Planning board meetings are the venue for holding public hearings on issues related to bylaws such as amendments, changes, or the inclusion of new bylaws. “But that doesn’t mean we have to sponsor them,” said Mattapoisett Planning Board Chairman Tom Tucker on April 1.
The meeting agenda read, “Discussion and Vote On Sponsorship: Zoning Bylaw amendment to permit an increase in lot coverage in the Limited Industry District from 50-percent to 70-percent based on the availability of sewer service.”
Planning Board Administrator Mary Crain explained that Town Administrator Michael Gagne had sent a letter to the board members instructing them to consider the zoning bylaw amendment that would impact this business area; however, the actual amendment, one that would eventually have to find its way to Town Meeting, was not provided.
Attending the meeting was Highway Superintendent Barry Denham, who said he was on the committee tasked with preparing plans and documents related to the future expansion of the town’s Limited Industry District – land confined to an area off North Street and wedged between what is now the Bay Club and Route 195 to the Marion town line.
“The original lot coverage was based on those lots having on-site septic systems,” said Denham. That’s why so much land was set aside.” He continued, saying that plans being explored include providing municipal sewer service to that area that could ultimately mean an increase in available area for development, larger buildings, or possibly multiple buildings on a single lot.
The committee has been investigating grant proposals that could fund an even larger multi-million dollar project that would include a new roadway with infrastructure improvements like the continuation of the Mattapoisett bike path from North Street to the Marion town line, along with the opportunity for new businesses.
“Now there is a proposal to run sewer, so land can be freed up for building purposes,” Denham said. “It’s important to the tax base.”
Lot coverage and how it is calculated was questioned by Planning Board members Karen Field and Nathan Ketchell who suggested parking and impervious surfaces as a necessary component in preparing calculations versus simply just the size and number of structures.
Denham said each lot would have to have stormwater systems sufficient to handle water on site, but Ketchell inferred that there might be a way for existing businesses to circumvent making changes in stormwater management planning simply through the Building Department.
Arriving to address some of the questions that night was David McIntire, a prime mover and property owner in the land being discussed.
“Anything over 1,000 square feet will come to the Planning Board for review,” McIntyre stated.
Planning Board member Janice Robbins said, “I don’t feel informed enough to know if 70 percent is reasonable. We haven’t even seen the draft yet. I can’t vote on something I haven’t seen.”
Field also asked McIntire where he was proposing to locate a marijuana cultivation operation, a topic not slated for discussion on this night but brought up by Field. McIntire said there were three possible locations within the Limited Industry District, including a former hat factory, which he said he was in negotiations to purchase.
Tucker said the Planning Board didn’t need to sponsor the amendment being discussed, but that it is required to hold the public hearing on the proposed amendment article before it could advance to Town Meeting.
“The selectmen can sponsor it if they want to,” Tucker stated.
In other matters, engineer Doug Schneider represented Andre Rieksts for an informal discussion for a two-lot subdivision off Park Place. He described the project as “evolving”, and inclusive of a plan to construct a more than 400-foot long private driveway extending from a currently constructed but unimproved public roadway known as Park Place.
The proposal would include Park Place being improved by the developer and continuing on across the former railroad easement to a cul-de-sac.
Schneider described water management systems that would include the installation of culverts and wetlands considerations such as replication areas and turtle crossings. He explained that the two new lots would be serviced by municipal water and sewer services currently available along Park Place.
The project received a favorable first impression from the board members.
The board also re-visited a Form C Definitive Subdivision project proposed by Scott Snow to be located off Prospect Road, known as Eldridge Estates. The proposal includes a five-lot design.
Tucker said that the applicant was seeking a continuance until May 8. Snow offered that difficulties had been ironed out with the Sewer Department regarding private septic plans for some lots and municipal sewer tie-ins for others, and assured the board that plans would be completed by the hearing date, May 8.
Another discussion item was a request by Joseph Furtado to grant building permits for residential construction at the Brandt Point Village subdivision. This request inspired Tucker to look up from the table saying, “The developer didn’t even come in!” Then ensued a lively discussion regarding the historic lack of responsiveness on the part of the developers, incomplete or insufficient completion of work on Phase One – most notably, the ill-working community septic system – and three incomplete structures now suffering the ravishes of time and weather.
Crain said she would again ask for developer representatives to present themselves at a future meeting and also request an updated report from peer review consultant Ken Motta of Field Engineering. The request for new building permits was denied.
Before adjourning, Crain said she would be requesting assistance from SPREDD to aid in the development of Zoning Bylaw amendments.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for May 8 at 7:00 pm at Old Hammondtown School.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell