Planning Board approves assisted living facility
Date: 10/15/2012
By Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.comEAST LONGMEADOW — The Planning Board approved a special permit and site plan that would allow for the construction of a 103-suite assisted living and memory care facility on the property of the former Bluebird Acres farm.
In front of the board and a packed Town Hall hearing room at a public hearing on Oct. 9, Greg Elmore, representing Emeritus Assisted Living and Columbia Pacific Development LLC, outlined a plan for a 54,121 square foot complex across the street from the Bluebird Estates Independent Senior Living Community on Parker Street.
Elmore said that he felt it was the best possible option for the land, which has stood vacant since the farm closed in 2003.
"There would be a low impact on town services, low traffic generation and all of our traffic generation will be off-peak. Our residents don't drive. Our visitors and our staff will be the ones coming in and out of this building," he said. "We're an approved use in this residential RA zone, we're a compatible use to the neighborhood and to the existing senior housing across the street and we're a long-term neighbor committed to the seniors of East Longmeadow."
He explained that the proposed plan included the purchase of five parcels of land on Parker Street totaling 10.2 acres, which would be consolidated into three parcels. The facility, as well as its parking and access roads would exist on the largest parcel, measuring just less than 6 acres in area.
The building would have 71 suites in a two-story assisted living area in addition to a one-story memory care facility consisting of 32 suites and 55 beds.
"We'll be cleaning up a hazardous site that sits vacant and for sale today, providing development on existing properly zoned land," Elmore added.
Much of the land has physical hazards such as remaining foundations and basements as well as broken up asphalt, debris and scrap left behind after the demolition of the farm as well as an overgrown orchard, he explained.
Elmore added that the house and barn located on the southernmost parcel would remain, pending tests on the barn, including one to determine its safety.
In addition to the physical problems with the site, the land's soil contains contaminants that must be remediated.
"Most people in the area who are aware of the site are also aware of the issues that exist on the site and those issues are probably why this site sits in the state that it's in today," he said. "A phase one environmental study was performed on the site and after finding evidence of contamination on the site, it was determined that further studies were required to find the extent and the source."
Elmore went on to say that petroleum-based contaminants were found in the areas surrounding the former farm stand and outbuildings, which he said was standard for older farms in the area, while chemical-based contaminants were found in the soil in the orchard.
"All of this is another reason why we are a perfect use for this site," he said. "It is not feasible for a single-family development to take on the expense of the required cleanup of this site. We've talked to developers and we've talked to neighbors who have tried to make this site work for houses and they all agreed that remediation efforts are the reason why this site sits vacant and contaminated to this day."
The facility would have a low impact on town services and would not generate a great deal of traffic, he added, explaining that other similar sites receive 1.2 vehicles per day, per unit, including staff. The parking plan includes 68 parking spaces.
Elmore touted Emeritus' reputation for employing local professionals for its care facilities and the East Longmeadow location would employ roughly 50 people, not including maintenance staff. The busiest shift would have somewhere around 20 people on duty, he said.
Planning Board Chair George Kingston lauded the presentation and stated that his only concern was the use of three detention basins for stormwater control, suggesting an underground water system. Engineer Gary Weiner said that they had looked into that possibility, but it came at a large additional cost to the developer and the current plan to sue the three basins is within the town's regulations, which Kingston confirmed.
Some residents voiced concerns about traffic problems caused by having the entrance to the facility directly across from the entrance to Bluebird Estates without a traffic light. In lieu of a light, stop signs at the exits to the facilities would exist.
Kingston said that the Police Department and Department of Public Works had determined that this was the best course of action and that a traffic study was not needed.
