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Date: 7/26/2021
WEST SPRINGFIELD – The West Springfield Planning Board met on July 21 with the continuation from their July 7 meeting for the site plan approval of CSX Transportation.
The site plan review was to allow for the expansion of the existing gravel storage area for terminal operations with site improvements including fencing, stone and concrete dolly pads located at 151 Day St., in the industrial zoning district.
During the July 7 meeting, the Planning Board expressed their concerns with CSX due to their reputation within the town. Frank Palange, chairperson of the Planning Board informed meeting participants that Mayor William Reichelt had forwarded him concerning images related to trash left behind by CSX. In addition, Palange claimed CSX has had additional issues such as blocking the railroad tracks and trash trucks going up and down Union Street.
Prior to CSX receiving any sort of approval, Palange and the board encouraged CSX to speak with the rest of their employees, and for everyone to review these images and do their research prior to the next meeting.
On July 21, CSX representative Richard Hisrich was present during the meeting to speak with the Planning Board. He informed the board that the photos shared by the mayor were from February. “CSX did respond to that. We cleaned up trash in March and April,” assured Hisrich.
CSX officials had brought in dumpsters and according to Hisrich they were incredibly responsive.
Hisrich said he visited the site prior to the July 21 meeting where he discovered the dumping of items such as mattresses. All of this is considered illegal dumping.
He went on to say that CSX has been in contact with the Mayor’s Office and in the next few weeks, they will be sitting down to address these ongoing issues. With this, Hisrich hopes that they can learn what can be done between CSX and the town of West Springfield.
“I feel for you,” replied Palange. Through multiple, in depth conversations with a CSX employee, Palange explained that he is content with everything else at this point.
Planning Board member Bev Browne asked Hisrich, “If an issue is brought to your attention, would you jump on this immediately?” She then agreed with Palange and said, “I know this isn’t your [CSX] problem.”
Palange said although the trash being dumped isn’t directly from CSX, perhaps they could tend more to this property by mowing the law, etc.
Reichelt was present during the meeting and stood up to address his concerns. Overall, he believes it’s a good project, however, over the last seven years, he claimed to have heard the same things promised by CSX.
Since COVID-19 began, Reichelt said the trash down there has been better due to the Sheriff's monitoring the area. He concluded with, “We don’t want to hold this up anymore – we just want them [CSX] to be a good neighbor.”
Palange informed meeting attendees that he was a little discouraged to hear this from the mayor, but remains hopeful that CSX will pull through.
Following the hearing, board member Jay Lacasse made a motion to approve the site plans. The motion was seconded and approved by all board members.