Meeting place for the walk-through and consultation will be the site of former Old Colony Envelopes, 70 Turnpike Industrial Road. (City of Westfield photo)
WESTFIELD – A site walk through and consultation session for the Turnpike Industrial Park has been scheduled by the state’s MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act) office for Monday, April 23 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at 70 Turnpike Industrial Road. The walk through of the property will be followed by a consultation in the conference room at 70 Turnpike Industrial Road beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“This is the first public outreach by the state’s MEPA office regarding the proposed Turnpike Industrial Park. It will be a chance for officials and citizens to explore the property first-hand and verbally voice their support or concerns regarding the project,” said City Advancement Office Joseph Mitchell.
City Advancement Office Joe Mitchell. (WNG File Photo)
The meeting follows the city’s submission of an Environmental Notification Form (ENF) to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) for the Turnpike Industrial Park, which is subject to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.
The Turnpike Industrial Park, as described in the ENF is for the construction of a mixed-use development with 105,000 square feet (sf) of office space, 550,000 sf of warehouse and distribution space, 211,000 sf of light industrial/manufacturing space and 122,000 sf of light industrial/research and development space. The project includes up to 1,885 parking spaces, interior drives and utilities The project site is a 74.88-acre parcel generally bordered by Cabot Road, Sabrina Brook Road, Turnpike Industrial Road, undeveloped land bordering the MassPike and forested and cleared fields to the west. Vehicular access to the site will be provided from Cabot Road and Turnpike Industrial Road. The project will alter 74.65 acres of land and add 48.15 acres of impervious area. It will generate 3,520 average daily trips (adt), use 17,170 gallons per day (gpd) of water and generate 15,875 gpd of wastewater.
In an interview with the Westfield News on April 12, Mitchell said the potential tax revenue for the proposed Turnpike Industrial Park is $1.3 million a year, with the potential for 1,100 jobs, and $120 million in private investment. He said it will take eight to ten years to build the whole project.
The ENF is available for review in the MEPA Environmental Monitor, which may be found online at: http://web1.env.state.ma.us/EEA/emepa/emonitor.aspx#newprojects or obtained from Kyle Greaves at 617 607-2988 or by email at [email protected]. The EOEEA will receive public comments on the ENF through April 25. All persons wishing to comment may do so until April 25 by writing to Secretary of the EOEEA at 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114, Att: MEPA Office, and referencing the project.
The site visit and consultation session will be held to receive advice and comments from agencies, officials, and citizens regarding which environmental issues, if any, are significant for this project. Opinions as to the extent and significance of possible environmental impact will be welcome.
“There will still be opportunities for written comments and questions regarding the project after the 23rd,” Mitchell said.
