A presentation by Jon Gregory, an engineer from Tata & Howard in Lakeville, on the replacement of the existing water tower, located in East Marion, engaged the Planning Board for over an hour at Monday’s meeting held at the Marion Town House.
The $1.5 million cost of replacing the tank, with associated expenses, was approved in 2013 at Town meeting.
At issue is taking down a water tower holding two million gallons of water and replacing it with a water tower – adjacent to the existing tower – that holds one million gallons of water at a cost of $1.5 million
Also at issue is the right of way to service the tower and who will service the mowing and maintenance of that road, or ‘right of way’.
Rob Zora, Superintendent of the Department of Public Works, attended the meeting and assured everyone that the Town would service the access road (grass mowing) and plow it in the winter.
The original water tower was built from concrete in 1965 and has served its ‘useful life,’ according to Gregory, who represented the applicant, the Town of Marion. The tower is located on land owned by Great Hill and the Town of Marion and serves not only as a source of household water, but also a source for water pressure in the event of a house fire.
Zora and Water Commission member David Pierce both attended the meeting and answered questions regarding the project. Both voiced approval of the project.
Next up was a discussion and approval of the combination of two lots located at 57 and 59 Holmes Street. A quick, but efficient discussion of the history and future of the lots was agreed upon.
On the agenda next was a pre-submission conference of a Site Plan/Request for Determination of Modification of Site Plan, PHB Realty Trust, Hiller Corporation, 635 Mill Street in Marion.
After much discussion, the board agreed that the applicant needed more information to get approval for the project and agreed that the applicant and the engineer would come before the board at the next scheduled meeting.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
