Owning on the water

Surfside-Resort(1)-1

Beautiful...

Only 10%

As we are sure you will agree, Cape Cod is a special place. Did you know that only 10% of visitors to the Cape get to see the ocean from their accommodations?
sfd beach

Location, Location, Location...

Falmouth, as a community, is arguably the most robust and vibrant, year-round destination the Cape has to offer.

And InnSeason Resorts Surfside provides one of the best locations in Falmouth to enjoy the natural beauty and unique experiences of Cape Cod and living on the water.

With that said, living on the water comes with some strings attached. Here are just a few that you need to keep in mind...

WE ALL HAVE THE SAME MOTHER.

Requirements

  • The Massachusetts Conservation Commission Governs everything that can be done on or to land that is in close proximity to water or wetlands.

  • Surfside is required to have multiple special permits to operate.

  • Special orders-of-conditions are mandated under these permits, for multiple areas of the property.

  • Multiple annual inspections are required for landscaping, beach and septic by an independent company that reports findings to the Commission for review.

  • If conditions are not met, significant fines can be levied, and operation of the resort could even be interrupted.

  • Here are some specific things governed:

    • How and when the beach is cleaned

    • Only trash can be removed from the beach, no seaweed sand or rocks can be removed.

    • Only certain types of plantings, trees, or shrubs can be used around the resort grounds.

    • Only pruning of ornamental plantings in building beds can be done.

    • Everything else cannot be pruned unless it is specifically stated on an approved plan and in the special permit, order-of-conditions.
sfd beach 2

SFD Dunes beach

Back In The Day...

Back in 2004, we fought to get special permits for beach and dune mitigation at the driveway entrance. This took months and thousands of dollars of engineering, but we were able to get approved for certain work to pe done annually.

These permits last 10 years at a time and were thankfully, just renewed. But along the way, mother nature has had her way with the land and areas not specified in the permits and these areas now require attention.

It is important to note that until an area is at a certain level of issue, the Commission will not discuss special permits to do any work.

sfd beach 6

Time Marches On...

As sand build-up, combined with years of vegetation growth, have created line-of-site issues when leaving the resort, and the special permit to reduce the dune by the entry street sign is no longer enough to provide line-of-site for exiting the resort, we sought additional permitting to do more dune mitigation as well as request vegetation mitigation.

This process is done via the State level through the Conservation Commission. Every few years, the resort has to renew the Special Permit that allows us to rake the beach and maintain line of sight to the Menauhant bridge. 

Additionally, we have to contract with Mass Audubon Society to endure that any Piping Plovers nesting in the are of our beach, are not disturbed. 

sfd beach 7

Moving Forward...

Via a Special Permit, the resort has the ability to prune growing vegetation in from of the 400 & 500 building only, and only where it relates to blocking a line of sight to the Menauhant Bridge from the driveway entrance/exit. Additionally, small amounts of sand can be smoothed out as only where they block the same line of sight. 

Please keep in mind that pruning is done in April and that the scrubs continue to grow throughout the season. Additionally, the extreme wind and weather can add significant sand height via one storm.

Rest assure, that the resort team will do there best to ensure this area of the resort is maintained.

Devil's

In the details...

With preliminary, conditional approvals done, we will work diligently to keep these areas safe and usable.

Below are links to the Conservation Commission documents, should you choose to learn more about this subject.


Orders Of Conditions
Coastal Dune Plan

Although this information may not be what you wanted to hear, we hope it is informative and helpful to understanding why some things are the way they are.

We will keep you posted from time to time as progress is made.
Regards,


The Surfside Board of Directors
William Curran
Richard Bath
David Zukowski