A house dating to 1690 at 370 Delano Road will be moved to another location on the same property. Owners Thomas and Susan Dexter presented their plans to the Commission and said that the dwelling would be moved from 370 Delano Road to 366 Delano Road onto a new foundation south of the old dwelling. A 14-by-20-foot addition and a deck between the existing dwelling and the moved dwelling will be built.

In other business, the Commission took under consideration a Request for Determination of Applicability to demolish and reconstruct a dwelling at 16 South Street, as well as construct a gravel driveway to access the new garage.

Next up was a discussion about a Notice of Intent for a six-acre parcel on Planting Island to landscape. The proposed work includes trimming or removal of select trees, underbrush, and ground cover, and the replacement of said vegetation as shown on the Landscape Design Plan presented to the Conservation Commission. A spirited discussion followed the presentation, and the Commission agreed to revisit the extensive property and meet again with the owners.

In committee, the group agreed to respond in favor of the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals request for comments regarding the request to slightly relocate the access road/driveway in order to eliminate the bridge entry into the proposed complex.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

The seats were filled with abutters and neighbors of Kathleen Mahoney of 40 Dexter Road, who proposed to demolish and reconstruct a four-bedroom home on the lot at the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Thursday night. Several abutters sent letters of support for the project, while the majority of those attending the meeting spoke in opposition of it.

Mahoney was represented by David Davignon of Schneider & Associates, and presented a revision of the original plan presented at the previous Zoning Board of Appeals meeting held in June. The revised plan showed a different setback at the corner of Dexter and Wilson Roads, an intersection that neighbors said was dangerous for children in the neighborhood. “We’ve pulled the build seven feet from Dexter and 4.2 feet from Wilson,“ Davignon said, “and the driveway is now a single lane, 12 feet off the property line.”

In addition, the town bylaws allow a four-bedroom home, while the original plans showed a five-bedroom home, which was also amended in the revised plans.

“What is the height?” asked member Betsy Dunn.

“From roof peak to average grade is 32.8 feet,” Davignon replied. The home will sit above the five and a half foot base due to newly enacted National Flood Insurance Act requirements.

“This home is overwhelming for such a small lot,” Karen Molson said. “This opens the door for overbearing homes, which forces the neighborhood to lose privacy and sunlight.” The total lot size is 2,186 square feet and the proposed house would cover 31.5 percent of the lot.

“It appears scale is an issue after hearing from abutters,” Chair Eric Pierce said. The board agreed to revisit the neighborhood and take the proposal under consideration. A public hearing will be held at 8:00 pm on Aug. 8.

In other business, a public hearing was held with Baywatch Realty Trust, who presented revised plans for the 96-unit 40B project, which includes 36 single-family homes and 600 apartments located in two large buildings on the property.

The lengthy wooden bridge access (shading valuable wetlands) to and from the proposed Baywatch Realty Trust (40B) property on Route 105/Front Street in Marion was eliminated from the revised plans presented on Thursday at the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.

The presentation by Kenneth Steen, of Kenneth Steen Real Estate Inc. and Edward Gless, Existing Grade, representing Baywatch Realty Trust, shows a revised plan eliminating the bridge and presenting a new access, adjacent to The Wave Restaurant recently acquired from owner Todd Zell. The revised plans show an access point coming in and on property adjacent to the restaurant parking area, now in a wooded area. None of the existing parking of the Wave Restaurant would impacted by the project.

The other substantial change in plans, was the roadway in, out, and through the proposed development. The previous roadway varied from 22 feet to 24 feet. At issue was whether a 49 foot ladder fire truck could make its way through the complex, with the existing landscape design, as presented, in an effective and timely manner. The new design has the entire project having a 24-foot street width.

“We needed to have a full 24-foot street width and a 100-foot turning radius for fire trucks that could handle a fire in the area with this density,” said Building Inspector Scott Shippee, Building Inspector. “I’m glad to see that you’ve addressed this concern.”

The board was advised by town counsel Jon Whitten to take the proposal under advisement, rather than approve it, because the town wanted to see the document that shows that the newly purchased land is under agreement and actually purchased. A motion was made to continue the hearing to Aug. 8.

In other business, the board heard from Will Saltonstall and Ginny and Matthew Stelmach Jr. of 5 Spinnaker Ln. to allow the construction of a sunroom and garage addition. Several abutters attended and helped explain the confusion over town water service to the neighborhood. Abutters said that a water service line cuts across the Stelmach’s property and to the north side of the proposed addition. Also, an existing septic system also needed to be dealt with under the new plans. The board agreed to take it under advisement and work to get more details on exactly where the water service connections are on Spinnaker Lane.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

With nine members gathered, the Marine Advisory Committee discussed a wide range of items that impact the lawful and peaceful enjoyment of Mattapoisett’s waterways.

Also in attendance for the first time was Jill Simmons, the town’s new harbormaster, along with her predecessor, Horace Field.

George Beringer of Groton, who has had a mooring in the harbor since 1994, went to the meeting at Field’s suggestion to voice his concern about the limited number of “out-of-town” dingy permits. He said that if one isn’t able to be in the area on the evening of January 1 each year, you’d miss the January 2 rush to secure one of the five permits issued each year.

There ensued numerous suggestions brought forward by the committee members, but most were either too far from Berginer’s mooring location or required a resident parking permit, which Beringer can not obtain.

Field concurred that there is a line on January 2 for one of the precious permits and that it had always been this way. But it was also pointed out that since increasing the number of moorings in the harbor this important matter of non-resident dingy permits had not increased along with them.

Member Carlos DeSousa made a motion to review this issue along with all rules and regulations and to have the entire document completed and ready for implementation by late October. This was seconded.

In the meantime, Beringer will work with Field to find an accommodation once a site is agreed upon for his dingy and the safety of his motor vehicle during his overnight stays in the harbor.

Next, member Walter Reid gave his subcommittee report on what other towns in the area are charging for various marine activity fees. This matter has been discussed during previous monthly meetings in an effort to bring the Board of Selectmen reasonable increase suggestions. Reid recently spoke to the Fairhaven Harbormaster and learned that this town wished to keep costs low for residents so that the average family would not be priced out of enjoying the water. For instance, they do not have mooring fees but do charge residents $1 per foot as a waterways usage fee and $4 per foot for nonresidents using their resource for more than 14 days per year. Fairhaven does have an active commercial fishing fleet, which helps to subsidize the town’s financial needs for water-related budget items. Several more towns still need to be polled before the subcommittee will be prepared with their complete report and recommendations.

Regarding infrastructure work, Field said that electrical work had begun at the piers but is scaled back due to only receiving $100,000 during Town Meeting – about a $30,000 shortfall from his estimated needs for this project. Work on the pilings has not begun yet but will soon he said.

Field also shared that the two interns from Mass Maritime Academy were working out well and that he had hired Wayne Ferreira as part-time assistant harbormaster, which is helping with the long days and weekend workload during the busy summer season.

Finally, the committee discussed the need for clearer markers in the harbor for the recreational area, which would help with safety and clarity for those wishing to water ski and participate in other higher speed water activities. And the need for more “no wake” signage in those areas currently deemed so. Early morning boaters are moving through the no wake area near the recreational area too fast, which is unacceptable under the current rules.

The next meeting is Aug. 29 at 7:00 pm.

By Marilou Newell