Approximately 90% of survey respondents would like the Town of Marion to preserve its historic character, the Historic District Study Committee concluded at its August 4 public meeting.
While the committee will host a public meeting on September 12 to further discuss what a bylaw and related regulations would entail, members said the responses were not as positive in connection to some of the detailed questions regarding demolition or other proposed regulations.
The committee hopes to further gauge public opinion at the September 12 meeting, and Chairman Will Tifft plans on meeting with members of the Select Board to discuss the findings.
“It will be an opportunity to engage public input with the results,” according to member Eric Dray. Although only 80 people responded to the mailed survey, that volume represents a high number for a public survey of that kind, according to Dray.
“No survey (in town government) has gotten this response rate,” Tifft said.
In addition to the September 12 meeting, the study committee also plans on an ambitious schedule that could lead to a bylaw and official historic district by next spring’s Town Meeting. Members said that the Warrant for the annual Town Meeting closes by March 1.
The committee would plan on involving the Planning Board and then conducting some public hearings by March 1.
The real challenge is getting more people involved and learning about the proposal before Town Meeting, study committee members say, noting that sometimes people do not learn about a new bylaw proposal and a proposed change until Town Meeting.
Members hope to avoid that trend and that whatever change is proposed represents the interests of many people who want to preserve historic structures and areas in town.
Marion Historic District Study Committee
By Jeffrey D. Wagner