Frank DeMarinis gets site plan approval from the Planning Board for proposed school on Root Road. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The Planning Board voted in favor of two applications on Tuesday; one for a site permit for a proposed school on Root Road, and one for a special permit for a Verizon cell tower to be installed on Shaker Farms Country Club.
The Root Road plan calls for a 580-student school, grades 6-12. Applicant Frank DeMarinis of Sage Engineering and Roots Athletic Center on 181 Root Road told the board on Monday that he definitely had a tenant for the school. “I do have two or three interested parties,” DeMarinis said when pressed following the meeting, but added that they had asked to keep that information confidential. He said one is sports-focused, and the other two, science and education-focused.
During the meeting, DeMarinis said that he had made the changes that were requested at the last meeting, including moving the handicap accessible parking spaces, and adding a two-way entrance for traffic flow.
Planning Board member Jane Magarian, who was not present at the previous meeting that reviewed an independent traffic consultant’s report, asked additional questions about suggestions made in the report. DeMarinis agreed to increase the size of the crosswalk from the front door to the parking area from nine to twelve feet, at her request.
In response to a resident that expressed concern about the septic system leaching into the Barnes Aquifer, who asked how they were going to protect the aquifer, Planning Board chair William Carellas asked DeMarinis to readdress the pumping system of tanks in the proposal. DeMarinis said they will all be designed in conformance with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and would have to be approved prior to construction.
Planning Board member John Bowen said he was not comfortable with the Board of Health talking about some nitrogen issues with the dirt and asked whether that would impact their decision. He was referring to the Feb. 26 denial by the Board of Health for a disposal works construction permit for the septic system, which cited concerns by the DEP regarding its location in a nitrogen-sensitive area. The letter asked the applicant to resubmit after corrections were made.
DeMarinis said the board puts a requirement on applicants to have all of their approvals, and that is one of them.
Bowen’s question was followed by a question from Kristen Mello of WRAFT (Westfield Residents Advocating For Themselves), as to whether the 1500 gallon tank being proposed is large enough to hold wastewater during an emergency.
Carellas said the DEP would ensure the tank is large enough. “Our job is not to base our decision on the Board of Health. He could pass the Board of Health and fail somewhere else. We can’t handcuff the Board of Health, and we can’t ask the Board of Health to make our decision either,” Carellas said.
After further discussion, Carellas said the only Planning Board members who were eligible to vote, having attended all of the public hearings on the site plan, were Bowen, Philip McEwan, Raymond St. Hilaire and Bernard Puza. He said three out of four must vote for the site plan in order for it to pass.
A motion was made to approve the site plan with special conditions, in addition to the regular prescribed conditions. These included, among others, no hazardous materials stored or used on the premises, no synthetic pesticides or herbicides, a no salt sign on the premises, and not less than 6 inches of topsoil. The board also requested a bond of $25,000. Remaining eligible members then voted to approve the site plan 4-0.
Following the meeting, DeMarinis said the process to obtain the site permit, which he originally submitted close to a year ago, took four months longer than anticipated. However, he said that he had made a modification to the original plan that started the review over again.
On Tuesday, the Planning Board also unanimously approved a special permit for a Verizon cell tower at Shaker Farms with three special conditions, including a bond for an amount equal to removal of the tower, and prior approval for every tree removal.
