Work Halted on Appaloosa Lane

The Mattapoisett Planning Board was expecting to hear about drainage improvements at the Appaloosa Lane sub-division on November 17. What they heard instead was all about percolation testing lots.

Brian Grady of G.A.F. Engineering, representing Michael Solimando, owner of a parcel that has spent months in front of the Planning Board, told them that he had stopped all work on the property until updated perc testing could be preformed. A percolation test is required before designing a septic system.

Grady’s news prompted Chairman Tom Tucker to question Grady’s motives.

“Are you saying if it doesn’t perc you are not going to fix the existing problem?” Tucker asked Grady.

Grady said he felt confident that the soils would perc to the satisfaction of the Board of Health, but until those tests were completed, everything was on hold.

Grady said he had spoken with Board of Health Agent Dale Barrows regarding testing completed in 2001 at this location. Barrows told Grady that new tests were required to meet current regulations before the lots would be permitted for construction. That was when Grady halted further drainage investigations the Planning Board has been patiently waiting for since last spring.

Neighbors have been before the Planning Board on numerous occasions waiting to hear that Solimando would make the necessary repairs to the drainage system – a point of contention for years.

When Solimando purchased the property, the abutters had hoped that a newly engineered drainage system would resolve problems they experienced on their properties. Drainage improvements have yet to take place. And, the joint study between the Town’s engineers, Field Engineering and G.A.F., has been stalled for weeks.

On November 18, weather providing, Grady said that Barrows would witness the new perc tests.

“You were supposed to have answers for us – you have nothing,” stated Tucker. Before Tucker continued the hearing, Planning Board member Ron Merlo told Grady, “Stress to your client we want resolution for the [drainage] problems.”

Also meeting with the board was Alan Ewing, engineer representing Mason and Jean Smith for property located at 22 and 24 Ned’s Point Road.

This exploratory discussion gave Ewing the opportunity to learn if the board might allow the property owners to build a road or long driveway from the public road into the property for about 113 feet to a waterside lot.

The new lot would have to be permitted via a Form C application, and the roadway would require the reconfiguration of lots 22 and 24 at the site to accommodate its inclusion.

Tucker told Ewing that a similar request had been accommodated in the vicinity, setting a precedent in the area that might allow Ewing to move forward into the planning stages.

Before adjourning, board member John Mathieu asked the other members if they could “dust off” their notes on bylaw improvements so they could continue their work on this project. They agreed that at the next meeting they would continue their efforts of text edits and upgrades on a number of zoning bylaws.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is December 1 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

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