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PETITIONERS ARTICLE FOR MAMPEE TO" MEETING
<br /> LEAD PETITIONER
<br /> Lucy ��,4-er its
<br /> ESTIMA'T'ED COSTS7 Ura e- e S'D,
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<br /> AR'T'ICLE. To see if the Town will v e to amend the Town Zoning By-Laws by both adding a new § 174
<br /> Removal of obstructions within streets and public or private nights of way", plus modifying the definition of STREETS
<br /> iy adding a sentence. i
<br /> The Definition of STREET in the Zoning By-Laws of the Town of Mashpee is hereby amended by adding a sentence,printed in italics,so the �! ,
<br /> STREET definitioh will read as follows:
<br /> STREET-A public way laid out by the town under MGL C.82,Section 21,or other authority or laid out by the state or county,which is open to travel
<br /> by the general public and is on record at the Registry of Deeds,or a public or private way duly approved by the Planning Board under the
<br /> Subdivision Control Statute,or a way on record at the Registry of Deeds which is approved by the Planning Board as a principal means of adequate i
<br /> access to abutting property. In addition,every public or private way shown on a Plan or Subdivision recorded prior to October 1, 2003,even if not
<br /> approved by the Planning Board,is declared as legally laid out and is a street, and if the recorded way extends to a shoreline,then access to the
<br /> water is included within that public or private right of way.
<br /> The proposed new Zoning By-Law is as follows:
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<br /> 174-13.1 Obstructions within streets and public or private rights of way and a procedure providing for their
<br /> mmoval ;.
<br /> owner,an association of roe owners,or a resident may file a written request to the Town for removal of one or more obstructions on
<br /> A property property rtY Y eq
<br /> any street or public or private right of ways legally laid out in order to allow full and easy travel free of all impediments.Items constructed by the
<br /> Town,County or State in the interest of the general public are not obstructions,nor are poles,pipes or wires which provide public utility services.y5W
<br /> Obstructions include the existence of gates,rails,bars or fences,or any other man made obstructions,except naturally occurring indileilous ! i
<br /> vegetation,in any street including a public or private right of way legally laid out,which may include access to the shoreline. Note MOL Chapter 86,
<br /> Section 5,allows removal of obstructions. MOL Chapter 183,Section 58:Real estate abutting a way,watercourse,wall,fence,or other monument,
<br /> including(b),prevents valid claims of ownership to the center of a right of way under many specified conditions.
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<br /> The procedure to remove an obstruction shall follow the following sequence:
<br /> 1-A property owner,on association of property owners or a resident may file a written Request for removal of listed obstructions in a named way or
<br /> street with-Town's Zoning Officer,who shall investigate to determine the facts based on recorded Plans for developments and/or Subdivisions
<br /> showing streets and rights of way,Property Deeds and Surveys. Any approvals granted by the Town to build within a recorded right of way shall be
<br /> ignored. The Zoning Officer's decision shall be published within 60 days from date Request Is received by Issuing a determination. A maximum fee "t
<br /> of$76 may be charged by the Town for processing this Request. This$76 fee shall Include all subsequent appeals within the Town.
<br /> 2-If the Zoning Officer determines an obstruction exists within a street or right of way then the Zoning Officer shall notify all abutters within 300 feet
<br /> by certified mail,return receipt,that unless the St€uctures are removed,or the request to remove is appealed within 25 days to the Zoning Board of
<br /> Appeals,the Town shall direct the Department of Public Works to remove such obstruction within the next 45 days. All notifications shall be
<br /> assumed to occur 6 days after mailing of notice via certified first class mail. Copies will be sent to the requester,or his agent.
<br /> 3-If the Zoning Officer determines there is no obstruction,he shall promptly notify the requester via certified mail.
<br /> 4 If the requester or any abutter(s)disagree with the Zoning Enforcement Officer's decision,an appeal may be filed with the Zoning Board of
<br /> Appeals within 25 days after mailing notification of decision. The appeal shalt be heard within 65 days and the Board shall determine whether the r
<br /> appeal is valid within 65 days from their first hearing,and promptly notify the requester and appellant via certified mail
<br /> 5-Any objection to the decision of the.Zoning Board of Appeals,or their failure to issue a decision within 65 days,may be appealed in writing by
<br /> either the requester(s)or abutter(s)to the Board of Selectmen within 25 days. The Selectmen shall hear the appeal at a public hearing within 65
<br /> days. Selectmen shall accept written and verbal comments from all interested parties,and decide by vote within the next 65 days whether to sustain
<br /> or reject the Request to remove Obstruction. If the Selectmen deny the appeal,the decision may then be appealed per MOL Chapter 40A,Section
<br /> 17 Judicial review.
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<br /> EXPLANATION: The Article,if approved at Town Meeting,provides for two amendments to the Zoning By-Laws:(1)To modify the
<br /> definition of STREET to include all recorded public or private rights of way,(private ways exist in many Mashpee subdivisions)including those which
<br /> may provide access to the water. (2)To create a new By-Law which provides a procedure to implement removal of obstructions.
<br /> r,
<br /> The purpose of this proposed Zoning By-Law is to provide property owners,associations of property owners and individual residents an effective
<br /> remedy to maintain their lawful travel over rights of way by requesting the Town to remove obstructions,including fences,bulkheads at shoreline,
<br /> structures or impediments which are located in a street or public or private right of way legally laid out. The Town may charge a maximum fee of
<br /> $76:however it is believed that there will be only minor,if any,expense to the Town because construction or placement of obstructions in streets or
<br /> rights of way is an occasional problem,and future obstructions will be discouraged.This By-Law,if approved,should minimize or prevent conflicts
<br /> among residents because the Town will be the impartial decision maker and remover of obstructions. I .
<br /> The proposal also prevents obstructions In rights of way,which lead to the shoreline,thus fulfilling Goal 2 of Mashpee's Comprehensive Plan:
<br /> GOAL 2: TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE PUBLIC ACCESS TO AND ENJOYMENT OF MASHPEE'S COASTAL
<br /> RESOURCES WITHOUT DEGRADING THOSE RESOURCES.
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<br /> I. To ensure that development and redevelopment does not interfere with existing public access and traditional public rights-of-way to and along
<br /> the shoreline or with public rights of fishing,fowling and navigation. ` 7
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<br /> I hereby certify that the above signatures are those of Mashpee voters.
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