In 2015-16, the Mattapoisett Select Board began what would be known as the “village streets” project, a grand plan to improve all the village roadways and sidewalks to improve safety and convenience for pedestrians and cyclists. On Tuesday night, a plan was finally agreed upon with consulting engineers VHB.

            As noted in their previous meeting, the clock was ticking down for the town to submit a plan for Massachusetts Department of Transportation to review, the main funding source for the multi-million-dollar project.

            The VHB team returned on this night to share further modifications that had been requested by the Select Board, and the board was ready to move forward.

            After airing concerns that trees left in place during construction on Main Street, Water Street, Marion Road and Beacon Street might suffer, the Select Board agreed to the elimination of approximately 17 trees and a planting plan for approximately 40 new trees.

            Sidewalks were discussed with member Jodi Bauer stressing the importance of having sidewalks on the southerly side of the design (along the waterfront) for the safety of pedestrians.

            Carlos DeSousa, a retired engineer, offered a suggestion that since the roads would be opened during construction, it might be an opportunity to have all utilities upgraded, placing them underground. He said this would not require the removal of trees. He also noted that utility poles are not only unsightly, they are old. The board was unanimous in its response that such a plan would be cost prohibitive but agreed to have VHB evaluate that possibility with MassDOT.

            In the end, the board voted to have “Plan 4” submitted with minor changes to locations for sidewalks and that VHB would attend a planned December 15 meeting with the state agency to review final questions and the design. Interested residents should contact the Select Board’s office.

            Earlier in the meeting, the board voted to approve updated policies for the town’s Senior Work-off (real estate tax) Abatement program and the Veterans’ Work-off Abatement program. The programs are designed to give seniors (over age 60) and veterans up to $750 in tax rebates for work performed for the town.

            Also accepted by vote were updated snow-plowing regulations for private roads. Roads must be in good repair and must be clear of vehicles and other obstacles, while shoulders may not contain mailboxes, plantings, cobblestones and such. Most importantly, the roadway must have been constructed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Planning Board.

            The Select Board met with new Herring Inspector John Wilbur, who reported an approximate rise in herring numbers over 2022 of 20% or 1,700 fish. The total estimated fish count for 2023 was 4,000.

            Holiday in the Park 2023 was announced and planned for Saturday, December 9, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The town is looking for a Christmas tree to decorate Shipyard Park during the event and the season. Anyone interested in donating a tree is asked to contact the Highway Department at 508-758-4181. The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not announced at adjournment.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell

            The long-awaited Point Road walking and bike path has made strides recently and might save $30,000 in donated gravel.

            In the works for nearly four years, the Point Road Path project is coming along, according to Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission Chairman John Rockwell.

            At the commission’s November 2 public meeting, Rockwell updated the membership that Frank Linhares will be conducting retaining-wall work for $12,500, while Arne Excavating will be removing nine rocks in the area to help clear the path. That bid came out to $7,250.

            On another note, Rockwell said he and a member of the Marion Select Board are working on the possibility of getting approximately 2,000 yards of donated gravel, which would be a savings for the project.

            Rockwell and MOSAC had no specific timeline, but residents in that area have long called for a nice walking and biking area. That area has no safe place to run, walk or bike. A 2019 Town Meeting approved $268,000 for the project. Rockwell told residents at the meeting that the project has been long-awaited but is coming together.

            One resident asked how the path would connect to adjacent Jenna and Joanne Drives and how snowplows could impact the areas connected the path to those streets. Rockwell said he envisions enough gravel to make the path join easily with those drives, and he even hopes for a handicap-accessible strip to allow for safe access to the path from those roads.

            MOSAC disappointed residents last summer who wanted the path open this summer, but Rockwell at a July meeting explained that engineering and permitting account for 30 percent of costs.

            Rockwell also said at the July meeting that $117,000 of the $268,000 approved for the project in 2019 was allocated to “in-kind services” such as the Notice of Intent to plot the wetlands line and a match involving contract supervision and design work.

            Residents on the Zoom call at a November 2 meeting expressed gratitude with the project moving forward.

            The project ties in with the South Coast Bike Alliance, which seeks to create as many continuous bike paths all over the South Coast, connecting Marion and Mattapoisett with Greater New Bedford communities while also connecting to Greater Fall River communities.

            The next meeting of the Open Space Acquisition Commission was not scheduled upon adjournment.

Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday continued its review of two large projects until November 21 to give the town’s Planning Board time to review both plans first.

            JPF Development is seeking approval of a Notice of Intent to build a 15-acre, self-storage facility at Kings Highway and Route 28 that will feature the construction of seven self-storage buildings and an office with associated paved, access drives, parking areas, utilities and a stormwater-management system, located within the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone.

            Bob Rogers of G.A.F. Engineering opened the public hearing by explaining that the site has a varied topography because of the work that has been done on the site over the years. He is proposing to build a system that will grade stormwater runoff to the south into three separate water infiltration systems. These will include one for the parking area alone and the largest one for the area of the self-storage buildings.

            Rogers added he is asking the Conservation Commission for a continuance in order to hear first what the Planning Board will say about the project at the petitioner’s meeting with that board on November 14. He said he needs at least until November 21 to see how that input may change the plan.

            Conservation Commission Chairman Chris Gerrior emphasized the need to schedule a site visit as part of its review of the plan. Rogers hesitated to schedule one so soon. He said he is still busy with his survey crew, and where they would want to take their walk is not yet clear enough. It was agreed to wait to schedule that walk until after November 14.

            BWC Snows Pond LLC’s Notice of Intent plan is to build a solar array on 12.55 acres of a 31-acre parcel at 0 Cushman Road, to include a 2.39 megawatt (direct current), single-access tracking photovoltaic array and associated battery-energy storage within the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone.

            Engineering consultant Andrew Hamel said currently the lot is a grass field with woods that will need to be partially cleared, and there is a stone wall that will need to be cut into to provide an access road. He, too, said his project is being reviewed by the Planning Board on November 14.

            Melanie Sherman Morrison complained that she is such a close neighbor that she will have to constantly look at this solar array once it is erected. She wanted to know how close the array operations will come to her property and the wetlands near her and what will happen to stormwater runoff.

            Hamel said the array operations will stop 180 feet away from the area that concerns her, and that there will be no additional runoff caused by the project. Gerrior encouraged her to continue providing input when the Planning Board reviews the proposal on November 14.

            Here, too, the commissioners agreed to schedule a site visit via email with the membership, the petitioner and Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly and to continue the hearing until November 21.

            In other action, the commission approved a Notice of Intent to expand a back yard behind a single-family home at 31 Hiller Road by leveling the area with fill addition no closer than 25 feet from wetlands.

            Previously, homeowner Nathaniel Reece said he had already placed a silt fence and boulders where he wants his work to start. On November 7, he returned with a precise delineation of where the wetlands begin from a wetlands specialist. Those readings showed that his work will be no more than 35 to 40 feet from wetlands. The board will now work on the project’s Order of Conditions.

            The Rochester Conservation Commission scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, November 21, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco