In one of the last meetings in his long career of volunteerism, Mattapoisett Conservation Commission Chairman Bob Rogers had to recuse himself from one of the hearings due to a conflict of interest. Filling the void after a procedural vote was Mike King, long-time commission member. It would be over an hour before Rogers would be able to return to the meeting.
Coming before the board was Michael Koska of Koska & Associates of Bridgewater, representing real estate developers Rocco DiNanno & Sons and John Gregorio.
Koska was seeking conditions for two Notice of Intent filings for property located on Dupont Drive in the Brandt Island neighborhood. As he explained the latest plans for building on the three lots, Koska detailed the complexities of constructing septic systems and drinking wells.
King was quick to point out that the commission’s purview extended only as far as the Wetlands Protection Act, and that any issues or concerns related to those elements were under Board of Health oversight. King also said that the property in question was “non-jurisdictional.”
When King opened the hearing to public comment, however, those aspects of the project were exactly what the abutters wanted to talk about.
Robert Gale, 12 Dupont Drive, complained that the raised septic system was creating a dirt wall he had to look at, and that stormwater runoff was increasing on his property. He cited Massachusetts law with respect to septic systems and questioned how a percolation test in October “after a long drought” met regulations that seemed to indicate testing was to have taken place in April. King deadpanned, “That is in the purview of the Board of Health.”
Gale pressed on, asking, “Who can we talk to about this?” King replied, “Dale Barrows, the Board of Health.”
Koska tried to explain that the raised septic system planned for lot 51 would result in only an elevation of 30 inches, and that a grass swale could be constructed to divert runoff away from Gale’s property.
Gale continued in his questioning of the appropriateness of the septic system a mere 4 feet from his property line and also worried about contamination to his fresh well water. King again said his concerns needed to be lodged with the Board of Health, the permitting agency for the systems.
Lisa Winsor of 1 Dupont Drive also voiced deep concerns. “I question how things are being looked at,” she began, “…The proposed septic is going to alter runoff into the cove.”
King responded, “Relative to this project, the scope of this project is not going to hurt the neighbors.” He said the Department of Environmental Protection had not documented any issues with the project.
Winsor asked about the stream that ran through the property. King said there wasn’t a stream, asserting, “There is no jurisdictional stream on the property…. We’ve taken up forty-five minutes in non-jurisdictional issues.”
In the end, the NOI for lot 51 was conditioned for development with the inclusion of a grass swale.
Then came the other two lots: 61 and 62.
Koska described the project as a single-family home that would combine the two lots and that pending were comments from the BOH regarding the septic system.
Gale had more questions about potential stormwater issues. King said drainage issues were of a long-standing nature and were a result of poor design engineering from previous decades.
King said, “We have no reason not to condition the project. If DEP gets involved, we’ve lost all control.”
Winsor continued to object and insisted that runoff would be a problem, especially from fertilizers used on lawns. Koska said they would accept a condition that no fertilizer be used on the property. The project was conditioned with that stipulation.
Rogers returned for the balance of the commission’s meeting.
Mark Manganello of LEC Environmental representing William Poutsiaka, 4 Maple Street, presented a vegetation management plan to mitigate landscaping activities that had come to the attention of Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold.
Manganello explained that the Poutsiakas had been unaware of the need to seek prior approval and were apologetic via a letter he read aloud that had been penned by Poutsiaka. The Poutsiakas were seeking approval to remove invasive species and re-plant native varieties. The NOI was conditioned including a three-year monitoring period.
Also coming before the commission were Ken Motta of Field Engineering for seawall repairs to property owned by Donna Downey, 16 Water Street, and Stephen Wry of Land Planning for tree removal on property owned by Clifford Lange, 4 Split Road Lane. Both projects were conditioned.
The commissioners also signed an agreement to accept a conservation restriction that will be held by the Town of Marion for property located near Wolf Island Road situated along Branch Brook.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission will be held on June 26 at 6:30 pm in the Mattapoisett Town Hall conference room.
Mattapoisett Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell