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Planning Board approves site plan for 'faith formation center'

Date: 9/4/2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Planning Board approved the site plan for a "faith formation center" at St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church.

While St. Paul's is officially listed at 235 Dwight Road in Springfield and utilizes Springfield water and sewer service, the majority of the property, including the existing church, is in East Longmeadow and the town's police and fire departments service it, making it an issue for the Planning Board, Robyn Macdonald, planning director, told Reminder Publications.

The proposed new building, 7,440 square feet in size, would be used as a gathering place for parishioners that would include a large hall, two offices for Fr. Dat Tran and his assistant, classrooms for religious education, and an area that could be converted into a kitchen if the parish decides to go in that direction in the future, Raymond Casella of Casella Design Associates, LLC, explained.

"When St. Paul's was originally built, the property was purchased large enough to add other buildings [including a] convent, rectory [and] faith formation center. Those buildings have not happened," Casella said. "Now, almost half a century later, the church has grown to a size where it feels it would be comfortable to have a faith formation center."

Casella said that the proposed building would be used specifically by members of the congregation and as such, there would be no significant increase in traffic in the neighborhood because of the project.

"The goal of the faith formation center is not to increase the number of cars coming in and out, not to increase the use of the church, but to utilize the space for the people already there after mass," Casella said.

The Police Department also stated in a written report to the Planning Board that a traffic study would not be needed.

Despite this, some residents voiced concerns about traffic, stating the possibility of increased traffic could make the intersection of Dwight Road and nearby Pine Street more dangerous.

Planning Board Chair George Kingston said that the board would heed the Police Department's recommendation on the matter of traffic.

The proposed building is slated to be located in the northeast corner of the lot, which abuts residents of Athens Street.

"This space that we have chosen is the most effective that does not affect other people," Casella said, explaining that abutters will even notice less light pollution due to the removal of lights over the parking lot currently in that portion of the property.

Larry Reynolds, a resident of 26 Athens St., expressed concerns with flooding. He explained that he feared that the construction of the building would add to an already existing problem with water in his basement during extreme inclement weather.

Casella explained that the plans included the creation of a swale measuring one to two feet deep behind the building to prevent the sheeting of water onto abutting properties. The swale would not retain any water, he said, but simply act as a temporary spot for the water to flow until absorbed into the ground.

Reynolds also complained of the buildup of snow near his property that occurs during the winter due to plowing, stating that once melted, the water makes its way onto his property. Casella explained that the proposed new layout of the property would make it less likely that snow would be piled up near Athens Street abutters.

Addressing concerns regarding tree removal, Casella explained that while some vegetation would be removed, trees near the fence line would remain and a large area of unkempt vegetation would be removed and transformed into a landscaped grassy area.

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The Planning Board also approved changes to the site plan for La Fiorentina that were presented at the Aug. 28 meeting, preventing the revocation of the business' special permit.

Owner Leo Daniele was summoned before the board because construction on his new location on Shaker Road did not match the site plan approved on Nov. 9, 2011.

Daniele stated that he had brought revised plans to the Planning Department office at Town Hall, but no one was there, so he left them. Macdonald said she received no revisions.

The changes in question included the relocation of one of the store's two entrances and the removal of a delivery door on the side of the building, as well as the materials used on the exterior of the building.

Daniele said the entrance was moved in the interest of safety to his customers and the delivery door was not put in because the Police Department expressed concerns about security.

The Planning Board agreed to the plans on the condition that the Police Department review them and approve them.