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 collapsed causing temporary road closure approximately 18 months ago.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco confirmed that design of a new and improved waterway passage from the north to the south side of the village has been underway with the engineering firm Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. Representatives from the firm met with the commissioners to answer any remaining questions they might have prior to issuing an order of conditions for the Notice of Intent previously submitted.
Several state agencies were involved in reviewing designs offered by Greeman-Pedersen. One such agency was the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office. MEPA reviews environmental impacts of development projects and other activities that require one or more agency actions. While a tentative start date for the repair work is September, funding the project has yet to be solidified.
Lorenco said, “We intend to use grant funding and other sources – we want to keep as much as possible off the taxpayers.” He said the estimated cost hovers around $2,000,000.
A Notice of Intent filed by 0 Nashawena Road, owned by Deborah Chapman Living Trust was conditioned after lengthy discussion concluded with abutters and others in the neighborhood aired their concerns regarding storm water runoff and associated weather-related flooding.
Represented by David Davignon of Schneider Davignon and Leone, Davignon explained in detail measures taken in the design to handle rood runoff and the use of swales to assist in the management of storm water. After much discussion the filing was closed, an order of conditions was issued.
A Notice of Intent filed by NEPO Realty LLC for properties located on Ned’s Point Road were continued allowing time for further drainage study.
An RDA filed by Dennis Mahoney and Sons for property located at 0 Aucoot Road was continued. The filing is for the clearing for a private driveway onto property that will be used as a nursery. At issue are concerns expressed by the Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer regarding the use of Bowman Road for heavy truck traffic anticipated resulting in Bowman Road suffering damage.
Bauer said he would prefer to see Aucoot Road used to access the property in question versus Bowman Road. The filing was continued to the next meeting to give all parties time for further review.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, January 26.
Mattapoisett Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell