Wal-Mart
From North Adams Info
Wal-Mart is proposing to build a new, larger store at the former gravel pit on Curran Highway (Rt. 8).
An application for the special permit will be considered by the Planning Board at their meeting of January 11, 2010
North Adams First (website), a citizen's group, is opposing this move and expansion.
Some photographed documents regarding the proposal are available here, including
- Site Development Plans
- Special Permit Application
- Traffic Plan (partial)
- Stormwater Plan (partial)
Other relevant documents/information:
- Conservation Commission minutes
- Planning board meeting rules
- Planning board minutes for 2009
- Zoning Board minutes for 2009
- Zoning bylaws
- Community Development Plan reaffirmation (something online at BRPC)
There was a citizens' meeting regarding on Saturday, Dec 12, 11:00am at the Cup & Saucer. Dick Alcombright attended.
The North Adams Planning Board was scheduled to address the proposal on Monday, Dec 14, but voted to postpone consideration until the January meeting.
The Planning Board did take up this issue at the January meeting, and many residents spoke out, almost all against the development.
ZBA powers and duties are listed in the Ordinances.
- MEPA comments will address 21E brownfields
- Filed with DEP, none exists for this site.
- BRPC comments suggest that such a study may exist.
Contents |
Environmental issues
Municipal water supply
- There is a capped water supply at the intersection of Hodges Cross Road and Curran Highway. It is no longer suitable as a public supply, due to encroaching development (Catherine Skiba at the DEP). A new well on that site would have to be surrounded by 11 acres of undeveloped land. Specialty Minerals has wells that draw from this aquifer.
- The aquifer flows north.
Stormwater
- Water from roof will drain into rain gardens along the front of the building.
- Runoff from the (impervious) parking lot will be treated and discharged into the groundwater.
First Wal-Mart store
- 96,000 sq ft.
- Feb 10, 1992: no-one spoke out against the proposed Wal-Mart
- Curing Conservation Commission meetings, the only objection was from HooRWA
- Great Island, developer
- EIA assessment was an issue
- Tierney waived EIA
(source: Transcript, Jan 11 2010: Walmart: Then and Now. This does not appear online)
