While reviewing the Longmeadow Planning Board Zoning Bylaws recently we found a few interesting items. The stated purpose of the Zoning Bylaws is: “The purpose of this article is to protect the health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the inhabitants of the town by providing for a review of plans for uses and structures which may have significant impacts. The Planning Board shall be the reviewing authority for purposes of this article. In considering a site plan, the Planning Board shall assure that all structures and uses other than single-family dwellings are developed in a manner which considers community needs, including protection of abutting properties and visual amenities, convenience and safety of vehicular and pedestrian movement within the site and in relation to adjacent areas, adequacy of methods of disposal for wastes and surface drainage, and protection of environmental and historic features on the site and in adjacent areas.”
It also states under design guidelines: “When a traffic impact report is required, the proposed development shall comply with the following standards:” (a) Level of Service (LOS) at nearby intersections shall not be degraded more than one level as a result of traffic by the proposed development, nor shall any nearby intersection degrade below the Level of D. (b) Adjacent streets shall not exceed design capacity at the peak hour as a result of traffic generated by the proposed development. (c) Safety hazards shall not be created or added to as a result of traffic generated by the proposed development.
Just wondering if the Planning Board will have the courage to push back against the placement of the new Longmeadow Middle School in the Williams athletic field, which based on the traffic feasibility study clearly violates Chapter 315-46D, Item (8) (a), (b) and (c). With mitigation strategies it might be possible to get the LOS on Williams Street and Bliss Road reduced from a Level F (worst possible level) to a Level E, but this still violates the zoning regulations.
All of this has got us wondering why the new middle school committee is forging ahead with plans to locate the new school in the Williams athletic field without first solving these clear zoning violations. It’s a classic case of putting the cart before the horse. Or do the zoning regulations apply for just us common residents, and don’t apply to other town committees and boards? Are the zoning regulations just for show when it comes to the proposed new school and it’s already a done deal? The Williams athletic field site is too small for a school of this size and placing it there will violate the town’s zoning regulations. Residents should be asking questions.
Bill and Terry DeGiulio
Longmeadow
