SCHA Roads Map
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Road Committee |
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2022 Road Repair Pictures
https://www.schamashpee.com/2022 Road Maintenance
https://www.schamashpee.com/2022 Road Maintenance
The SCHA Road Committee Zoom meeting
The committee sponsored a Zoom meeting on April 13. It included a PowerPoint presentation, followed by a Q&A session. If you have any questions please send and email to info@schamashpee.com.
You can view the video of the meeting here:PowerPoint slides can be downloaded here.
The committee sponsored a Zoom meeting on April 13. It included a PowerPoint presentation, followed by a Q&A session. If you have any questions please send and email to info@schamashpee.com.
You can view the video of the meeting here:PowerPoint slides can be downloaded here.
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Roads Project Update:
At our annual meeting in July 2021, a request was made to form a Road Committee to review the state of our roads and make recommendations for a going forward plan. This Committee was authorized by the Board and has been evaluating the two options that are available to us:
In order for the Town to initiate the process, we must provide 78 (50% of our property owners + 1) legal signatures on specific Town-created petitions. If your property is in a Trust, the petition must be signed by a Trustee on record. If we receive the required number of authorized signatures, we can request to be placed on the next available Town Meeting warrant to have the study authorized. There is no immediate cost for the study, however, if we decide to go forward with the Town taking over ownership and maintenance for the roads, the study fees will be added to the total cost at that time. If we decide not to pursue that option, the Town absorbs the amount paid for the study, meaning no cost to us as homeowners. We are providing the following FAQ information to help you decide whether to sign the petition. In addition, there is a Q & A Zoom meeting scheduled on Apr 13. Dial in information is provided on the right side of this page. Roads Project FAQsWe have expanded to a 9-person Road Committee with more than half being participating members who are not on the Board. The mission of the Committee is to develop a plan to best maintain the roads today and in the future. The Committee is reviewing the information gathered to develop the options for keeping the roads private or potentially turning them over to the Town. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, and we want to be sure the entire Association is well informed and involved before any decisions or recommendations are made.
In the meantime, minimum routine maintenance will continue so our roads can be plowed. Q. Why are we talking about the roads? A. Our 50-year-old roads are nearing the end of life from an engineering standpoint, and we need to plan for the future of our neighborhood. There is an opportunity to have the Town accept our roads. The Roads Committee, Board of Directors, and a majority at our recent Association meeting believe it is time to start the assessment process. We cannot go further with the Town without the homeowners’ approval to request the Town to perform a survey. We need your help. Q. What is the survey? A. Before the Town can determine the costs of potentially accepting the roads and maintaining them forever, we must agree as a Homeowners Association to allow the Town to perform an official survey of our roads. The initial steps include: 1. Achieving approval of 50% + 1 of the homeowners in our neighborhood via petition 2. Gaining Town approval a. Request for a warrant to be included on the Town Meeting agenda (We are targeting the October 2022 meeting) b. Town Meeting attendees approve the petition, and if approved: 3. Town performs the survey with an estimated timeline of 3-6 months Q. How much do I need to pay? A. Nothing now – there are no costs at this time for performing the survey. The Roads Committee is gathering opinions, studies, and pricing from private contractors, so we will be ready to discuss the costs associated with maintaining ownership of the roads as an Association. The survey from the Town will provide us with costs associated with the Town accepting the roads. Once we have both sets of costs/impacts/timelines/etc. we will be ready to hold a meeting with the Homeowners Association to discuss and deliberate our options – please keep in mind that both options will have associated costs. IF we decide to go forward with the Town taking over ownership and maintenance of the roads, the cost of the survey will be added to the total cost of the road acceptance. If we decide not to pursue that option, the Town absorbs the cost of the survey, meaning no cost to us as homeowners. Q. What do we need from you? A. Approval to request the Town to perform a survey of our current roads by signing and returning the petition Road Committee Report - 2021 Annual Meeting
At our SCHA annual meeting on Sept 18, 2021 Craig Robert presented two Power Point slides. (Listed Below) Craig described the poor condition of the SCHA roads and explained the decisions that need to be made in order to keep our roads from deteriorating to the point where the town will no longer plow our roads. Two options were discussed - keep the roads private or turn them over to the town. Both options have advantages and disadvantages that were discussed by membership. There was a great deal of discussion on the immediate need for a road fund, perhaps with an initial funding of $200 per residence. Craig emphasized that the committee did not think they had a sufficient plan to justify a special "road fund" assessment at this time. George Peterson made a motion to have a special SCHA membership meeting in March. Plans will be made to use Zoom so we can educate as many members as possible. The motion was seconded by Alain Lavelanet and passed. A motion was also made by Craig Roberts and seconded by Roz Rosenburg to petition the town for a road study. This will require that a petition be signed by 50% plus one of the residents. It would then go before the next Mashpee Town Meeting. The engineering study is funded by the town with no cost to SCHA residents. |
10 Roads Questions
Mashpee Website Info
www.mashpeema.gov/public-works/pages/town-owned-roads Town Policy
Timeline
Petition Form
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2019 Presentation by Catherine Laurent - Director of Mashpee DPW
Ms. Laurent described the 2 step process for Mashpee to take over private roads.
Step 1.- 51% of the homeowners and property owners must sign a petition requesting the take-over. The town then puts an article before town meeting requesting a study to determine the town’s costs for the take-over. This study usually costs about $20,000.00 and is initially born by the town. If the project moves forward the $20,000.00 is included in the final costs, if the project doesn’t there is no cost to the homeowners.
Step 2.- If the study is passed by town meeting (usually a rubber stamp), a cost estimate for the project is determined and presented to the Association. If the Association decides to go forward with the Town take over, a public hearing follows for which all home and property owners are notified. Then a new article goes to town meeting which includes the estimated cost of the project.
For a complete reconstruction of the roads and drainage for the Pinnacle Heights neighborhood the estimate was about $14,000.00 per lot. The actual cost came in at less. This is with a 20 year bederment at 5% interest total for the 20 years. The bederment may be paid as a lump sum, $700.00 a year or at any point in between. Another neighborhood that didn’t need a complete reconstruction ran at about $6,800.00 a lot. The minimum width of the road is usually about 22 feet and our roads is at least that wide. From the initial petition the process usually takes 1½ to 2 years.
Ms. Laurent said that she felt we are doing what is necessary for maintaining the roads at this point.
Ms. Laurent was asked what are the negatives and positives.
Disadvantages
Ms. Laurent described the 2 step process for Mashpee to take over private roads.
Step 1.- 51% of the homeowners and property owners must sign a petition requesting the take-over. The town then puts an article before town meeting requesting a study to determine the town’s costs for the take-over. This study usually costs about $20,000.00 and is initially born by the town. If the project moves forward the $20,000.00 is included in the final costs, if the project doesn’t there is no cost to the homeowners.
Step 2.- If the study is passed by town meeting (usually a rubber stamp), a cost estimate for the project is determined and presented to the Association. If the Association decides to go forward with the Town take over, a public hearing follows for which all home and property owners are notified. Then a new article goes to town meeting which includes the estimated cost of the project.
For a complete reconstruction of the roads and drainage for the Pinnacle Heights neighborhood the estimate was about $14,000.00 per lot. The actual cost came in at less. This is with a 20 year bederment at 5% interest total for the 20 years. The bederment may be paid as a lump sum, $700.00 a year or at any point in between. Another neighborhood that didn’t need a complete reconstruction ran at about $6,800.00 a lot. The minimum width of the road is usually about 22 feet and our roads is at least that wide. From the initial petition the process usually takes 1½ to 2 years.
Ms. Laurent said that she felt we are doing what is necessary for maintaining the roads at this point.
Ms. Laurent was asked what are the negatives and positives.
Disadvantages
- The speed limit might be raised to 30mph and we would have to petition to have it lowered.
- We would also have to petition to establish No Parking zones.
- The town would be responsible for maintenance of the roads (potholes, drainage, cleaning the catch basins, trimming of overhanging limbs, crack sealing, line painting).
- We would be able to lower our SCHA annual dues. We may be able to eliminate insurance on the roads.
- We would still be responsible for maintenance of all islands, entrance signs and dock areas.
- The recreational areas would still be private.
- The town only takes an easement so the underlying property and the islands would still belong to SCHA. Private roads are plowed by the town as long as they meet the town’s conditions. It does not matter if there are kids in the school system.
- Anyone can drive on our roads even though they are private.
- The status of Will’s Work road was discussed. At this point the state, the town and DCR have disclaimed ownership of the road. We will try to set-up a meeting with all three to pursue this problem.