Conflict with ADU Garage

The January 15 meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals became contentious when the board took up the Variance filing by Michael and Tiffany Amaral, 3 Harbor Road Neck. Andrew Stackpole of Field Engineering represented the applicants’ request for a Variance to construct a 24×36-foot Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) with an associated garage.             […] Read more »

Septic Tracking Depends on Grant

            The Marion Board of Health agreed at its January 15 meeting in the Marion Police Station conference room to enter into a system that tracks permitting and testing of septic systems.             However, the board agreed to this new budget item under one condition: Installation of the system is covered through a state grant. […] Read more »

House Fire in Mattapoisett

On Thursday morning, a fire broke out at the house on 5 North Street in Mattapoisett. At the three-story house subdivided into four apartments, one victim was rescued from the building and brought to the hospital with another being treated for smoke inhalation on-site. Other building residents evacuated or weren’t present but were accounted for. […] Read more »

Town Meeting and Election Dates Set

            Rochester’s Select Board on Tuesday approved the request from Bristol Asphalt, Co., Inc. for a Flammable Fluid License to store liquid asphalt at 99 Kings Highway that crowded the hearing room with concerned abutters in late December.             In the last meeting of 2025, the plan to place two 15,000-gallon liquid asphalt tanks at […] Read more »

FY27 Budget Planning

The Marion Finance Committee, at the January 7 meeting in the Town House Annex, planned out a schedule for review of the Fiscal 2027 budget.             Finance Director Heather O’Brien noted that many department-drafted budgets, including the school budget, have been received. She expressed optimism that by this week she will have received all drafts. […] Read more »

Solar Project Approved

Rochester’s Planning Board began its meeting Tuesday by putting the finishing touches on its approval of the massive Logging Swamp Solar project off of 600 Snipatuit Road.             The board endorsed the developer’s Approval Not Required application to permit the creation of four house lots within the 35-acre project. Chair Arnold Johnson said the plan […] Read more »

Funding Pending for Water Street Culvert

            The January 12 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission was a full evening of Notice of Intent filings and Request for Determination of Applicability’s (RDA’s), not the least of which was a filing by the town for repairs needed to the Water Street culvert. The aged culvert suffered a final blow when the interior […] Read more »

Multi-Generational Home Secured

The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals began the new year with two easily decided approvals. On January 8, the board granted a variance to permit an attached garage over 1,000 square feet on the 4-acre lot at 522 Walnut Plain Road. Applicant and property owner Karl Ferreira said he needs a 2,400-square-foot garage to store […] Read more »

Home Approved, Despite Neighborhood Concerns

The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals and residents within the Briggs Terrace area had many questions and concerns about an applicant’s bid to subdivide a lot with two structures on the lot.             In the end, the ZBA on January 8 in the Marion Police Station conference room still approved applicants Dina and William Quinlan’s […] Read more »

Mattapoisett Receives $3,500,000 Grant

The Mattapoisett Select Board meeting held on Tuesday, January 13 adjourned on a happy note. It was announced by Select Board Chairman Tyler Macallister that the town has received a federal grant of $3,500,000 for environmental work needed at Molly’s Cove. A culvert at that location has been failing for years, causing the marsh system […] Read more »