Bourne Select Board Votes to File Notice of Intent for Nitrogen Sensitive Areas
May 30, 2025 Government & Community Affairs
CCIAOR's advocacy efforts scored a major victory in Bourne on Wednesday, May 28th as the town's Select Board voted 5-0 to reverse course and direct the town to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a watershed permit for two Nitrogen Sensitive Areas (NSAs) in town.
This decision protects more than 1,400 homeowners in town by giving the town five years to draft a plan, and 20 years to implement a plan to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Megansett-Squeteague and Phinney's Harbor Nitrogen Sensitive Areas. Prior to May 28th, Bourne was the only town on Cape Cod intending to NOT file a NOI, and planned to instead require homeowners in the two NSAs to install costly and unproven innovative/alternative septic systems at their own cost within the next five years.
CCIAOR was joined in these advocacy efforts by many voices from the town of Bourne so REALTORS® were not standing alone on this issue. CCIAOR members in Bourne stood up for their community, and now homeowners have a voice to work with the town on the best path forward on crafting a wastewater management plan.
