During the June 27 meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco reported that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has paused implementation of stricter septic regulations for the foreseeable future along the south coast.

            Lorenco did not go into details but added that there are plans to roll out stiffer regulations on nitrogen levels on Cape Cod and the Islands. The DEP’s proposal would have added tens of thousands of dollars to new and existing home costs with the average updated systems estimated at $50,000.

            In August of 2022, MassDEP held a public meeting with Mattapoisett’s Board of Health that outlined the regulatory agency’s plans. At that meeting, the Board of Health heard from the DEP’s NSA (nitrogen-sensitive areas) team members that there will be only two paths cities and towns identified as nitrogen-sensitive areas can go: Either require homeowners not connected to public sewer upgrade their septic systems to include denitrification technology (systems that help to eliminate nitrogen from being discharged into the estuary system within five years of implementation) or apply for a townwide permit that gives the town 20 years to reduce nitrogen by monitoring levels for effectiveness of local strategies.

            Mattapoisett rallied, as the Select Board sent a letter to the DEP pointing out the tremendous financial burden that such upgraded systems would force homeowners to bear. The Select Board also contacted state officials, asking for intervention from the Senate and House of Representatives. Combined pressure seemed to have worked.

            In the meantime, Lorenco said the town would continue to seek grants that would be used to conduct local water studies in advance of any the state may elect to do in the future.

            Coming before the Select Board was Amy Archer of Pare Corporation, the town’s consulting engineers for Phase 2a of the Mattapoisett Bike Path. Pare detailed various studies, including traffic and types of crossing equipment, as well as the conceptual design of the pathway from Railroad Avenue to Industrial Drive.

            The 30-minute presentation acknowledged the fact that this section will not move forward until Marion’s connecting path-construction project gains traction.

            Archer also estimated construction costs at $2,850,000 for one mile that is Phase 2a. She said that once Marion gets started, the Mattapoisett project will move towards the 25% design, a goalpost when seeking grant funding. She said that presently Mattapoisett’s Phase 2a is at 10% of conceptual design and that to reach 25% design would cost approximately $160,000.

            The bike path is planned to continue on towards Route 6 from Good Speed Island Road by way of Railroad Avenue, cross Route 6 to Park Street and Park Place, eventually terminating at the state-owned park-and-ride across from Industrial Drive.

            The crossing at Industrial Drive presents a number of challenges, but Archer believed those could be resolved by ensuring the users cross south of the entrance to the Industrial Park, not where the exit ramp from Route 195 is located.

            Several meeting attendees voiced concerns over cyclists who do not ride in a safe manner, especially when crossing Mattapoisett Neck Road and Brandt Island Road. Lorenco said that patrol officers on bikes will be assigned to the bike path to help ensure the safety of riders and motorists alike.

            Jeff Swift, whose residence is located near the railroad easement, the property being used for the bike path, voiced concern over additional water flowing in the direction of his home. Archer said the intent is to reconnect hydrologic systems along the easement.

            Another resident asked if portable restrooms would be placed along the bike path. Lorenco said one would be installed at the sewer pump house on Good Speed Island Road attached to the chain-link fence.

            The Select Board voted to have Mattapoisett designated a Purple Heart Community. Lorenco drafted a proclamation that the board approved. The text read by board member Tyler Macallister noted the town’s appreciation for those that sacrificed while in service to the country. The proclamation will be submitted to the Military Order of the Purple Heart for acceptance.

            Lorenco reported that borings are being taken on Long Wharf, and the good news is that the construction team has reached, “very dense material.”

            In other business, a malt-and-wine permit as requested by What the Taco, a food truck located in the Mahoney Lumber parking lot, was approved for submittal to the state’s licensing office. Also approved were expanded hours of operation and seating for 75 people.

            Seasonal trailer permits were approved for Gregory Bartlett, 0 Silver Shell Avenue (July 1, 2, 3, 14, 15, 28 and 29) and for Diane Simonelli (July 30 through August 27) split between 0 and 1 Union Avenue.

            Kevin Greiner was appointed as alternate building inspector, and former Marion Harbormaster Isaac Perry was appointed as Mattapoisett’s new harbormaster. A scholarship committee was formed with the following volunteers: John Oldham, Carole Clifford, Colin Everett, Teresa Nelson, Paul Criscuolo, Kate Brown and Deborah Fraine.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not immediately scheduled upon adjournment.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell

            Marion Affordable Housing Trust member Susan Miller learned a lot during her participation in a recent South Coast Affordable Housing forum, as expressed during the June 13 public meeting of the AHT.

            “This was an eye-opener,” said Miller, seeing that the City of New Bedford is a focal point of ARPA funding.

            New Bedford was to receive $63,000,000 that the city would use to create a building coordinator to look at new properties. The aim is to buy up old buildings, including former factories to be converted into residential buildings.

            “They said, if we get this housing, then we’re not going to deal with the homeless problem. They were very clear about that with the New Bedford group,” said Miller.

            The state held up Brewster Woods’ 30 affordable rental apartments on Cape Cod and the development’s “whole community approach” as a model for other communities.

            “You see that with this one development, that they got money from all different sources,” said Miller, adding that the focus there is on helping people with disabilities. “Also, that was the first group that I heard anyone saying they want to help out the veterans.”

            A supportive housing development for the elderly in Plympton has also been held up as an example for communities.

            Miller came away from the forum with the distinct impression that the Town of Marion needs a full-time grant writer. “It’s a big task,” she said.

            Major municipal construction projects facing the town have experienced grant writers on staff preoccupied.

            Miller’s research on Community Preservation proposals yielded information on communities that give a discount or help, including nearby Middleborough, which offers a discount to ages 65 and over (as does Cambridge.) However, said Miller, the other towns rely on federal, low-income housing grants. “You have to be within the federal-poverty guidelines,” she said.

            The state Association for Community Action assistance helps eligible households pay water and sewer bills. “They break it down, the household, the income, gross income for the month and if you can qualify,” said Miller, then it becomes another means of assistance.

            Miller also spoke about green energy and the Great American Rain Barrel program. She said the Mattapoisett Agricultural Commission held a now-completed program for residences (including those in Marion and Rochester.)

            AHT member Nancy McFadden said she became more cognizant at Town Meeting as to what the Community Preservation Committee does.

            AHT member Norm Hills explained that the Community Preservation Act is funded by a 2% tax that the town voted long before he lived in Marion, then the program expanded and has funded many projects with CPA funds.

            Chairperson Terri Santos noted that the AHT has $8,000 in its budget.

            An April 24 letter from former Select Board member John Waterman on the Affordable/Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw was discussed.

            “A lot of this is not accurate,” said Santos of Waterman’s letter. Santos said she is “on the same page” as Hills, who disagrees with Waterman’s criticisms of the 20-year bylaw.

            Hills pointed out that no permit has been pulled for the Heron Cove Estates development, so the town only has conditional protection to refuse a developer’s 40B application until it’s pulled. Eileen Marum, attending the meeting, said that without that permit pulled, Marion is not in a “safe harbor.”

            Hills encouraged the trust to work with the Planning Board, and Santos suggested the trust will want to speak for itself in its response to Waterman’s letter.

            The next meeting of the Marion Affordable Housing Trust is scheduled for Tuesday, July 11, at 6:00 pm.

Marion Affordable Housing Trust

By Mick Colageo

            All the “meat and potatoes” have not changed on a site plan and special-permit application for a recreational marijuana establishment that would be located at 621 County Road, according to the applicant’s lawyer, Jonathan Silverstein.

            The Rochester Planning Board on Tuesday night did not take any action, as project representative Phil Cordeiro of Allen & Major Associates is still working with peer-review engineer Ken Motta on some of the finer details. Specifically, the board awaits Motta’s written input on the traffic plans, which Cordeiro said will not have a significant impact.

            Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson said the board will be ready at its July 11 meeting to vote on a special permit that would allow for marijuana use at 621 County Road. The site-plan review-approval process should occur at the board’s first meeting in August.

            This process will pave the way for a 4,500-square-foot, mixed-use commercial building that will become the first pot establishment in the Tri-Town area and located by the Wareham border.

            Cordeiro gave a presentation on some of the more recently proposed changes meant to minimize the impact on abutters to the north and south of the property. Among the changes is a proposed 6-foot stockade fence on a 3-foot berm, creating a 9-foot barrier.

            Planning Board members questioned if the fence would block the view of the road for vehicles exiting the property.

            “There is nothing worse than pulling out into traffic,” Planning Board member Ben Bailey said.

            Cordeiro said he would continue to work with Motta on that issue, perhaps tweaking it so the fence only reaches a 4-foot height as it approaches the main road. Cordeiro said sidewalk deficiencies in that area will also be improved.

            Megan’s Organic Market Rochester LLC is owned in part by two Massachusetts residents but is a California-based company.

            Talks with the Planning Board started last year, but an agreement was reached with the Select Board last fall.

            The site-plan review and special permit are the final steps toward construction of the marijuana shop, which will share a site with another small business.

            In other business, the Planning Board agreed to work with Zoning Commissioner Paul Boucher on an in-law apartment bylaw.

            Boucher said many communities have such a bylaw, and it often protects the abutters of these properties. He said some applicants in town have a proposed, 1,200-square-foot, in-law apartment, which appears to be much bigger than its intended purpose.

            “That’s a house for God’s sake,” he said, offering 750 square feet as a reasonable size.

            Boucher said some communities have rules stating that a relative must live in the in-law apartment, which he said is impossible to enforce.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board was not scheduled upon adjournment.

Rochester Planning Board

By Jeffrey D. Wagner