Zaremba Group’s layout for a proposed Firestone Complete Auto Care at 546 North Main St.
Photo credit: ELCAT01028
EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow residents are voicing concerns about a proposed Firestone Complete Auto Care on North Main Street and its potential effect on traffic, noise and small business success, with some residents citing existing traffic conditions as “dangerous” and a “big problem.”
The Firestone is proposed for 546 North Main St., formerly occupied by East Longmeadow Vegetable and Fruit Bin. Developers would demolish the existing building and redevelop the property into a 6,600-square-foot Firestone.
Zaremba Group, the real-estate developer working alongside Firestone and its parent company, Bridgestone, submitted an application to the Planning Board for a site plan review on May 21. The Planning Board needs to grant the site plan review before the developers can apply for a building permit.
Zaremba Group Senior Vice President of Construction and Development John Wojtila, DiPrete Engineering Civil Engineer Joseph Duhamel and Pare Corporation Managing Engineer Herman Peralta discussed the project’s plans before residents spoke at the Planning Board meeting on June 16.
Wojtila said the proposed building would be equipped with eight service bays in the back of the building and 30 parking spots throughout the lot.
Business hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Zaremba proposed a primary entrance and exit directly on North Main Street and a one-way exit onto Londergan Place connecting to North Main Street. East Longmeadow Director of Planning Rob Watchilla recommends that the entire lot have one-way traffic flow from North Main Street to Londergan Place to prevent backup or confusion and allow safer exits.
Pare Corporation’s April traffic assessment on the lot estimates that there will be about 26 total trips during the morning peak hours and 32 trips during the afternoon peak hours.
Trips are based on how many cars will be entering and exiting the lot and service is by appointment only with an average trip length of one hour.
Pare’s assessment states, “Based on the low volume of site-generated trips associated with this land use, the proposed facility is anticipated to have minimal impact on the surrounding roadway network.”
Pare also obtained the area’s crash data from the MassDOT Crash Portal for incidents between January 2018 through December 2022. The data shows six accidents during that time — three rear-end collisions and three single-car accidents. One of the incidents reported non-fatal injuries.
“We will comply with all the requirements, stormwater wise, utility wise,” Wojtila said. “We’d be reconstructing the sidewalk along North Main Street, an accessible route from the street to the building, increasing pedestrian access.”
Resident John Godwin began the public comment and said he lives close enough to the property to hear the noise and see the lights.
“It’s a particular concern to me,” Godwin said. “I don’t hear much information here about the traffic. Friendly’s is at the top of the hill. Any cars coming from Springfield, coming over that hill, if there’s somebody waiting to turn into the Firestone, there could be a significant problem.”
He said “what we are opposed to is the traffic and the noise, you can’t get out of [Lombard Avenue] now,” prompting applause from the audience. He added that there should be consideration for a traffic light at Lombard Avenue and North Main Street before this goes through.
“We are, as a resident, opposed to having an increase in traffic, that in my opinion is not only going to be bothersome, but it’s going to be dangerous,” Godwin said. “That’s my input on the matter.”
Resident Bernadette Bonner said she lives across from “this monstrosity” and that it would be directly next to her child’s window. She said that Firestone’s machinery is anywhere from 80-100 decibels, which is within the limit of potential hearing loss over prolonged exposure.
She added that Chapter 363 of the town bylaws prevent heavy equipment on Sundays. Planning Board member Peter Punderson said that he doesn’t want it open on Sundays anyway.
Resident Robyn DiSanti voiced concerns about the current sidewalk safety for children and the lack of stoplights to direct traffic through the number of side streets and businesses surrounding the proposed Firestone. She said “now how do you get out without almost getting hit with the people speeding down that street coming from Springfield?”
Resident Sara McGillicuddy said Roderick and Gerard Avenues are already dangerous because of cut-through travel to North Main Street, and that she is concerned of an increase to get to Firestone. She added concerns over Firestone employees using the streets to test-drive vehicles.
Resident Eugene Deykin said the town doesn’t need a big business and that the only way it brings the community together is by “getting everyone in this room today.”
He said he thinks it will hurt smaller mechanics, like Frank’s Auto Service next door, and that people can go to surrounding towns if they want Firestone. Resident Mike Raschilla added that this Firestone “would kill Frank’s.”
“That’s all they do, this will put them out of business,” Raschilla said. “I don’t care what you think, this will put them out of business. Hopefully you took that into consideration, based on what I’m hearing, maybe you didn’t. Frank’s will go, they’re going to be right next to Frank’s, and the new business that bought [Bretta Automotive Repair], they’re not going to benefit from it either … I have nothing against Firestone, nothing against free enterprise. There’s other places in East Longmeadow they could have put this.”
Town Councilor Ralph Page said North Main Street has been under an engineering breakdown for two years and the traffic is horrible. He said construction to repair the Lombard Avenue to Dearborn Street section will begin in 2028, and then Dearborn to Westwood Avenue in the second phase.
Transportation Improvement Program Grant money funds the construction that includes new sidewalks, bike lanes, traffic lights and crosswalks.
“Once it’s all said and done, we’re hoping it’s going to really improve that,” Page said. “Everyone knows that lives in town, when you try to pull out of a side street at a certain hour, you’re better off making a right-hand turn, going down, turning around and then coming back. It’s just that bad.”
The proposed Firestone’s public hearing continues at the Planning Board meeting on July 7 at 6 p.m.
