The November 4 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board was very brief, but decisions made on this night were critical to ongoing road work and associated storm water drainage upgrades.
Coming before the board to defend and explain the requested hearings for the removal of four trees, three Norway maples and one green ash, was Ken Motta of Field Engineering, representing the town’s Highway Department. Motta discussed the lengths taken to try and minimize the number of trees removed so that the Highway Department could open the roadway at the intersection of Pearl and Church Street. He said that drainage designs were complete and that the roadway itself needed to be a 40-foot layout.
Regarding the trees in question, Motta said one or more were diseased and needed culling, while others may suffer root damage during construction. Removal of the four was deemed “unavoidable.” Motta also pointed to ADA requirements that constrained other designs.
Sandy Hering, chairman of the Tree Committee, said, “I question a 24-foot road. It doesn’t allow for trees…” and she wanted to discuss the possibility of wider curb strips for tree planting. Chairman Tom Tucker truncated the discussion saying he wanted to return to the agenda and vote on the hearings after which he was willing to return to the more general discussion of roadway designs and trees.
Town Planner Victoria Alfaro said that a public hearing will be held for public input regarding ADA compliant sidewalks; date to be announced.
The board voted to remove the trees with roadway construction planned for Spring 2025.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for November 18 at 7:00 pm.
Mattapoisett Planning Board
By Marilou Newell