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Date: 11/14/2018
EAST LONGMEADOW – On Oct. 30, the East Longmeadow Planning Board met and approved a series of site plan waiver requests for two home businesses and a new fitness studio in town, as well as two sign permits. Additionally, the board had an open session discussion regarding a proposed zoning change on Rear Pease Road from Residence AA District to Industrial/Industrial Garden District for a proposed solar project.
Originally on the agenda were two zone change requests: one regarding 330 Chestnut St.; a petition to change the property from Industrial Garden zoning district to Mixed Use zoning district, and Rear Pease Rd., a petition to change the property from Residence AA District to Industrial/Industrial Garden district. Both zone change request hearings were postponed to the Planning Board’s Nov. 20 meeting due to an error in advertising. However, the board entertained a “dialogue of open session discussion” at the close of the Planning Board’s Oct. 30 meeting involving the Rear Pease Road property.
In short, Ecos Energy, a Minnesota–based energy development and services company, is the owner of property at 0 Rear Pease Rd., and has applied for a zone change of the property to allow for a proposed solar project. Ecos representative Brad Wilson came before the Planning Board with an overview of the project and plans.
Wilson stated that Ecos does ground–mount solar projects, explaining that the East Longmeadow project would be a four megawatt project which would generate the amount of energy equivalent to be used by 800 to 1,000 Massachusetts homes. Ecos sells power directly to utility companies, Wilson shared, stating in this case they would sell the energy to National Grid.
The 0 Rear Pease Rd. property is a 21–acre parcel, Wilson said, explaining that Ecos owns an additional parcel in Somers that is between 40 and 50 acres. He stated, “The East Longmeadow project is only in East Longmeadow and has nothing to do with what’s going on in Somers with the exception of access.”
Historically, Wilson shared, the 0 Rear Pease Rd. property was used for some sort of orchard, and hasn’t been maintained in years. No structures exist on the property, it is undeveloped and landlocked. The property does not have access to any roads in town. The property, Wilson stated, is abutted by Eversource and Redstone Farms and Barns.
On the solar project, Wilson explained that the panels are installed not into the ground, but into plastic buckets that have been filled with concrete. The solar systems then sit on the ground; no metal is put into the ground. Wilson said this is much easier for decommission of the solar panels at the end of the project.
“Basically it’s a plastic bucket, they set up a jig to set the post and concrete is poured in. Very little subsurface is done and it’s a very low–impact way to install,” Wilson said.
For more information on the proposed zoning change, watch ELCAT’s YouTube broadcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfz86cUw6Dk&t=1261s. Additionally, the Planning Board will host their open hearing on the zoning change on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. in the School Committee Conference Room at East Longmeadow High School, 180 Maple St.
Also discussed at the Planning Board meeting was various Site Plan Waiver Requests. The first, being an insurance claims management business to be located at 15 Benton Dr. The hours of operation for this business would be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with one employee including the owner. The Board approved the request.
The next Site Plan Waiver Request was for a new business, “Right at Home.” The business is described to provide personnel and companion care to seniors and the disabled at their own homes. The property, located at 51 Prospect St., would serve as office space. Additionally, Planning Board Chair George Kingston explained that there is a request to the Town Council to rezone this space as business. He noted it has been used as business for a long time, however it has been zoned as residential. The Planning Board approved the Site Plan Waiver Request.
A bookkeeping service business, “Laffan’s Ledger,” to be located at 223 Hampden Rd. applied for a Site Plan Waiver Request and received one. The business is a home office, Kingston stated.
A request for a Site Plan Waiver Request was submitted for “Orange Theory Fitness,” which will be located at 434 North Main St. This is located in the commercial zoning district. The business would be open Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The number of employees including owners is between 6 and 10. The Site Plan Waiver Request was approved.
Finally, two signs were requested for “Zain’s Smokeshop” located at 611 North Main St. Both requests were approved by the Planning Board.