or even torn out of the ground. Large wooden
Conservation signs removed from a busy road side edge. Kiosks torn
down and wood viewing decks burned to the ground. Interpretive trail
markers are torn out of the ground. Replacement of these structures
requires land management funds.
A.
Pursuant to Town of Barnstable By-laws Chapter 1, Article I, and MGL Chapter 40, § 21D, regarding the establishment of a noncriminal disposition process for Conservation Commission land use violations, the Commission does hereby promulgate the following regulation and penalty schedule for its land management rules and regulations for properties which the Commission both controls and directly manages:
|
Violation
|
Fine
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Littering
|
$300.00
| ||
|
Illicit dumping
|
$300.00
| ||
|
Unauthorized vehicle use (cars, trucks, ATVs
and motorcycles/dirt bikes)
| |||
|
First
|
$100.00
| ||
|
Second
|
$200.00
| ||
|
Cutting or removal of vegetation, soil, stone
|
$200.00
| ||
|
Consumption of alcoholic beverages
|
$100.00
| ||
|
Camping
|
$200.00
| ||
|
Defacing or destruction of any structure, sign
or gate
|
$200.00
| ||
B.
The Conservation Commission, its agents, and any Town
police officer or Natural Resource Officer shall have the authority
to issue citations assessing monetary fines, depending on the extent
and severity of the violation.
C.
Failure to pay a fine assessed under this regulation
within 21 calendar days may result in criminal prosecution.
