Residents have expressed concern to the Conservation Commission and other town boards over Daniel and Laurie DaRosa’s proposed 290-foot pier at their home on Goodspeed Island. Located in a popular recreation area and abutting town property, many feel the pier is too long and will obstruct use of the area while also posing a threat to nearby protected areas.

DaRosa Pier Opposition leader Mike Huguenin says residents can make the most impact by submitting a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection, but there isn’t much time left to do it.

As part of the permitting process, the DaRosas have submitted their pier design to the DEP under the Chapter 91 waterways license. The regional DEP office in Lakeville will review the proposal based on the public and private uses around the pier site.

Unlike the Conservation Commission, the DEP has no public hearing. Anyone who wants to submit a comment concerning the pier (whether in favor of or against) must do so by Tuesday, Oct 21.

“Time is really of the essence,” said Huguenin, who is urging people to mail their comments now.

In the future, he said the DEP will only consider comments from those who submit them now.

Huguenin also stressed that the Conservation Commission and the DEP are two separate issues. The former is only able to make a decision on the pier based on the Wetlands Protection Act.

As such, Huguenin is urging town boards to put their comments in print and send them to the DEP. On Oct. 7, he spoke with the Water and Sewer Commissioners concerning a sewer pipe near the pier site.

Though unlikely, in the event of a severe storm, the pier could damage the pipe, resulting in severe environmental impact, said Huguenin.

It would also cut off access to a large section of town as around 350,000 gallons of waste pass through it each day, according to Water and Sewer Superintendent Nick Nicholson.

Commissioner Bill Hubbard said he had long been in favor of more protection for the pipe.

“One of these days, that pipe is going to give us problems,” he said. “I’m definitely not in favor of any pier there – small, big or anything.”

Commissioner Al Menino said, “As a rule of practice, we’re concerned with any pipes – anything that could further damage our sewer pipes and cause further problems.”

The commissioners are expected to submit a letter to the DEP as well as the Conservation Commission.

Huguenin would also like to see a letter from Selectmen. Because town land abuts the DaRosa’s property, Huguenin said it is a town issue.

“I think if the Selectmen get involved … they could just urge the DEP to review facts and reach a compromise,” said Huguenin.

For those who choose to write a letter, Huguenin said be specific and as detailed as possible, including past, present and intended future uses in the area.

“I’ve taught dozens of people to water ski there,” he said. “You go down there in the summer and there are tons of tubers and skiers, mostly people with younger kids.”

Huguenin said he isn’t completely against a pier. He would not oppose a shorter pier that would not obstruct public use.

“I’m not against piers. I’m against this pier being too big for this place,” he said.

Anyone who wants to submit a comment, must have it in the DEP office by Thursday, Oct 21 to Carlos T.B. Fragata, Environmental Analyst, DEP Waterways Regulation Program, 20 Riverside Dr., Lakeville, MA 02347.

Residents can also submit a signed copy to pieropposition@comcast.net and the DaRosa Pier Opposition group will submit it.