As the outside world debated the 21^stcentury political correctness of well-known holiday songs, the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission members were in harmony on December 10.

Emphasizing their desire to view projects that come before them as acceptable until proven otherwise, Chairman Mike King said he was speaking for himself and the other commissioners when he said, “We are not in the ‘You-can’t business’; we are in the ‘You-can business,’” as they started the review of the Requests for Determination of Applicability filed by Jason Youngquist of Outback Engineering, represented by Jeff Youngquist.

The project in question is the ongoing subdivision of property located within the Bay Club, this one titled “The Preserve”. As Youngquist described the project, he noted that, over the years, the development’s concept had changed from large single-family homes to duplex structures, returning again for another cycle of back and forth deliberation on what made the most financial sense, until now with the current decision to begin construction in 2019 with duplex units.

This group of hearings included the review of five lots on Split Rock Lane, one amended Order of Conditions, and eight Notice of Intent filings. The RDAs and NOIs were primarily for the same lots due to existing Orders of Conditions that had now expired.

There was also the issue of amending Orders of Conditions for Lot 79A on Shagbark Lane to reflect the new position of the proposed single-family home on the lot.

King offered Youngquist the opportunity for informal discussions versus formal hearings, given that none of the projects in question had yet received Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection file numbers or a decision from the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. But Youngquist said that since the projects would have to be continued anyway, holding hearings now would not pose negative impacts on the outcome.

King noted that the Mattapoisett Assessor’s Office had not yet recognized the proposed lots as legal lots of a subdivision. He asked Youngquist if he was willing to return at a later date with a master plan of the project, along with written approval from Natural Heritage and the DEP, and the lot classifications from the Assessor’s Office. Youngquist concurred with the request.

The hearings were continued until January 14.

Also during the meeting, Jon Connell of SITEC, Inc. appeared for two lots located on Wolf Island Road owned by Ronald Oliveria. The two Notice of Intent filings were for the construction of single-family homes with associated utilities and septic systems. After consideration of the details that proved uncomplicated, the projects received Orders of Conditions.

David Davignon of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates represented Brian and Grazyna Blaesser of 23 Cove Street with a Notice of Intent filing for the expansion of a second-story addition and removal of a septic leaching field. After noting that the majority of the project was above ground because the home is elevated, the project was approved.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for January 14 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

There isn’t much on the site redevelopment plan for a daycare facility at 15 Cranberry Highway that isn’t already there, Rochester Planning Board member Gary Florindo pointed out on December 11. The only significant issue that needs attention, really, is the stormwater system, which currently has the project held up with the Conservation Commission.

Some stormwater system specs were never completed under the Conservation Commission’s original 1997 Order of Conditions, so that needs to be settled while pleasing both the Commission and the Planning Board.

“Hopefully this week I’ll get together with [Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon] and certainly we’ll be able to make some progress,” said Rogers.

Construction renovations for the relocation of Countryside Daycare, currently at Plumb Corner, are limited mainly to the interior of the existing building to accommodate the 5,200 square-foot daycare space that will occupy the majority of the building. Another 3,500 square-foot area will be added at the front to be leased to a future tenant.

The only real change to the site as it currently sits is a new playground planned just beyond the building, said Bob Rogers from GAF Engineering. The playground will be fenced in and a slight increase in paved area is slated for the parking lot.

Rogers submitted some waiver requests, including eliminating the need for a formal traffic study as the current daycare operator supplied a casual assessment of the peak traffic hours in the morning and afternoon. Rogers also seeks a waiver for a landscape architect.

“It is a great location for daycare,” said Rogers.

Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson’s main concern was with the chosen location to hold snow in the parking lot. According to Johnson, the Town’s peer review engineer is concerned that snow will wind up in the drainage swale. Rogers commented that he would prefer not to change the design, but Johnson cautioned him that he should come up with another option if the snow location remains the same.

Johnson also cautioned the daycare operator to not change the lighting of the existing sign. If the lighting is changed in any way from inside or outside the sign, then they will need a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals due to its size, which preceded the sign bylaw and remains, therefore, by-right.

Johnson requested some definitions be placed in the notes that refer to different size storm events pertaining to drainage, preferring Rogers follow the standards of the Taunton Weather Station for rainfall amounts.

“You talk about large storms and major storm events and then significant rainfall events,” said Johnson. “This need to be defined … our standard could be different from your standard.”

The hearing was continued until January 8.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for January 8 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Planning Board

By Jean Perry

Smoking in public on town-owned property isn’t allowed in Marion, and that goes for everyone, says the Marion Board of Health – even you, Elizabeth Taber!

The Board of Health on December 11 signed a letter addressed to the Sippican Historical Society voicing their concern about a statue of Elizabeth Taber slated for placement across from the library on town-owned property at Bicentennial Park.

The design of the bronze statue has already been conceptualized and a statue committee formed of Sippican Historical Society members and residents has commissioned New Bedford-based sculptor Erik Durant to create the life-size image of Elizabeth Taber seated on a bench – in one she holds a book, and in the other, a pipe. According to Judith Rosbe from the Historical Society, Taber loved smoking her pipe and did so every day.

Being the Board of Health and the authority restricting smoking in and on town-owned property, naturally it is opposed to Taber hanging around the center of Marion perpetually seated smoking her pipe.

“Since we don’t allow smoking on public places, we think that a statue of a woman smoking in front of the library sends mixed messages,” Board of Health Chairman Jason Reynolds told The Wanderer.

Whether or not it is too late for the statue committee to consider the Board of Health’s opinion and change the statue was unknown as of press time Tuesday night. It is also unknown as to whether Taber would be willing to put down her pipe and quit smoking for eternity, or sneak off for a smoke at night when the Board of Health isn’t looking.

By Jean Perry