Marion Board of Selectmen Chair Jonathan Henry gave an update on the Bay Watch Affordable Housing Project at the bi-weekly Selectmen’s meeting on the evening of Tuesday, March 20. According to Henry, the proposed project is moving along nicely and could be a reality soon.
“The atmosphere has been one of cooperation with the planners,” said Henry. “I am very encouraged by the willingness of the different boards to push this over the hump and get it started.”
The project proposes a new affordable housing complex, to be constructed off Route 105, providing 60 affordable rental units and 36 single-family homes. However, the latest modification of the plan has raised a number of issues since it came before the Zoning Board in January.
First, the road where the development would be constructed is not presently a public road, therefore school buses would not be able to go down the road and pick up the children. Also, because the road is a one-way, the town is concerned with how fire trucks and other emergency vehicles would be able to maneuver around and exit the property if necessary.
Henry addressed both of these issues at Tuesday’s meeting, saying that the town is trying to get the road in the public domain so they would be able to widen the road and make repairs as they see fit. He felt confident that the town would be able to reach a resolution with the planners and that the students would still have access to the bus on the street.
With regards to the emergency vehicles, Henry said the Fire Department and the town have come to a “handshake” agreement, that in the case of an emergency, the trucks and emergency vehicles would be able to turn around and have an alternative exit on the bike path and other abutting properties near the complex.
The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Thursday, March 22 to further discuss the project.
In other news, Town Administrator Paul Dawson was pleased to announce that the town’s audit report from the fiscal year 2011 was very strong with no issues.
The Board voted to approve Dawson to sign two contracts that would help improve roadways in town. The first contract would cost the town $330,000 and would help repave South Street, Ryder Lane and a portion of Spring Street. The second contract would give $247,500 to help improve the drainage systems on roads across town.
Marion resident Carol Sanz asked the Board for a number of status updates for projects that have recently been addressed at town meetings. Sanz inquired about the Town House Advisory Committee and whether or not the Board had met with the group to talk about the broadening of their research scope.
At the last Selectmen’s meeting, the committee went before the board asking permission to conduct more in-depth research than was originally outlined in their contract to determine what should be done with Marion Town House. The Board said they had met with the committee and that they will stick to their original contract outlines for now with the possibility to expand in the fall.
Sanz also requested an update for the lighting in the music hall and the Board said they would request an update and present it at the next meeting.
The Marion Board of Selectmen will meet again on Tuesday, April 3 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Town House.
By Katy Fitzpatrick