The December 12 meeting of the Mattapoisett Tree Committee primarily dealt with one rather major project, the total updating of roadways throughout the village district that includes Main, Water and Beacon Streets and (old) Marion Road.
The project is currently undergoing final changes to achieve 25% design. It is at least the third major update that the project has undergone since it began its journey in 2015 – a quest for grant funding estimated recently at $8,800,000. The town applied for Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) funding, a combination grant from state and federal sources, in the hope of being placed on the 2026 distribution. Weighing in the balance, however, is a plan that the town’s people will support.
Headed up by the engineering group VHB, the project has been discussed at several public meetings over the years, mostly in concert with the Select Board. Tree Committee members took a special interest in the project, given growing concern over the number of trees that planners determined need to be removed. In some cases, a tree needed to be removed for state compliance and in other cases to allow for the construction of sidewalks, it was explained. As of December 12, the number of trees slated for removal stood at 26.
On this night, all that history and new requests for more substantive involvement between VHB and the Tree Committee was aired.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco made the case for moving forward with the project now, while state and federal grant monies are available. If a 25% design can be achieved now, the town could plan on being placed on the money ladder for the 2026 TIP distribution. If the town waivers much longer, it would slide down that ladder. Mattapoisett, he contended, needs to be shovel ready now.
Tree Committee and Select Board member Jodi Bauer agreed that losing trees would be a blow but believes that for the future generations and for safety’s sake, some trees would have to come down.
Lorenco said that utility poles and ADA requirements make it necessary to provide adequate space and that large trees with wide canopies make that difficult. Bauer advocated for the placement of new sidewalks along the southside of Water Street. All sidewalks currently in place would remain, and new sidewalks would replace footpaths.
Speaking as both a Tree Committee and Planning Board member was William Wennerberg, who stated plainly that he was in favor of moving forward with the current plan and, when asked, made it clear that the Planning Board would not have oversight for trees that will be removed in this project, given that it is a municipal project superseding the board’s approval.
Tree Committee Chairman Sandy Hering asked if each tree could be brought before the Planning Board in an individual hearing format; Wennerberg did not think that would be applicable.
Hering made the point that although the Tree Committee had attended public meetings in this matter, suggestions made by the committee did not appear to be incorporated in the planning done by VHB. She asked several times for a meeting between VHB and the committee. She noted that a July 2022 presentation by the committee that made suggestions regarding trees didn’t seem to make it into the plans. Yet the plan does include the planting of some 31 new trees.
Wennerberg commented that removing the trees, “…won’t feel good,” but having walkable sidewalks is important.
Earlier in the meeting, Lorenco stated that the current project estimate of $8,800,000 (if financed by the town) would mean that taxes would climb an additional $3,300, taking 15 years to pay off. Lorenco shared that a public hearing on the project will be posted after comments are received from MassDOT on the 25% design. He also noted that the majority of issues that the state agency is reviewing are for utilities.
Regarding utilities, Carlos DaSouza (Marine Advisory Board member and retired engineer) once again broached the topic of placing utilities underground. During at least two public meetings on this road project, he has suggested that the town approach Eversource about a utilities upgrade, placing it inside underground conduits, thereby eliminating the need to remove so much of the town’s remaining tree canopy.
“They laughed in our face,” both Lorenco and Bauer stated when such a plan was raised for Eversource’s consideration. Cost prohibitions, Lorenco stated, were classified by the utility as “exuberant.”
Lorenco said that plans are and have been available for viewing at Town Hall, but Tree Committee member Mike Immel wanted to know, “how can we work more and better with the Select Board?” Lorenco said he would let the board know of the committee’s request.
Wennerberg summed up the need for the project to move forward this way: “We need safe walkable streets. This is an opportunity to made improvements for the future. There will be additional trees, but the right trees. The future (generations) will be left with a bio-diverse tree canopy. Trees will be placed where they won’t conflict.” Hering responded, “We did that, and it fell on deaf ears. Those old oaks will be missed.”
The scope of the project is nothing short of immense. The Highway Department’s role cannot be overstated and will include new EPA-compliant drainage. The Water/Sewer Department also plays a key role regarding new water mains and improved sewers that are currently not part of village road project.
And, not to put too fine a point on all that was shared, Lorenco talked about the $130,000,000 worth of capital projects currently listed on the town’s 10-year plan and the $35,000,000 of debt the town is currently carrying.
Hering concluded the two-hour meeting, saying, “we know there will be trees lost, but the Tree Committee hasn’t been informed by VHB on new technology to protect trees and planting new trees with protection, specifications and best practices. Can we work with the arborist?” Lorenco said he would talk to VHB.
Mattapoisett Tree Committee
By Marilou Newell