The drafting of an updated Master Plan has begun in earnest under the guidance of Mattapoisett’s Planning Board and the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD). Three two-hour sessions of what were described as Discovery Workshops were remotely held. Attendees were asked to share their thoughts, ideas, hopes, opinions, and long-range growth expectations for Mattapoisett.
It’s been 10 years since Mattapoisett’s last Master Plan was crafted, and now, at the dawn of the updating process, some 30 residents have given voice as to what was on their minds. The first two breakout sessions were held on August 26.
Grant King, director of Comprehensive Planning and Housing for SRPEDD, hosted the events, along with several members of his team who helped navigate the meetings on the remote-access platform. King framed the topics that would be explored over the two hours that each meeting was held, assuring those in attendance that SRPEDD’s role is merely one of facilitating the work that has to take place at the local level. “Think of us as your assistants,” he said.
Major topics that were discussed and will ultimately frame the writing of the updated Master Plan are: Land Use; Economic Development; Housing; Climate Change and Resiliency; Open Space and Recreation; Natural and Cultural Resources; Transportation and Circulation; and Services and Facilities. In a nutshell, the topics asked residents to think about how land is currently being used, how its use might change to meet evolving needs over the course of a decade, and how the people living and working in the community move around the township. Other thoughts relating to types of business growth, the population’s diversity or lack thereof, and how municipal services respond to the needs of the town were touched upon.
King also provided a timeline for the completion of various segments of plan development. By late fall 2020, Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, and Climate Change will have moved from the discovery phases to plan formation. Following this in the spring of 2021, Open Space and Recreation, Natural and Cultural Resources will be the focus. And, last but not least, during the fall of 2021 Transportation and Circulation, as well as Services and Facilities, will draw to a close. He said that the online survey which can be found at mattapoisett.net had 70 completed forms. King encouraged listeners to take the survey and utilize the online mapping tools to communicate their thoughts and ideas directly to his team.
One group of attendees began its discussion on the topic of Economic Development. Planning Board member Nathan Ketchel said he would like to see an expansion of businesses in the Industrial Drive complex and along Route 6, possibly small commercial enterprises and office space. Discussion ranged from enlivening the village business district with small independent operations, pop-up markets, and the beautification of Route 6 from Main Street east to Old Marion Road.
The conversation swung to how people currently navigate the heavily traveled Route 6 corridor through the community, the perils that pedestrians and bicycles face when crossing Route 6, and the need for additional and improved sidewalks throughout the community, including North Street, Mattapoisett Neck Road, Brandt Island Road, and Water Street. Several participants commented on motorists’ rate of speed and the number of vehicles now traveling along local roadways. The lack of adequate public-transportation opportunities was noted, especially given the growing needs of a confirmed aging population trend.
Housing, not just market-value properties, was addressed with the majority of those attending all three sessions agreeing there needs to be more flexibility. King said that presently Mattapoisett is behind in serving a public that might need affordable housing with only two-percent meeting that threshold while the state prefers cities and towns to offer at least 10-percent in this category. An affordable home, King noted, is pegged at $250,000 whereas the average selling price in Mattapoisett is $420,000. “There’s a big gap between sale price and affordable costs.” Ketchel stated. “It takes two professional incomes to afford a home in Mattapoisett.”
King said that a main driver for different types of land use for housing is a zoning bylaw that could allow a developer to spread the market rate costs across more units. He said Master Plans do change things. “Your last plan called for less density along the Mattapoisett River Valley.” That resulted in zoning changes that increased the size of residential lots.
Don Fleming spoke, beginning with a rhetorical question, “What is the purpose of the Master Plan?” He went on to say, “Growth is the essential agreement we have to come to… we have to look at multiple housing types.”
Ketchel also commented that “Mattapoisett could benefit from a local wetlands bylaw,” as he said that nitrogen runoff is the biggest problem for wetland systems, a result of aging septic systems and manicured lawns. He said such local bylaws could increase the protection of wetland buffer zones.
About midway through the sessions, King emphasized, “We need local champions behind this project, this is going to be handed over to you.” He asked all to engage others in the process that is going to take up to two years to complete. “This is just the beginning.”
Participants identified themselves as longtime residents who left but are now returning, summer residents who are now making Mattapoisett their year-round home, summer residents with vested interests in the process, and others who have lived in the community for a number of years. In one room, speakers commented that their interest in participating is to have a cohesive plan moving forward or aging-in-place opportunities for seniors.
Improved communication between town officials and the community came out of the last session held on August 29. Participants said the town hall needs to do a better job communicating with the residents, pointing to Mattapoisett’s website and content, the potential use of the town library to distribute information, and a town report that should provide more meaningful information.
The town’s coastline and harbor were identified as clearly one of its major assets, along with cultural events such as Harbor Days sponsored by the Lions Club.
There is a link on the town’s website where access to recorded sessions from August 26 are posted as well as multiple layers of data from SRPEDD including links to maps, population data and the survey. Visit mattapoisett.net.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell