Winter’s End Sparks Eval of Recreation Facilities

            On March 3, Mattapoisett’s Master Plan Committee met to continue exploring concepts and ideas on what living in Mattapoisett might be like for all of its residents in the coming years. Building on the previously explored chapters, which included Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, and Climate Resiliency, on this night, the committee opened discussions for chapters covering Open Space, Recreation, and Natural and Cultural Resources and Services.

            Before plunging too deeply into the topic of Open Space, committee member Carlos DeSousa wanted to drive home what he believed was an important point – existing regulations. “We should look at other regulations such as the waterfront management plan,” he said, explaining that those regulations already covered a variety of recreating topics, primarily on the waterfront, and that those standards should be added to the updated plan.

            Robin Lepore brought the group up to date on the efforts of the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path to have amenities added to the bike path plan, such as benches and signage. She also said that the selectmen would be working with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation about the possible bifurcating of the construction contract, given that the opening of the Shining Tides (Phase 1a) section would not be opening this spring.

            In attendance as administrative assistant to the Planning Board, Mike Gagne said that improvement to the crossings at Mattapoisett Neck and Brandt Island Road is in the bidding stages, as well as a parking study for Railroad Avenue.

            Committee member Yasmin Flefleh wanted to make sure that recreational opportunities in the greater village area are not overlooked, adding that the return of the skateboard area near the police station is necessary. She also commented that the consolidation of schools might have a negative impact on children. Gagne said a study was about to get underway that would include school consolidation options.   

            Turning to available open spaces, Lepore and Nathan Ketchel thought the former Holy Ghost grounds now owned by the town might be an ideal location for a playground and rest area for bicyclists. Member Mary Dermody suggested that any amenities added along the bike path should include other areas such as the wharf area and said that the sailing program is an important recreational activity.

            Turning their attention to Natural and Cultural Resources, Ketchel thought that perhaps the tree bylaw governing scenic byways and canopy cover might be expanded to include more streets. He also suggested that a local wetlands bylaw would be beneficial, especially for such features as isolated bodies of water.

            Last year, the Town of Marion began requiring denitrification in new septic systems, and Ketchel said he thinks that Mattapoisett’s Board of Health might consider developing regulations that govern nitrogen removal in septic systems, especially along the Mattapoisett River Valley. He said that sump pumps discharging directly into the municipal stormwater runoff need to be addressed.

            On the topic of residential subdivisions, Ketchel voiced the need to have natural landscaping left in place versus clear-cutting entire construction sites.

            Member Donna Shea said she would like to see more cultural events such as open-air musical performances, theater, and art shows.

            Circling back to the harbor and stormwater runoff, DeSousa said, “We need to do something somehow so that we don’t have raw stormwater discharging into the harbor.” He said that after a big storm event, plumes of murky water flood the harbor, sometimes not dissipating for several days. Gagne noted that new state environmental regulations, Municipal Storm Separate Storm Sewer System, aka, MS4, “will address this based on discharges.”

            The lack of public access to the waterfront was broached in a wide-ranging manner that covered everything from what is currently truly public and beachfront that cannot be accessed due to private property and/or private associations. Gagne thinks securing an accurate map of the waterfront is a first step towards looking into any lots that might be used for public access.

            Onward, the committee marched into the chapter covering Services, to which they included Facilities.

            Member Bob Bergman said that flood mapping would demonstrate the vulnerability of such buildings as Town Hall and Center School. DeSousa said that the police station has not been renovated since the mid-1980s and needs to be taken into account, including energy studies for all municipal buildings, maintenance costs, and the hiring of a consultant to facilitate the process.

            Walsh called litter throughout the community an “eye-sore” and said that “maybe some town effort could be made to clear sidewalks of snow.”

            The issue of improvements to Route 6, though more apropos to the Transportation chapter planned for future meetings, was also discussed.

            Member Janice Robbins said, when an earlier Route 6 study covering Fairhaven through Wareham had been completed by the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District, it was left up to the communities to decide what they wanted to do with the results. Robbins is the Planning Board’s designated member to SRPEDD. Gagne suggested that the Master Plan committee could take up the report in question in a meeting dedicated solely to that topic. Gagne also thinks nothing is impossible and that if the committee could establish a list of priorities associated with Route 6, it could be added to the Master Plan. “It’s an opportunity to send a message to the town fathers and legislature,” he said.

            Returning to playgrounds, Robbins thinks it would be advantageous to know what the current usage is to establish the need for more facilities. Gagne thinks that the majority of children in the town reside north of Route 6, where homes were more affordable, and that there had been some consideration of providing those households with playground areas closer to home. He thinks polling the residents might help to better understand the need.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee is scheduled for April 7 at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee

By Marilou Newell

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