The Marion Planning Board met Tuesday, February 18 and welcomed Olivia Pryor, a new Administrative Assistant.

            The Chair asked that members email him directly should they have concerns arising from the meeting. Issues such as improper procedures, technical problems, distractions, or other issues. When said issues arise and when the chair is notified. he will direct concerns to the appropriate party. He also advised members that when writing emails, letters, items for newspapers, or social media, to make it clear that communication reflects their own views and not those of the board collectively.

            Special Hearing on FSJ property at 207-215 Wareham Street was continued to March 17 at party’s request.

            Minutes from meeting on February 3 approved with corrections, one of which clarifying a member’s comment on Short-Term Rentals. The statement will be corrected to read that Short Term-Rentals should be allowed only in general business and limited industrial areas and not in residential areas.

            The Continued Public Hearing regarding amendments and additions to the building code regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s), consistent with MGL40A, s.5 and General Town Bylaws, was opened. After a lengthy discussion on refining and clarifying proposed language, a vote to move those changes forward was passed.

            The agenda item on Aquifer Protection was discussed briefly and deferred to the next meeting, as was the discussion on Short-Term Rentals. Both will be tackled at the March 3 meeting and members should prepare for a lengthy meeting.

            Comments to ZBA on proposed home expansion at 6 Whitaker Street. Permit is requesting an increase of approximately 125% on a small house occupying two lots. Most members had no comment; one expressed that the property should be in keeping with the scale of the other properties in the area.

            Before adjourning, the chair asked that members and others present put the word out that both the Fireworks Committee and the 175th Marion Anniversary Committee are looking for members.  Those interested in learning more are encouraged to contact Donna Hemphill at Town Hall – dhemphill@marionma.gov.

            The next meeting is scheduled for March 3, Police Department Conference Room, 7:00 pm.

Marion Planning Board

By Mary McCann Fiske

On February 20, the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals heard a new variance petition filed by William Wennerberg for property located on Fairhaven Road. The posted petition notes that the applicant is seeking to build a three-bedroom, two-story home on a lot that had previously been petitioned and approved by the board.

            Representing the applicant was David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon & Leone. Davignon stated that the earlier petition had “timed out” but was reinstated by new state guidelines for another two years. However, because the property owners now wished to build a smaller home than previously planned, the Mattapoisett Building Department declared it a new filing.

            Davignon said that the petitioner’s new plan shows a marginally smaller footprint for the new structure, that the Board of Health had permitted the sewer connection, and that the original filing had been approved by the ZBA. Lot coverage was reduced from 22.7% to 17.4%. A one-stall garage is also planned.

            The project was approved for a Variance.

            Also approved was a filing for Special Permit by Paul V. Walsh Trust, 113 Angelica Avenue, for the demolition of an existing 1944 structure and the construction of a new two-story home in an AE flood zone. Also representing Walsh, Davignon told the board that the lot was surrounded on all four sides by streets and said that the new structure will be in better conformance with FEMA regulations. A detached garage is also planned.

            The petition was approved.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals was not scheduled upon adjournment.

Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals

By Marilou Newell

            Rochester’s Planning Board began its meeting Tuesday by reviewing a unique proposal to permit a floating solar array at 53 Dexter Lane.

            In an informal discussion of the project with the board, Matt Swanberg of New Leaf Energy explained such a design is only allowed on man-made ponds. That means cranberry ponds used for agricultural purposes such as the Dexter Lane site qualifies. New Leaf Energy’s proposal is for a two-megawatt solar array with panels on a connected series of floating docks.

            The board prepared Swanberg and his associate Annie Cornell for the formal application process that will follow with some tough questions. Board member Paul Carr asked, “what happens to this floating dock in August when the bog has lost its water?” “What materials will the docks be made of and how will they be anchored?” asked Michael Murphy. “How will the integrity of the electrical equipment be preserved?” asked vice chair Ben Bailey. Chairman Arnold Johnson noted children, and deer will encroach upon their equipment if it is not properly fenced in and asked that site plans include the site lines between the panels and nearby homes.

            Swanberg said the docks will be installed with a special system that will account for how low the water levels can go, and the docks will be anchored to the bottom of the pond. He noted, however, that the company is reaching out to vendors as it irons out these details of its plan. He said in his next meeting with the board he will be willing to talk about a specific application and application fees.

            In other action, the board voted to craft a draft decision for the Site Plan Review Permit application for the Eversource substation at 214 Rounsville Road. Upgrades are necessary to interconnect distributed generation facilities in town. Two factors, however, almost derailed this decision. Johnson, at first, wanted the hearing to be continued to its next meeting because the check for the project’s additional $4,1600 filing fee has not been received. Johnson and the other board members also objected to Eversource’s request that the company be allowed to not use bio-hydrological fluids in its construction equipment. This exemption would cause a hazard for residential wells if these fluids seep into the ground. “That is something we are not going to waive,” Johnson said.

            Eversource representative Dan Higgins said he will seek a vendor that will be able to comply with this condition, though it won’t be easy. Fellow Eversource representative Heather Sykes successfully argued that the check was requested as soon as she was made aware of the fee, but a check from the Eversource corporate office takes time. The approval vote that resulted was unanimous.

            The board also approved the Definitive Subdivision Plan application for 386 Snipatuit Road, a plan to divide 24 acres into one lot containing an existing home and outhouse on two acres and two other lots with frontage on a new roadway to be named Peter Crapo Cartway.

            In response to a Notice of Intent to convert Chapter 41B forest land at 0 Walnut Plain Road, the board voted to recommend to the selectmen that the town not exercise its right of first refusal to purchase the property.

            The Rochester Planning Board did not set its next meeting prior to adjournment.

Rochester Planning Board

By Michael J. DeCicco