Planning Board OK’s site plan for lab expansion

Date: 12/11/2014

EAST LONGMEADOW – The Planning Board voted unanimously at its Dec. 2 meeting to approve a site plan review for Con Test Analytical Laboratory at 40 Spruce Street, which is planning an expansion project.

Thomas Veratti, Sr., founder and owner of Con Test Analytical Laboratory, said his business provides environmental testing of items such as soil or water, which align to Environmental Protection Agency methods.

Planning Board Vice-Chair Alessandro Meccia said the project was proposed by Veratti and includes the addition of a 6,000- square-foot laboratory building and a 1,800-square-foot storage building.

“It is recommended [that] sufficient lighting be installed to illuminate any entrances to the existing building, proposed buildings, and the proposed parking areas to reduce the potential for crime activity and improve safety for any pedestrian traffic,” Meccia added.

A traffic study was not required for the site plan review, he noted.

“It is recommended that the access driveway be widened to up to 24 feet to accommodate for two-way traffic at the site,” Meccia added. “It is recommended [that] a center line be added in the driveway at the intersection with Spruce Street to delineate traffic lines.”

Meccia said other recommendations include the addition of a handicap parking space adjacent to the currently proposed space to conform to local bylaws and to install a sidewalk at the current facility directly across Spruce Street from the proposed sidewalk.

The Fire Department requested that the owners have an addressable fire alarm panel for both main and out storage buildings, Meccia added.

“The Verattis are proposing to construct two buildings on an existing site across the street from their current building,” Gary Weiner, the project’s engineer, said. “The site currently has a single-family residence on it. It’s unoccupied and will be turned into storage for the Con Test laboratories.”

Weiner said to the rear of the parcel there is a lightly wooded area bordering a vegetative wetland delineated by Pioneer Environmental.

“The wetlands is located on the southwest corner of the site,” he added.

The 6,000-square-foot laboratory building would be located at the front of the parcel, the single-family residence would remain in place for storage, and the 1,800-square-foot secondary storage building would be constructed to the south of the existing residence.

“Parking requirements for the facility require 34 parking spaces, including two handicapped as noted and requested by the Police Department,” he added. “The parking area is all to the rear and, if you will, the southerly portion of the site.

The Police Department recommended a 24-foot wide driveway, however that would leave the area with three feet of space between the abutter and the property line, which is planned to be used for grading purposes, Weiner said.

Twenty feet is the minimum length allowed under the zoning and parking regulations for access to a business site, he added.

“There was no issue [with the abutter to the property] other than the driveway that abuts the abutter and it is a better solution if we work together to grade onto their property.”

The abutter is Thomas Wheeler and the project is also subject to an agreement in regards to the grading on his property.

The entire parcel is in a commercial zone, Planning Board Chair Michael Carabetta noted.

“As part of the project, the grading would extend approximately 10 feet to bring into the abutting property with the consent of the abutter,” Weiner said. “It allows us to remove a retaining wall.”