The residential development being vetted for Spring Street at Mill Street could result in stormwater runoff affecting bicyclists, according to Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission Chairman John Rockwell.
“This project’s been going ahead, I guess full steam for a while, and I figured, well, we’d be notified about it when it was time to make some real decisions, and we weren’t, so I found out about this project and asked for some plans,” Rockwell told MOSAC members at their April 1 Zoom meeting.
His concern stems from the condition of the land where Sherman Briggs and Hamblin Homes intend to construct 28 residential units near the bike path.
“Basically, it was a basin that held water…. The property used to be at a minimum 2 feet lower than what the bike path location is; now it will be higher than the bike path location,” said Rockwell. “Water would stay on the lot. Runoff now will be flowing off the lot.
“They’re not in the final design phase, so (I intend) to relate my concerns to the Planning Board, who’s gotten an engineer involved, and we’ll continue to look at this. If we have to take a legal position on it other than we’re concerned about flooding onto town property – that’s all I said…. We’ll be back for a more detailed discussion.”
Rockwell said MOSAC would write a letter if necessary.
“The traffic flow around there is already fairly complicated,” said MOSAC Vice Chairman Alan Harris.
Rockwell stated that the ongoing discussion over a potentially revised design for traffic flow through that area of Spring Street bears no influence on the bike path design.
“It’s not going to be decided by us or the Bike Path Committee,” said Rockwell, who also sits on the town’s Pathway Committee. “There’s a lot of things to consider…. I think the problems there really are coming down (Route) 105 to Marion. That turn onto Spring Street is more direct than to turn down 105…. People take that turn onto Spring Street fast.”
Rockwell further pointed out the difficult sightline for drivers exiting Spring Street and turning left onto Front Street while looking over their right shoulder back at oncoming traffic. “You really have to crank your head to do that,” he said.
A couple of years ago, three designs for the intersection were entertained by Marion residents, and Rockwell identified a consensus favoring more of a right angle that was shared by a meeting and the Marion Facebook page. Now the project is down to 75 percent design, he said, leaving only easements for construction and permitting. Feedback, said Rockwell, was due until a delay to April 20 was sought.
The Hoff property Conservation Restriction is complete. The commission tackled one outstanding matter, a $28.36 reimbursement of the Buzzards Bay Coalition for the FedEx delivery of the paperwork associated with the conservation restriction.
Harris said people are not cleaning up after their dogs. “If you’re walking around Grassi (Bog), you can’t go birdwatching around there too carefully,” he said. “You’ve got to keep your eyes on the trail.”
Harris said the problem extends to Sippican Lands Trust properties.
“The dogs get out and walk across Goldavitz, and that’s where they let go, and people are not taking care of their pets’ waste. Grassi, in particular, is a minefield,” he said. “I’m not trying to be negative. You know, we didn’t spend a lot of time and effort and the town’s money to get these properties to be latrines for dogs. That’s not helping our water quality, etcetera.”
“That’s another reason to consider a leash rule,” said MOSAC member Amanda Chace. “If people can’t be responsible enough to follow where their animals are going and relieving themselves that, if they’re on a leash, it’s easier to know.”
Harris emphasized, “The properties are useful, people are using them, and we want them to be used without easily avoidable conflicts.”
When the commission began to discuss open space maintenance, as listed on its April 1 agenda, the subject turned to fire roads on appropriate existing trails. Harris took the opportunity to mention the recent fire in a 10 by 4-foot area of his Point Road property that he said was extinguished by a man passing by with his child.
Rockwell said he met with Marion Fire Chief Brian Jackvony to discuss access in the area. “The trail maps are basically old fire roads…. He’s going to look at them, and we’ll see where we go from there,” said Rockwell. “None of these are big projects; they just need a little attention.
“We wouldn’t want people driving … into the private property, but I think signage would take care of that.”
Chace said she would make a sign.
Harris also said there are marks that indicate a truck has gone back into the Grassi Bog area. It was speculated that favorable fishing conditions there are the reason.
If someone has a pickup truck, the MOSAC can use their help, as sheet metal has been found at Grassi Bog.
“In the past, we had recycled that to some profit,” noted Harris. “I also believe there’s some metal at Goldavitz Bog in the middle there, metal waste that could be recycled.”
Rockwell suggested that the pumping of water behind the dike at Goldavitz Bog into an irrigation pond. “You can probably find them for the next couple of weeks, they’re visible now,” he said.
Harris said he no longer has a working trailer, and Rockwell added that there are also some pipes at Goldavitz and also at the nearby White Eagle parcel.
MOSAC is seeking a volunteer to haul out the metal.
The next meeting of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission is scheduled for Thursday, May 6, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission
By Mick Colageo