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Date: 3/24/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – The housing in East Longmeadow may be expanding as the preliminary plan for a new subdivision was approved by the Planning Board on March 16. Happy Acres would be a 23-lot neighborhood on 50.43 acres of land off of South Bend Lane.
Rob Leveque of R. Leveque Associates explained to the board that resident Marlene Goldstein was seeking to subdivide her property at 35-43 South Bend Ln. and raze one of the houses located there. That parcel would then be the starting point of the subdivision, consisting of the streets Happy Acres Lane, Farmer Circle and Morgan Way, each ending in cul-de-sacs.
The land is currently wooded and the area around the proposed lots would be “generally off-limits” for further development, Leveque said, because it is a resource area with a stream running through it. A 100-foot buffer is built into the plans. While homeowners could build in that area of their property, there would be more stringent regulations and construction cannot impact the wetlands.
An abutter on South Meadow Road asked how much space there would be between his property and the lot that would be developed behind it. Leveque said that while the owner has the right to clear trees or brush to the property line, there is a 40-foot setback in which they would not be allowed to build. He stated that the project aims to impact neighbors as little as possible.
A member of the Planning Board asked about street footage to Somers Road. The law requires that properties be limited in length to allow emergency services to respond to all calls within a reasonable time and have access to hydrants. Leveque told the board that, if necessary, a second route of egress from the end of Farmer Circle to Somers Road could be added, significantly shortening the footage to the entrance of the subdivision.
The East Longmeadow Police Department (ELPD) submitted a letter voicing concerns about the traffic the subdivision would create. “The Police Department anticipates heavier traffic flow on South Bend Ln. There exists potential safety concerns regarding vehicles attempting to turn left onto Somers Road,” the statement read. The entrance to South Bend Rd. sits across from Hampden Rd., with Somers Rd. running between the two. The police also expressed concern that cars may attempt to go around vehicles turning onto South Bend Rd., creating the potential for accidents. Leveque said that the project is open to a traffic study to address the ELPD’s concerns.