River Road abutters voiced their concerns over a proposed, two-lot subdivision located off Wareham Road adjacent to River Road when the Marion Planning Board met with Bob Rogers of G.A.F. Engineering on Monday night.
Rogers, representing Danielle Realty Trust, detailed the drainage plan and pointed out that a nearly identical project had been planned in November 2012 after receiving conditions and waivers. That project never advanced beyond the planning stage, Rogers noted. Now armed with updated drainage plans, proposals were back on the drawing table.
Rogers said that the basic, two-lot subdivision would now be connected to the municipal drainage system that the town installed in 2012. He said the project was pending new percolation testing being asked for by the Board of Health but that the original plan, other than stormwater drainage, was primarily the same.
A cul-de-sac that will provide the necessary frontage for the residential lots was discussed. Rogers told the board that a letter to the Fire Department had been sent with no comments received to date.
The roadway is planned to be 18-feet wide with two, 9-foot travel lanes. Planning Board member Andrew Daniel said that the requirement was for a total of 20 feet. Rogers responded that when a berm and swale were added to the 18-foot width proposed, the total exceeded 20 feet. He said there would be sufficient room for fire apparatus to maneuver.
Addressing questions from the board regarding the stormwater drainage plans, Rogers said, “There are seven catch basins along the 250-foot road.” He also reminded the members that the road would remain a private way.
When public comment was invited, several neighbors in the River Road area expressed their long-held concerns, centering primarily on stormwater potential to flood their established holdings.
Jack Beck, 17 River Road, said that in the past, heavy rainfall unchecked created deep ruts in his driveway. Eric Bart, 24 River Road, said that his basement is regularly flooded and that the removal of trees to create the lots will further add to the problems associated with runoff.
Rogers responded, “We have put extra effort into the design,” but that there may be a “couple of months” when the site is unstable that may be problematic. If weather comes into play, “…there may be sediment transfer,” he said. But Rogers also assured all that erosion controls would be in place.
Also voicing similar concerns were Jeremy Hutton, 67 Wareham Road, and board member Chris Collings, who was speaking as a private citizen.
The hearing was continued to Monday, November 21, at 7:05 pm.
The board voted unanimously to make official its acceptance of the revision to Section 300-2.1 through 300-6.1 of Marion’s Subdivision Rules and Regulations as presented at the board’s last meeting. The revision ditched the previously proposed use of a Hybrid-Y dead-end-road design and instead will allow the use of an expanded-width cul-de-sac or hammerhead, the required dimensions of which accompany diagrams that are now included in those Rules and Regulations.
As he had in the board’s last public meeting, local developer Sherman Briggs readdressed the matter of the Marion Village Overlay District, questioning the role of the Codification Committee as author of the document rather than the Planning Board.
Board Chairman Norm Hills once again explained that the Codification Committee is a subcommittee of the Planning Board. Daniel and fellow Planning Board member Jon Henry agreed that the Planning Board should author the document, but Planning Board members are not allowed per state Open Meeting Law to attend a Codification Committee meeting without turning it into a public meeting of the Planning Board requiring posting. Hills said that after the next meeting of the Codification Committee, he would bring the document to the Planning Board for its scrutiny.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, November 7, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Planning Board
By Marilou Newell