The L&O sub-committee considers expansion of the Turnpike Industrial Park at its meeting on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – City Advancement Officer Joseph Mitchell went before the Legislative & Ordinance Committee on Thursday for support of a resolution pertaining to property on Turnpike Industrial Road.
Mitchell said the resolution essentially asks for the City Council as a group to allow the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the Mass Development Finance Agency, to accept a loan of $780,000 for the purchase of three properties adjacent to the proposed Turnpike Industrial Park, and to pay them back upon sale.
Mitchell said the city won’t be putting out any money for the properties, as they will be purchased by Mass Development, and offered back to the city.
The proposed development for the 66 acres the city owns was presented at a public hearing in January. The land went through the first round of site readiness, with an emphasis on permitting, thanks to an earlier grant of $300,000 from MassDevelopment.
City Advancement Office Joe Mitchell. (WNG File Photo)
The second round, according to Mitchell, is to look at any pieces of property the city could purchase that would enhance development for the odd-shaped acreage. They identified three parcels in the area, and have been in touch with the three property owners for 11 months. The city negotiated with them, got a broker involved, and now everyone is in agreement on a price, and the property owners want to sell.
Adding these eight acres allows the city to access other city-owned property that was landlocked further to the west, Mitchell said. He added that the acquisition of these properties also allows building to be done farther away from residential areas, and also provides an additional buffer on Cabot Road.
The next stage for the project will be the Massachussets Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) process.
Mitchell said the proposed Turnpike Industrial Park project has the potential of $120 million in private investment, 1,100 jobs and $1.3 million in private investment. The full build-out will take eight to ten years.
“By voting for this, you’re not saying this big development is coming, but it helps to have options,” Mitchell said, who also said the approval by the L&O and the City Council will allow the city to enter into the agreement with MassDevelopment, for the purchase of the properties. He said if the resolution passes the City Council, they will execute the sale of the properties within weeks or months.
“MassDevelopment is our partner now, and wants to see this come to fruition. If the wheels fall off this thing, and we don’t sell one piece of property, the agreement for $788,000 sunsets after 30 years,” Mitchell said.
“Obviously, this has all been worked out for conservation purposes,” commented At-large Councilor and L&O member Nicholas J. Morganelli, Jr., listing protected species, and other environmental concerns.
Mitchell said during the MEPA process for the Environmental Notification Form they were looking at environmental impacts. They also had a comment period, during which they received 25 comments in favor of the project, 25 against, and 225 automatically generated negative comments online. “As we do through this process, there’s a state agency whose job will be to look at each,” he said.
MassDevelopment did the title search and the environmental site review, looking for underground tanks and other objects, Mitchelll said.
Morganelli said some of the concerns of residents on Sabrina Brook Lane were about warehouses coming in, noise, and truck traffic. “It’s all woods and open space, which is probably why they moved there in the first place,” he said.
Mitchell said he and Mayor Brian P. Sullivan are going to propose a 150-foot wooded buffer. Secondly, the state will look at the mitigating process, and for things like light pollution, etc. the Planning Board will decide what can and can’t go there.
“By acquiring this land, it gives us greater flexibility to keep the project further away from residential (areas); by having the access road alongside Sabina Brook, and putting industrial off to the other side. We’re trying to be very respectful,” Mitchell said.
“I think part of MEPA is the Environmental Impact Review,” said Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann Babinski.
Mitchell said there are three steps. The first one, the Environmental Notification Form is completed. He said they will now undergo the draft Environmental Impact Review (EIR) this summer or early fall, and then in January, the final EIR.
Babinski asked if people will have chance for input during the process.
Mitchell said there is written input on the next two steps, and a public hearing.
“This is not over the zone 2 (recharge) part of Barnes Aquifer, but there is an aquifer. Think about that; there is a possibility for a well and business to both live there,” Babinski said.
“If we approve this; say for instance tonight (Thursday) the water bond passes and they proceed with that, and then they start looking for a backup water source. This is one of the highest yielding locations we have on the North side. What if we end up determining that is the ideal site to sink a well,” asked At-large Councilor Matthew Emmershy.
“I don’t want to try to infer or predict. The agreement does say if there is no net gain of revenue, no upward movement, they don’t get paid. After 30 years, the agreement sunsets,” Mitchell said, adding, “You might want to read the agreement. It does talk about for the purpose of economic development.”
“I’m just saying five years down the road,” said Emmershy.
L&O Chair Ralph J. Figy said the Water Resource Protection District ordinance they’re working on in Natural Resources sub-committee, chaired by Babinski with members Figy and Morganelli might take care of Emmershy’s concerns.
“There are people, hydro, that have looked at this in the past. They thought there was a possibility for a well, in the past. They also think there is room for development there. The whole idea is to keep our options open. They have a lot to consider,” Babinski said.
Onyski asked of the $780,000, how much is going to the land purchase. Mitchell said about $676,000 for the land purchase, and the rest for closing costs and mitigating steps, and a traffic study, if needed.
Onyski then made a motion for a positive recommendation, which received a 3-0 vote from the L&O committee of Figy, Onyski and Morganelli. Later in the evening, the City Council also approved the resolution.
