The Marion Planning Board met this past Tuesday and began with a continued hearing from last meeting’s hearing on a Special Permit request from Derek A. Maksy and Denise Allard of 61 & 63 Oakdale Avenue. It was cited that the two lots were one until a few years ago. The property owners were present and seek to receive a Special Permit for both properties to add a pier onto the property. The proposed pier would be 127 feet in length with 16 feet of that being a ramp from land down over the sea wall. There will also be a bench at the end. The two properties would act as a single association, both sharing the pier.
There were numerous concerns raised from concerned locals. Worries over waterways navigational travel led to the request for a temporary marker to mark off where the pier would be to gauge its effect on maritime traffic. Chair Andrew Daniel said, “getting a boat through at high tide would be impossible.” Other members of the public were weary of boats passing, stating two boats could not pass side-by-side. Another from the community said, “please visit at low tide before you vote.”
The proliferation of docks, piers, and other coastal structures led to the citation of fears of the status of submerged aquatic vegetation. The properties’ representative stated, using GIS mapping, there have been no detection of sea grass or eelgrass in the proposed work area. There will also only be two piles into the water to reduce effects.
The Chair also stated the creation of an association pier and the implication that two properties can serve as an association “seems like a loophole.” He also said he would need to speak with Town Counsil on this.
A continuance was asked for by both the Board and the properties’ representative. The Chair stressed the need to cut the pier back as much as possible, with Member W. Dale Jones stressing the need for compromise.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, May 5 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Police Department Conference Room.
Marion Planning Board
By Sam Bishop