The Marion Planning Board’s meeting on Monday, June 15 was made easy by a mellow agenda. After engaging in a discussion about the board’s pending comments to the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals for the First Congregational Church’s appeal of a proposed abutting housing project, care of Bill Saltonstall, the board held two pre-submission conferences for upcoming construction projects. The first was a continuation for the Tucker Lane Solar Farm and the second was G.A.F. Engineering’s first time before the board on behalf of the gas station located at 439 Wareham Street.

The board concluded the Tucker Lane Solar Farm’s pre-submission conference by agreeing that, although the environmental assessment seemed excessive given the board’s knowledge of the property, it was appropriate given that the solar farm is the first project following the Town’s approval of the new solar bylaw.

“I don’t believe there’s an environmental impact that we’re going to see from this,” Clerk Norman Hills said. “I don’t believe there are any long- or short-term impacts that don’t already exist on that site.”

While Hills initially expressed that the environmental assessment would not be necessary, he pointed out that the project would still need to go before the Marion Conservation Commission.

Planning Board Chairman Robert Lane, however, advised his fellow board members to proceed conservatively on this project.

“I, for one, would like to see an independent professional confirm these views,” he said.

While Lane agreed with Hill’s comments about the property, he stressed that given the new solar bylaw, the board should seek an informed outside opinion rather than base its judgment on board members’ initial impressions.

“I think it’s only reasonable considering it’s the first time since the bylaw,” Lane argued.

Ultimately, the board agreed that the Tucker Lane Solar Farm must work with the board’s selected consultant as soon as possible after submitting the site plan.

The board asked a number of questions during the pre-submission conference for the new gas station, which hopes to operate the existing station at 439 Wareham Street for the 2015 summer season. The owner is currently working with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Marion Fire Department to ensure that the current infrastructure is approved for use, but will be appearing before the Planning Board and Conservation Commission throughout the summer in preparation for new construction that will hopefully be completed by the 2016 spring season.

Along with G.A.F. Engineering, the board heard from the project’s architect, who revealed conceptual drawings of the saltbox-style retail space accompanying the gas station. G.A.F. Engineering explained that the full-service gas station would feature at least 34 parking spaces, two curb cuts on Route 6 and Mill Street, and a footprint less than 5,000 square feet.

“There’s a real desire to make this friendly to trucks and vehicles with boats,” G.A.F. Engineering said.

The plan also features a front porch and extensive landscaping.

“We’ve got quite a lot of green space that would serve as buffer or stormwater management,” G.A.F. Engineering said.

The architect justified her design for the retail space to the board, saying that the saltbox-style allows a larger first floor to house the gas station’s convenience store and the smaller second floor to house Anytime Fitness, a 24/7 fitness center franchise that has already been in contact with the gas station’s owner. The owner assured the board that the fitness center would not be a disturbance to the abutters.

“I love this style,” board member Stephen Gonsalves said. “It’s very tasteful.”

The board voted to conclude the pre-submission conference as G.A.F. Engineering hopes to file by June 29 in order to appear on the board’s target date for the public hearing, which is July 20.

The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board will be on Monday, July 6 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Anne Smith

Frustrated subdivision homeowners and three members of the subdivision development team clashed over persistent unresolved issues at Brandt Point Village at the June 15 Mattapoisett Planning Board meeting.

A change in ownership of the subdivision and in the contractor performing work on the site has caused the project to start and stop over the course of the last six years with only a few homes being completed and road construction incomplete. This has resulted in some of the first homeowners in the subdivision believing the developers have made misrepresentations.

Gail Carlson and Dennis Dimos, 4 Nantucket Road, told new contractor Joseph Furtado, original principal John Williams, and John McGreen, attorney representing new owners that, “roads are a mess, no wetlands remediation, snow was only plowed twice last winter, and weeds are four feet tall … the turtle fencing is falling down, drains don’t work, there are open electrical conduits.” What they heard repeatedly over the course of about an hour of exchanges was that the plan is to take care of everything.

Williams said, “We are in a transition period,” noting that Furtado was the new contractor.

McGreen asked the board to release the last lot being held by the town in Phase I so that work can move forward to make repairs to existing roadways.

Furtado said, “Catch basins will be addressed. Whatever deficiencies exist now will be repaired by July.”

Highway Surveyor Barry Denham, who has been intimately involved in issues with the roadways said, “The base coat is not 2.5-inches as it’s supposed to be, the thing is failing all over the place, holding water all over the place. I’d like to make sure the money we hold is enough to complete the road.”

McGreen assured everyone that it was within the best interest of the investors to make the roads meet all necessary specifications, confirming again that that work would be completed.

Denham insisted on having test borings done to ensure that the road in its current state has been built to engineering design. Furtado agreed.

“My commitment is the completion of the entire project,” said Furtado. “I’m 62 years old. I’ve been doing this work my whole life and everything I do I do as if I am going to live there.”

Paul Osenkowski, a vocal opponent of the subdivision who has asked repeatedly that a Cease and Desist order from the Planning Board be invoked until Phase I is completed as written, was again voicing concerns. He questioned why the board wasn’t doing more to protect the town.

Planning Board member John Mathieu said, “All we can do is move forward and hope that Mr. Furtado can do what he says.”

“I hope that Mr. Furtado is a man of his word,” said Osenkowski, as the two made eye contact that held for several seconds.

Denham said work on Phase II has been quality work thus far and also requested that as-built plans be presented as an overlay to engineered drawings, making final review an easier process. Furtado agreed to that request.

It was decided that the development company will request in writing a release of the last lot in Phase I for sale, and that the proceeds be held in escrow against completion of work in Phase I. They were asked to return to the next board meeting with a formal request.

In other business, Tree Warden Roland Cote was back before the board seeking approval to remove more diseased and distressed trees. This prompted board member Karen Field to query if trees in town were suffering from some sort of disease. Cote said that many of the trees were planted at the same time and weren’t the best choices.

Denham, who is responsible for tree inspections throughout the town, said, “I’ve said for many years we have to look at trees that are going to be good species … we need diversity…. Planting new trees will allow a variety of ages of the trees around town.”

Cote received permission to remove maple trees located at the southeast corner of Mechanic and Church Streets, 19 Pearl Street, and 21 Beacon Street.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for July 6 at 7:00 pm in the Mattapoisett Town Hall meeting room.

By Marilou Newell