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| By Courtney Llewellyn Reminder Assistant Editor EAST LONGMEADOW Don LoMascolo, owner of D&C Properties at Baldwin Street and Glendale Road, first came before the Planning Board for a public hearing on the development of his land in November 2004 and was met with residents' resistance. Since then, he's revamped his plans, but a public hearing that took place last Tuesday showed that nearby residents are still not in favor of his proposed business development. Gary Weiner, with Ecotec Environmental Associates, explained that the parcels LoMascolo would be working with total 9.3 acres, with the majority of the site zoned as industrial. The rest of the site is residential. The new business complex would be made up of four buildings, one less than the previous plan. There would be one climate-controlled warehouse, two office buildings and one owner-occupied multi-tenant building. "This is strictly a private business endeavor," Weiner stated. LoMascolo is the owner/operator of Prospect Builders, which provides fire and flood restoration services. He plans on storing mobile trailers on his site which can be transported to homes damaged by fires so families will have a place to live until restoration is complete. No one would be staying on the Baldwin Street property. Planning Board members asked Weiner, LoMascolo and architect Larry Tuttle about stormwater, water runoff and nearby wetlands and the necessity of a traffic study before opening the floor up to concerned citizens. Amy Hebert of Glendale Road said a traffic study should be considered, not waived by the board. By Weiner's estimates, there would be 40 new vehicle trips during peak hour (8 to 9 a.m.), with slightly less during the evening peak hour. The storage facility would not be a weekday draw, he added. Other nearby neighbors questioned lighting of the property, how that lighting would affect abutters and security issues. Weiner explained that a raised three-foot berm would be put in place between the property and those of abutters, with four to six foot tall arbor vitae added for additional coverage. The two story buildings would be close to 20 feet tall, however. "These are quality of life issues," Phil Abair of 5th Street stated. He also asked about power and water upgrades to the area to help deal with the additional utilities the proposed business development would need. Weiner replied that upgrades would be made. Melissa Luxton of Linden Avenue had the public hearing audience of nearly two dozen applauding when she said, "This is in my backyard ... and I think it's a horrible idea. It will become a magnet for riffraff. What are we getting out of it [the development]?" The public hearing, which was scheduled to run from 6:30 to 7 p.m., lasted until nearly 8 p.m. The Planning Board will continue discussion of D&C Properties at their meeting on Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. |