There is the potential for erosion on any waterfront property and it may be greater on an island. Erosion on the island continues to be a robust topic of conversation, in particular because of what is happening on the northern end of Baxter Road in ‘Sconset. Many homes, threatened by erosion, have already been relocated to other parts of the island, a number of homes are in the process of being moved and there is a currently an area where it appears that the erosion is close to taking part of Baxter Road itself. Baxter Road homeowners worked with Town agencies and the Board of Selectmen to develop a plan for alternate access (including utilities) in the event that the road is claimed by erosion. Concurrently, a group of waterfront homeowners (SBPF – Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund) has reached agreement with the Town for anti-erosion control measures. The cost will be borne by the homeowners, some of which have been in the same homes for generations. At the core of this issue is the fact that most of the waterfront properties on Baxter Road abut a strip of Town-owned land between the properties and the beach. The property owners needed permission from the Town to implement any anti-erosion control measures since it could have an impact on Town-owned land or on other parts of the island.
Many issues have been raised by the actions of Mother Nature, among them: liability, cost, unintended consequences to neighboring properties, the obligations of the Town to provide access and utlities, potential loss of property tax revenue and the rights of private homeowners to attempt to protect their properties. It appears that there are no simple answers to this complex situation.
Here is a picture of the work happening on the beach below Baxter Road:
