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Date: 8/23/2023
EAST LONGMEADOW — Several residents of Fernwood Drive came to a Planning Board meeting on Aug. 15 to express concerns about a preliminary plan for a subdivision that would abut their street.
The proposed 13-lot subdivision would surround a J-shaped street named Scarlett Drive. The street would be located between 362 and 368 Parker St. and would end in a cul-de-sac. The back yards of the lots along the south-eastern side of street would share property lines with some existing homes on Fernwood Drive.
Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates presented the plans to the board. Planning Board member Robert Tirrell said he worked with Levesque in the past, but there were no current matters between them that might pose a conflict.
Planning Board Chair Russell Denver noted the tight turning radius of the streeet and asked about access for emergency services. Levesque said the street adheres to the industry standard of 24 feet, but added, “Fire and water, we don’t mess with.” He said the developer, Thomas Bretta Construction, could accommodate any changes requested by the Fire Department.
Planning Board member Peter Punderson referred to the documents and asked if the 8-inch sewer line indicated on the plans was sufficient for the number of houses that would be built. Like with the Fire Department, Levesque said he would incorporate input from the DPW.
Resident Anthony Tranghese has two sons who live on Fernwood Drive. He asked if the Conservation Commission had weighed in on the project, whether there were endangered species on the land and if building would affect the nearby wetlands.
Planning and Community Development Director Bailey Mitchell explained that the project did not require comment from the Conservation Commission because the nearest wetlands were 550 feet away from the land that would be disturbed and there were no known endangered species with habitat on the site.
Tranghese also said the open-air detention basin, designed to catch stormwater runoff and slowly release it into the ground, that was called for in the plans would be a “mosquito-breeding haven.” Levesque responded that water is not permanently in the basin, and it will sink into the ground before the mosquito breeding cycle can complete. He also noted a detailed stormwater plan would be included with the final plans and the town would retain a bond from the developer in case there were unexpected damages due to the development.
Town Council President Ralph Page, speaking as a resident, said the location of the detention basin on a property currently owned by the developer but not part of the planned subdivision may lead to issues in the future. Levesque said the property could be added to the sudivision to avoid conflict regarding future property owners and easements.
Christopher Tranghese, who lives on Fernwood Drive, commented that an open-air detention basin could be a drowning hazard to children in the area. Levesque said installing a fence was not a “showstopper” for the developer.
The resident also expressed privacy concerns. He said he was worried the homeowner who purchases the lot abutting his would clearcut trees to the property line. Denver reminding him that such a move would be the property owner’s right, but Christopher contended that he did not want to “go from complete privacy” to “seeing my neighbor in their backyard.” He also said he was worried that people in a two-story home would be able to look into his property. Anthony M. Tranghese, another Fernwood Drive resident and son of the person who had spoken earlier, also asked about tree removal plans.
Levesque remarked that the people buying property in the subdivision would likely share those concerns and leave some trees or foliage to screen their backyards.
Fernwood Drive resident George Condon asked if natural gas would be used in the development and, if so, could the utility be expanded to homes on his street, which does not have any natural gas infrastructure. Thomas Bretta, speaking as the developer, confirmed that there would be natural gas available to the subdivision. Levesque said he did not know of a moratorium that would prevent Fernwood Drive properties from tapping into the gas infrastructure.
The Planning Board approved the preliminary plans and reminded residents that another public hearing would be conducted when the definitive plans were complete. He said those plans would likely answer many of the questions that had been asked at the meeting.