At its January 6 meeting, the Board heard from parties with proposals in progress.
Will Tifft, chair of the Marion Historic District Study Committee, spoke to the Board. The committee was formed by the Select Board two years ago with the mission to explore possible creation of a local historic district in the Marion Village area as recommended by the town’s Master Plan. This would be in conformity with state guidelines and consistent with such designations in many other communities in the South Coast and statewide.
After its extensive research, which began with outreach surveys to residents and included assessing the impact of the designation in comparable towns, the Committee has identified a specific geographic area and developed a proposed set of bylaws to be considered by voters. These detail the respective “ground rules,” rights and responsibilities for the community.
Tifft noted that the Committee is actively reaching out to the community to share the plan, answer questions and offer detailed information including maps, FAQs and background information.
Its first public meeting will be on January 15 at 5:30 pm at the Cushing Community Center (COA) at 465 Mill Street.
In a Continued Public Hearing on the Special Permit & Major Site Plan Review for 78 Wareham Road, LLC, Matthew Zuker presented a newly designed Front Entry Plan, engineered in response to the Board’s concerns about traffic flow along Rte. 6. The new entry plan’s layout and signage will make the driveway entrance prominent to drivers along the highway, allowing anticipation of leaving the complex, facilitating safe merging into traffic. Additional road signs will be provided by the DOT according to its protocols. DOT will also determine placement of curb cuts, with Zuker and his engineer ensuring the development’s paving is aligned. On the other open issue with the project, Zuker noted that another round of groundwater testing is written into the contract, to be done by an independent consultant once construction is underway.
Board members were pleased with the entry plan and with Zuker’s continuing coordination with town officials on ensuring compliance with environmental and other restrictions. They thanked him for his efforts and continued the hearing to the next meeting.
Another Continued Public Hearing on the agenda, regarding the FSJ Marion Realty LLC project at 207-215 Wareham Street, was continued at the applicant’s request.
In other business, the Board approved payments from the consulting accounts of the 78 Wareham Road and 207-215 Wareham Street projects, deferred a scheduled discussion on the Aquifer Protection District and approved the minutes of its December 16, 2024, meeting.
The next meeting of the Planning Board will be January 27 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Police Department.
Marion Planning Board
By Mary McCann Fiske