Three controversial issues that have all been before the Mattapoisett Planning Board in the past were once again discussed during its March 2 meeting.
The first was Appaloosa Lane represented by Brian Grady of G.A.F. Engineering. This subdivision has been threatened with having the Form C approval amended or rescinded for months as the board and abutting property owners seek changes in the engineered stormwater management plan that they deemed insufficient or a complete failure.
After months of conversations with Highway Surveyor Barry Denham and Field Engineering, representing the Town, Grady brought nearly complete updated plans to show the board members.
Grady said that Field Engineering suggested changes to the recharge basins that included the addition of small stones and the construction of spillways around certain perimeters of the property to handle runoff during a 100-year storm scenario. He also said that pipes would be as large as 18-inches to handle stormwater flows.
Grady also reminded the board that the project has been conditioned by the Conservation Commission, but with the proposed changes to the stormwater discharge system, he would be returning to them for amended orders.
He said with the board’s approval, G.A.F. would start working on final engineered drawings immediately. He was asked to return in two weeks with those plans for the board to review.
Next up was Brad Saunders, representing the Preserve at the Bay Club. He asked that the Planning Board move to support changes to the zoning bylaws that would allow zero lot line construction, the use of light industrial zoning areas when calculating open space in cluster subdivision plans, and the use of general business districts for cluster subdivisions.
“The real reason I’m here tonight is to see if the Planning Board is willing to sponsor these changes at Town Meeting,” Saunders told the board. He continued, “We are looking at this as an opportunity to correct omissions (in bylaws).”
Saunders said the Planning Board should be the body supporting the changes at Town Meeting because the impact is across the entire town and does not benefit just one business entity, saying, “I wouldn’t know why the Planning Board wouldn’t support these. I can’t imagine any adverse impact.”
Planning Board member Ron Merlo made a motion that the board would support the articles at the Annual Town Meeting, gaining a second from member John Mathieu, and a third from Chairman Tom Tucker, making that a majority of the five-member board all in attendance.
A public meeting will be held on April 6 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall to allow for public comment in advance of Town Meeting.
Tucker pointed to Saunders and said, “We’ll put our name on it, but you’ll need to be there to answer questions.”
The last controversial matter brought to the board’s attention by Mike Huguenin, a member of Friends of Mattapoisett Harbor, was the proposed Goodspeed Island pier.
He came before the board to ask if it would send a letter to the DEP that would support the Conservation Commission’s denial of the pier project proposed by resident Daniel DaRosa. He said that a new public appeal period ends on March 25, and reminded the board members of the March 5 public hearing at Old Hammondtown School at 7:00 pm.
Huguenin said that his group has approached the applicant’s engineers several times to discuss a compromise in the design, but that those requests had been declined.
Board member Mary Crain asked, “Have the friends thought about what would be an acceptable compromise?” Huguenin said not really since direct conversations with DaRosa had not be granted.
The board thanked Huguenin but did not vote on writing a letter.
Merlo reported on the completed Open Space plan and asked the board to support the document stating, “A lot of people put a lot of energy into this.”
“I wholeheartedly support it,” said Tucker. The board unanimously endorsed the Open Space plan.
Merlo also reported on what he called a productive meeting with Denham and Field Engineering regarding the establishments of inspection timetables for private roadways and stormwater management construction.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is March 16 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.
By Marilou Newell