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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor HOLYOKE A largely parliamentary exercise on Tuesday evening to establish a special permitting process for any solid waste transfer station that might be established in the city turned into a heated protest against a proposed transfer station at 686 Main St. City Councilor John Brunelle, chair of the Ordinance Committee, explained to the dozens of protesters flowing out of the City Council chambers that the purpose of the event was not to discuss any specific project. The City Council was required by law to host a public hearing about whether or not to create a special permit for a solid waste transfer station business. Members of the Planning Board were present to listen to the testimony in favor and against requiring that business having a special permit. Once the hearing was completed the Planning Board would make a recommendation that would be returned to the City Council at its March 11 meeting. The City Council would then decide if a special permit process was needed. The move to impose a special permit on such a business came from Councilor Diosdado Lopez, who also suggested exploring the possibility of a one-year moratorium on proposed transfer stations. United Waste Management Inc. has proposed constructing a 22,575 square-foot transfer station. Residents have formed Holyoke Organized to Protect the Environment (HOPE) to protest the transfer station. Brunelle explained that legally the company could build the transfer station tomorrow as long as it meets the current federal and state requirements because the property has been zoned for such a use for years. The reason for creating a special permit for such a business would be to give the City Council a legal vehicle through which it could impose conditions such as the hours and days of operation and the number of trips made by trucks to the site, Brunelle said. Brunelle had to remind the opponents several times the purpose of the evening was not to debate the proposed transfer station itself, but rather whether or not a special permit process was necessary. The line to speak in favor of the special permit was quickly made. Ginetta E.B. Candelario, the HOPE spokesperson, said the special permit process should be supported, as Holyoke is a state designated environmental justice community. She quoted statistics indicating high rates of asthma and other diseases in Holyoke and spoke on the potential threat to health such a business might bring. When she began speaking against the proposed United Waste Management facility, Brunelle reminded her what would be accepted as testimony that evening. Pam Cargill identified herself as a young homeowner who lives in the neighborhood and said she wants the assurances about such a business a special permit would give. "We want due process," she said. Not all attending the meeting were in favor of the special permit. Michael Rennicke, the general manager of the Pioneer Valley Railroad, said he was opposed because the waste transfer industry is already heavily regulated. "Additional regulations drive away businesses," Rennicke said. He said Massachusetts is the second most stringent state in the country for environmental regulations. "In another couple of years this kind of a facility will be a blessing," Rennicke added. Also speaking against a special permit was Scott Lemay, the CEO of United Waste Management of Holyoke LLC. Lemay began explaining the advantages the transfer station would offer and was eventually interrupted by Brunelle who asked him to stay with the topic of the validity of a special permit. Lemay said he was opposed to a special permit process as there is already "an incredibly extensive [approval] one." Lemay added he might treat the city more favorably if he didn't have to submit to the conditions imposed by a special permit. "I might give you [the city] much more than with a special permit," he said. After Lemay spoke a number of residents spoke for a second time to debate what Lemay had said. |