What a difference a few days made on January 5 for the Mattapoisett Planning Board. At the December 29 special public hearing, the Planning Board had a rather frustrating exchange with Mattapoisett Highway Surveyor Barry Denham regarding Brandt Point Village. At that meeting Denham said, “I wasted my time again!” He had been driving home […] Read more »
Cutting a tree might appear harmless enough, but when the tree lives within the boundaries of land protected under the Wetlands Protection Act or the Rivers Protection Act, you need permission before proceeding. The Rochester Conservation Commission on January 6 approved the cutting of trees within the wetlands 100-foot buffer zone for two property owners […] Read more »
A citizen’s petition signed by 25 residents that proposes a restriction on the size of commercial and retail structures, aimed at discouraging “big box” businesses from moving to Marion, had its public hearing on January 5, with no public in attendance. The petition to amend current zoning bylaws to cap commercial and retail structures to […] Read more »
“I wasted my time again!” Those were the last words spoken by Mattapoisett Highway Superintendent Barry Denham as he stormed out of the December 29 public meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board during discussion over the Brandt Point Village subdivision. The board had received a letter from the subdivision project’s attorney John Williams that stated […] Read more »
As recommended by Town Administrator Paul Dawson, the Marion Board of Selectmen moved forward with its response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s draft NPDES permit, which according to Dawson, placed unrealistic demands on the Town’s wastewater treatment system that would lead to costly upgrades and a complete overhaul of the current wastewater treatment techniques. The […] Read more »
The Mattapoisett Community Preservation Commission reviewed the applications of several projects looking for 2015 CPC funding on December 18, when applicants gave commission members the details of their proposals, hoping that they will receive the CPC’s support. The role of the CPC is to decide how to spread Town Meeting approved taxpayer funds reserved specifically […] Read more »
Returning for another informal discussion with the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission was Ronald Sylvia, an abutter to 16 Cove Street, which was deemed an unbuildable lot in 1997 by the Mattapoisett Building Department. Sylvia had previously brought to the attention of the Conservation Commission a questionable sewer stub at that location that caused him to wonder […] Read more »
The Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester Boards of Selectmen, during a joint meeting of the Tri-Town selectmen on December 15, rejected the renewal of the three towns’ contract with Comcast with a unanimous vote. Marion was represented by Town Administrator Paul Dawson and Selectmen Jonathan Henry and Jody Dickerson. Town Administrator Michael McCue and Selectmen Richard […] Read more »
“It’s hardly a ‘McMansion,’” Engineer Rick Charon told the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals on December 11, when describing his client’s plan to build a raised single-family house with two new decks at 80 Dexter Road. That may be the case, but Pamela Oliveira will still have to withdraw her application for a setback variance […] Read more »
When you must appear before a local appeals board hoping for approval for a project, the hearing is a big deal. You hope that you have all your documentation correct and ready, have all the answers to the questions that might be asked of you, and even sometimes sit with your fingers crossed hoping for […] Read more »
