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Some Planning Board members unhappy with Maspenock Woods traffic "I am hard-pressed how that can be possible to make that a safe place" ~ R. J. Dourney
by Robert Falcione September 26, 2006 — At last night's public hearing, Planning Board members were asked by KSS Realty's attorney, Doug Resnick, "What points are important," regarding a host of objections or questions surrounding the proposed Maspenock Woods development on West Elm Street. And they answered with a resounding, "Traffic."
The Engineering
firm reporting to the town, FS&T (Faye, Spofford & Thorndike),
sent a commentary to the Planning Board "I think traffic at the site and egress," said member Evan Ballantyne, referring to his major concern about the proposed Garden Apartment Site Plan. "The existence of the vernal pool and that we can't get the driveway into the site moved," he added. One of the proposed entrance plans was to place the driveway into the complex on the part of West Elm Street that is flat, with a line of sight that is believed safer, but according to pundits in attendance last night, the Conservation Commission has declared the existence of a vernal pool at that former proposed entrance, taking its use out of consideration. In fact, the Planning Board had previously asked the proponents to meet with the Conservation Commission to request approval for the alternate entrance. The proposed entrance will have an improved line of sight after a widening of the road and the taking down of some interior elements, in an area that even the proponent's engineer said does not currently meet standards. "Of all of the topics, this is the hardest to get my arms around. I am hard-pressed how that can be possible to make that a safe place," said member R.J. Dourney. "The original location — the entrance around the corner — you abandon that because there is a vernal pool," Mr. Dourney said. "We didn't abandon it," said Mr. Resnick, inferring it was a matter of law. "It is a vernal pool under Hopkinton by-law, " said a representative of the proponents. During the months of meetings, spokesmen for KSS Realty have frequently contrasted Hopkinton's 125' buffer around wetlands with the State's 100' buffer, often threatening a 40b development, a very dense development with an affordable housing component, that would answer only to State law, and bypass local zoning, if they don't get approved, claiming they could use the other driveway under State regulations. "FS&T is refusing to put their stamp of approval on this," said Board member Claire Wright, expressing her reluctance to put her stamp of approval on it. In addition to the site plan itself, the Board wants updated and projected traffic pattern studies for the intersection of West Elm and West Main Streets, something Mr. Resnick said is always done at the later stage of a project, contradicting the apparent concerns of FS&T. The proponent promised to meet further with the DPW and FS&T to iron out the communications gap over that issue and others. An engineer representing MDM Traffic Consultants, Inc. promised that the reconstruction on Elm Street for the site will improve line of sight and be in compliance with, or greater than regulations.
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members just last Friday, a timing that concerned not only them,
but the applicant's attorney, Mr. Resnick as well.