Commission reviews Phase II of sewer plans

Date: 2/8/2012

Feb. 8, 2012

By Debbie Gardner

debbieg@thereminder.com

AGAWAM —The Conservation Commission will be considering modifications to the Phase II Southwest Area Sewer Extension Project when it meets on Feb. 9.

Phase II includes construction of a pumping stations at Barry and Pine streets as well as the laying of sewer lines on Barry, Pine and South Westfield streets and Bradford Drive. The project also includes road improvements to Pine Street.

Phase I of the Feeding Hills project was completed in 2011.

Chairman Henry Kozlowski told Reminder Publications the Commission would be “writing Orders of Conditions” under which the project can proceed, particularly as it pertains to the sections of the projects that involve Still Brook Stream and wetland areas adjacent to it at the meeting.

“We want more details on how [the project] is going to cross the brook,” he said, referring to discussions of recent updates to the project’s plans discussed at a Jan. 26 meeting.

In documents dated Jan. 19, David Popielarczyk, senior engineer with Tighe & Bond, delivered to the Commission supplemental information regarding the site plans for Phase II.

Following input collected at a Jan. 12 public hearing on the project, Popielarczyk said the Department of Public Works (DPW) has agreed to move the location of the Barry Street pumping station an additional 10 feet east of the property line and will install five trees to help screen the facility from the sight lines of abutter John Podgorski of 131 Barry Street.

Other proposed alterations include increases to site easements —or areas set aside —for construction materials and vehicle storage, as long as those increases do not affect public ways, and restrictions to both the way construction is performed along the riverbed and wetlands of Still Brook and the area where the contractor can work while constructing the Pine Street pumping station.

Additional improvements planned for Pine Street include the elevation of the roadbed and installation of a catch basin near the driveway of 220 Pine Street to elevate a drainage problem at that section of the road.

Kozlowski said other improvements planned for Pine Street would improve the “safety for [residents] backing out of their driveways, so they can see.”