Short Beach plan aims to protect Nahant shore

NAHANT – Short Beach may finally receive its long-awaited makeover with three warrant articles on the table dedicated to restoring the dunes.In the wake of the damage done by coastal surges during the winter and after two heavily attended public hearings where the Short Beach Master Plan was presented, the Planning Board deemed the focus of the plan to protect, rather than beautify, Nahant?s coastline.Board of Selectmen Chairman Michael Manning said he was pleased the town had reached a common goal despite the differing opinions he heard from residents that stemmed from the options in the plan when it was first presented in April 2012.?There seems to be a unanimous consensus that these are the most reasonable things we could do on Short Beach that would meet the approval of everybody,” Manning said in last Thursday?s meeting.Articles 26 and 27 are both dedicated to restoring the dunes. The Planning Board first requests that the town spend $55,000 for planting American Beach Grass on the dunes where the Coast Guard Lifesaving Station stands, as recommended in the master plan to anchor the dunes.The board then suggests that Town Administrator Andy Bisignani consult with the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board to make recommendations on what areas should be mowed and not mowed by the Department of Public Works.Finally, the board recommends the town allocate $3,500 to remove the basketball court at Short Beach to replant the grass underneath.The Board of Selectmen also added an article to appropriate $4,000 to place a post-and-rope fence along the beach that would separate the mowed and un-mowed areas. Chairman Michael Manning said the selectmen brought the article forward without the Planning Board because they had “rejected” the idea.?It?s clear that maybe there should be some discussion on that article ? but the board thinks it?s reasonable to put before the town to see what they think.,” said Manning. “The Planning Board will speak against it, but it?s up to the townspeople to decide what they want to do.”Vice Chairman Rich Lombard agreed, adding that he felt the rope was necessary to direct pedestrians to the sidewalks. “There?s no sense putting grass down there if people are going to walk all over them,” he said.?We?ll have that debate on the last Saturday in April,” said Manning.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].