MEPA Public Consultation and Site visit
EEA# 14081 Sharon Commons Lifestyle Center
Project Summary
The proposed
project consists of a commercial retail and office development of approximately
498,000 square feet on a 60-acre site, and includes construction of an on-site
wastewater treatment system. The project meets or exceeds MEPA review thresholds
for land, transportation, rare species, wastewater, wetlands, and historical
and archaeological resources, and is subject to requirements for preparation of
a mandatory Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The proponent has submitted an
Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) with a request to submit a
Single EIR rather than the usual two-step Draft and Final EIR.
State
agency permits required for the project include a Groundwater Discharge Permit
and 401 Water Quality Certification from the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (MassDEP), a Conservation and Management Permit from
the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species
Program (NHESP), a State
Highway Access Permit from
the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD). The projct also requires an Order
of Conditions from the Sharon Conservation Commission (and, on appeal only, a
Superseding Order from MassDEP), and a Determination of No Adverse Effect from
the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC).
According to the ENF, the proposed project will result in approximately 44 acres
of land alteration, including 32 acres of new impervious area. The project will
impact state-listed species habitat of Eastern Box Turtle. The off-site
roadway component of the project will impact 17,620 square feet (sf) of Bordering
Vegetated Wetlands (BVW). Other wetlands imapcts include 17,570 sf of
Riverfront Area, 45 linear feet of Bank, 450 sf of Land Under Water and 61,270
of Floodplain. Traffic impacts are estimated at 19,300 new vehicle trips per
day. A new WWTF is proposed to handle a flow of 95,000 gallons per day (gpd).
Water use is estimated at 59,520 gpd and will be obtained from the Town of Sharon public water supply.
Site Visit
date/time: Thursday August 23, 2007 at 1pm
Location:
Board of Selectmen Meeting Room, Town Hall, 90 South Main St., Sharon, MA 02067
(a
site visit will take place after the meeting at Town Hall)
Comments
due: September 7, 2007
Decision
due: September 14, 2007
Project
contact:
Susan Adamski, Coler & Colantonio, Inc. (781) 982-5453 sadamski@col-col.com
MEPA
contact:
Aisling Eglington (617) 626-1024 aisling.eglington@state.ma.us
MEPA Web
Links:
ENF http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/pdffiles/enfs/080807em/14081.pdf
MEPA Home Page http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/index.htm
email: aisling.eglington@state.ma.us