Rob Levesque, of R. Levesque Associates Inc., of Westfield, shown at an earlier presentation to the Planning Board. (WNG File Photo)
WESTFIELD – The last regular meeting of the year for the Planning Board opened with Chairman William Carellas stating that going forward, the board would adhere to Council Rule on public participation. He said public participation would be limited to fifteen minutes at the start of each meeting, and residents would be invited forward to speak for up to three minutes on any subject not before them in a public hearing, with extensions allowed by vote. He said Planning Board members are not required to respond to questions or comments made, but would take them under advisement. He also said public participation was welcomed, in order to advise Planning Board members of the public’s interests.
During regular business, a Special Permit was issued to Thomas D. Campbell of 26 Orange St., a licensed massage therapist for his home-based massage therapy business. Campbell said the hours will be Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and closed on Sundays.
Campbell said he expects from 10 to 12 clients a week at his apartment in the two-family brick row house of which he owns both halves. He said there is plenty of parking in his driveway for one additional car at a time. He said he has a 10 by 12 room on the second floor to use for massages. He said he has no plans for signage.
Currently, Campbell said his business is off-site at offices, where he does chair massages. He said he averages about 23 hours a week.
Neighbor David Luna, 4 Sibley Ave., said he wanted to be clear that parking would not be on the street. He said when the Courthouse is busy, people park on the road. “My biggest concern was having his clients park on the street, making it more difficult,” Luna said.
Carellas called it a legitimate concern, and suggested putting a condition on the special permit. The board granted a non-transferable special permit, with the conditions of no on-street parking, and no signage. He said the board reserves the right to inspect the premises through the first year.
Next on the agenda, a special permit/site plan/stormwater application for A. Duie Pyle, Inc. for expansion of a warehouse facility at 55 Ampad Road was presented by Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates. He said the application was for an addition and expansion to existing facilities.
A. Duie Pyle is a Northeast transportation and logistics provider, offering solutions for LTL, Truckload, Custom Dedicated and Warehousing. The planned expansion is for construction of a transfer/distribution building, maintenance building, and site improvements to support an existing industrial warehousing operation.
Levesque said the current warehouse is 128,050 square feet, and they are proposing an expansion of an addition on the south side, and a maintenance building on the north side. He said 25+ years ago a contemplated addition to the building was interrupted, and when A. Duie Pyle picked up the property 15 years ago, their plan includes this facility, which he said is important to the logistics of the operation.
Levesque said the south side addition will have 54 doors, and the north side building 8,860 sq. ft. He said they are also proposing 161 truck and trailer parking area. He said the total buildout would be 160,000 sq. ft. which exceeds the requirement for a special permit. Levesque called the expansion “organic growth.”
Levesque also said they have filed a notice of intent with the Conservation Committee. He said the wetland boundaries were determined at the last meeting, and a site visit is scheduled. They are also working on stormwater comments with the Engineering Dept. He said they will make sure of very specific water quality operation and maintenance. He called A. Duie Pyle an “organized and large company.” He said the company has put together a preparedness contingency plan by a vendor to be used at all of its facilities, which will be on file with management and staff.
Levesque said the operation uses a fuel truck “very similar to Comcast.” He said they have a design for a concrete containment tank for fuel, and a protocol for handling spills. Planning Board member Cheryl Crowe asked what would be the capacity of the tank, and Levesque said it would be one and a half times the largest compartment on the truck, which has not yet been purchased.
Levesque said after a discussion with the Conservation Commission, guard rails will likely be added at wetlands, and fencing is proposed around the pedestrian entrance, to separate from the truck area.
Levesque said the company owns the property next door, which is in industrial use. He said the stormwater permit is pending, and requested a continuance until Jan. 15.
Carellas asked if the site is over the aquifer. Levesque said there is no proposed work over the aquifer, but the boundary of the site does clip it. “We are aware of the proximity, and are well aware of the water concerns,” Levesque said.
In response to another question, Levesque said they anticipate 108 proposed trips generated from the project, 54 in and out from the site. He said given the current truck route, the 54 trucks coming and going would “arguably” be going in the same direction. He said given the 15,000 vehicle trips per day on Southampton Road, he said their truck traffic would be .7 of the trips based on the addition, according to a trip generation analysis. He also said the project isn’t tripping any Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) thresholds based on the significance of the project.
A. Duie Pyle Facilities Director Timothy A. Koch said a lot of the traffic exists today, and they are trying to move it all into one building. “It may take us four or five years to get to 108; right now, about 32 trips per day,” he said.
Planning Board member Robert Goyette said the amounts seem fuzzy, and they were trying to get a grasp on the total. Levesque said they would come back with a traffic patterns analysis.
Planning Board member Philip McEwan asked what would go on in the maintenance building. They said general light truck maintenance, changing oil, bulbs, and tires. He said there will also be a full drive through truck wash that would recycle 75 to 80% of the water, with an oil-water separator and sanitary sewer.
Levesque said they submitted conceptual plans four years ago to the Endangered Species Program, and at the time received a report of no impact. He said they have since submitted updated plans.
The public hearing was continued to Jan. 15 after resolution of Conservation Commission issues.
