An engineer working with the Mattapoisett Water & Sewer Department presented the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on September 24 with the Town’s plan to construct a new water main between Avenues A and B, and Beach and Bay Roads in the Point Connett and Pease’s Point beach neighborhoods.
Kevin Flood, senior project manager with Foss & O’Neill, Inc., a civil engineering firm, armed with detailed engineered drawings, spoke to the construction methodology that would be deployed, a method that would ensure a low impact on the surrounding coastal zone.
“We’ll use a directional drilling method,” Flood said, that would allow for a targeted, deep boring into the ground while leaving the surface level intact. While there would be some topside disruption, it would not require remediation. Flood said that beach grasses would be replaced at the direct drilling points.
Water & Sewer Superintendent Henri Renauld said the current water main has at times become exposed due to storm activity, leaving it at risk for damage or rupture. He concurred with Flood that the new pipe installed in this manner would less likely become exposed in the future.
According to Flood, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is requiring that the Town apply for a Chapter 91 license. Chapter 91 regulations are the oldest program of this type in the nation, impacting activities on both coastal and inland waterways including construction, and was formally adopted by the Commonwealth in 1866.
Conversation Commission Chairman Mike King said that although the Chapter 91 application was pending, the commission could proceed with acceptance of the plan as described. The commission approved the Notice Of Intent Application.
Mattapoisett secured a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management in the amount of $498,000 to help cover infrastructure costs associated with this major undertaking.
Also during the meeting, Jon Connell of SITEC, representing David Vermette of 116 North Street, presented the commission with a Request for Determination of Applicability for lot grading over a septic system and landscaping. Connell acknowledged that the application was a bit “after-the-fact,” given that the grading and landscaping had already taken place. But he said that when Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidlhold first studied the proposed construction of a single-family home on the lot, there appeared to be no jurisdictional areas; therefore, the Wetlands Protection Act would not be applicable.
Connell further explained that, after further investigation, it was determined that a small area of wetlands was located across North Street and so the developer was asked to file the RDA.
Abutters James McCarthy and Stefan Gabriel, residents of Alder Berry Lane, came forward to express their concern that the home would cause stormwater runoff onto their already drenched properties. King said it was highly unlikely that water from the applicant’s lot would drain across North Street to the wetlands in question and that water flow towards Alder Berry Lane was the natural direction.
Connell said that it was the natural lay of the land that would cause water to flow towards the abutters’ properties, and not that the already constructed home would cause more water to flow in their direction.
McCarthy suggested that wasn’t the case, given the footprint of the structure and disturbance of the land. King said that, had the project come before the commission prior to construction, it may have required roof runoff to travel through an underground recharge system, but that was not feasible now.
“We are only here to look at the septic and grading,” King said.
Commissioner Trevor Francis questioned whether the commission had jurisdiction over sheet flow, water movement from either groundwater or stormwater. King confirmed they did not.
The project received a negative determination of applicability.
In other business, William Cantor, 33 Main Street, received a negative determination of applicability for tree trunk removal; James Neely, 7 Rock Street, also received a negative determination for the construction of a tool shed.
Certificates of Compliance were issued to Caroline’s Way Trust, 1 Goodspeed Island, and William Hewitt, 8 Brierpatch Lane.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conversation Commission will be held at Center School in the conference room on October 22 at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell