FA Walpole Town Hall 135 School Street Walpole, MA 02081 Mark Gallivan, Vice Chair Nancy S. Mackenzie, Clerk Phone (508) 660-7277 David Salvatore Fax (508) 660-7303 Ann Ragosta EMAIL: bos@walpole-ma.gov TOWN OF WALPOLE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS July 18, 2017 Michael Busby 40B Specialist Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency One Beacon Street Boston, MA 02108-3110 Re: Neponset Crossing Dear Mr. Busby, On behalf of the Walpole Board of Selectmen, thank you for affording us the opportunity to comment on the site application before you regarding Neponset Crossing in Walpole. This proposed 250-unit rental complex will, without question, have impacts upon our Community, ‘our neighborhoods, our infrastructure and our municipal and school operations. As this process moves forward, we look forward to working with all parties involved to mitigate, minimize, and if possible, eliminate any and all negative impacts resulting from this project. To that end, please consider the following items as initial concerns of the Town of Walpole that must be addressed as the design, planning and possible approval processes move forward, 1) Neighborhood: As is clearly evident during the site visit, the area surrounding this proposed project comprises five multi-Unit Mega Buildings single-family residences in an already congested area. Residents who have located in this area purchased homes or in fact remained in their homes to take advantage of the proximity to downtown Walpole and the major traveling routes in the area. The proposed addition of 250 units of housing will not only change the character of the area, but it will create added burdens and challenges on the neighborhood such as increased traffic, potential for increased noise and light pollution, possible change in property values, and storm water management. While it is true that residential development on this site could have been considered under a conventional plan, it is also true that such a project would likely have yielded much fewer homes on this parcel.As such, we ask that your review take into account this neighborhood impact, and work with us as we seek such design features as improved pedestrian safety improvements (sidewalks, crosswalks, etc.) on East St, and the other neighborhood streets; site improvements to prevent noise and lighting overflow into the existing neighborhood; safety systems included such as gated access, improved neighborhood street lighting, and 24-hour neighborhood contact access. In addition, we will seek the cooperation of the development team on other protections and improvements as the design moves forward. 2) Environmental Concerns: The proposed site of this project sits in the extremely sensitive areas. The wetlands in this area provide valuable natural resource for this section of Walpole, and as such any development must be so designed to protect the surrounding wetlands, ensure that the species of animal and plant found in that area are protected, and be completely certain that a stormwater collection and treatment system is constructed to prevent any contamination, erosion and deleterious effects reach the Brook and feeder area. This may also involve the improvements and upgrade to the municipal drainage system on East Street and Kendall Street to address the effects of 400-plus added vehicle trips per day. Overall levels of impervious cover on the property must also be reviewed in conjunction with ‘a complete environmental assessment to ensure that groundwater recharge in the area as well as stormwater runoff impacts to the area not adversely affected. 3) Infrastructure Impacts - Roadways & Sidewalks: As noted above, the addition of 250 residential units into this neighborhood will bring with it the impacts upon our roads, and necessitate the need for improved pedestrian safety and access. As such, we will look to work with the development team and MassHousing that the plan includes the addition of fully-ADA compliant sidewalks along the roadways accessing Route 27 and Kendall Street. In addition, drainage and roadway surface improvements in the neighborhood to prepare for the added vehicle trips. 4) Infrastructure Impacts - Sewer & Water: Clearly this is one of our greatest concerns. As the Commonwealth considers greater and tighter restrictions upon Walpole and other communities regarding our drinking water production capacity, we are most concerned that the addition of this number of units will drastically reduce our ability to provide water for future economic development opportunities. To that end, we will look to both the development team and MassHousing to identify as part of the design proper mitigation measures to minimize the utilization and demand on the Town's water supply. Further, on the topic of water, we will seek a full analysis that the complex can provide and sustain adequate if not superior water capacity and pressure to provide full fire protection from hydrants and sprinklers throughout the project. If needed, we will discuss the possibility of the project funding all or a portion of an additional water storage/pressure unit in the Community to assist here. In terms of sanitary sewer utilization, the Town will take every precaution to avoid the same negative impacts that we have dealt with since The Preserve came online nearly 12 years ago. Specifically, the design of this complex must include ALL requirements of our Sewer & Water Commissioners and Department of Public Works to ensure that outward sewer flow is directed in a manner prevents impacts on the existing system, eliminates all odor from the waste discharged into our system, and prevents long-term capacity surges downstream in our system. We again urge the development team to work with our professionals as part of their design.5) Fire & Emergency Medical Services Protection: This project must be designed to provide for complete fire protection, detection, and suppression systems standard throughout. Each unit, all common areas, and all attic and storage spaces must be fully sprinkled. Sufficient hydrants must be located throughout the complex, with appropriate fire department standpipe connections made available in each building. Further, the Fire Department must be provided with 360-degree access at each building for the purposes of providing for resident escape over aerial ladders in the event of a fire. As it is arguable that a building height is excessive for not only the character of the neighborhood but public safety as well, we will also look to work with the development team on the provision of all or a portion of an aerial platform device for the Fire Department to facilitate safer and more efficient rescue capabilities for said building heights projected to be at least 30-feet beyond the reach of ground ladders. All roadways in the complex must be designed so that widths and comers accommodate turning radiuses for every Fire Department apparatus. All building plantings must follow the state fire and building codes (CMR 527 and CMR 780) to ensure that the risk of external fire is minimized or eliminated. As to the topic of Emergency Medical Services, elevators should be required in each building on site greater than one-story to provide for safe and rapid evacuation of residents to awaiting ambulances during medical emergencies. All elevators must be capable of accommodating Walpole Fire Department Stretchers and EMS transport crews, and should have appropriate 24-hour monitoring. 6) Traffic Safety: As part of the design process, and to be expected as part of the Comprehensive Permit review process, detailed traffic counts should be conducted at the East StreeRt 27 & Eastover Road intersection, as well as East and High Plain St. and Kendall St. The counts should measure the level of traffic on each of the roadways currently there, which should then be incorporated into a proposed traffic management plan for the area addressing the inclusion of more than 400 additional vehicle trips per day. This plan should address the potential for signalization of either or both major intersections, incorporate the need for coordination with existing Route 1A, Route 1, Route 27, Washington St. and Old Post Road traffic flow, and preservation of safe movements with all traffic exiting and entering both major intersections. 7) Additional Area Impacts - Shopping Access, Etc.: It has been suggested that the final design of this project would include pedestrian access to local shopping areas. It would be the recommendation of the Town that such access not be included. Further, the Board will not consider the possibility of utilizing Town parcels for that purpose. 8) Security & Safety Concerns: The introduction of 250 units in a heavily dense area in and of itself requires a security plan to be developed at design and provided to the Walpole Police Department for review and comment. In addition, as it relates to emergency communications on-site, we would ask that each building on the property include, if technically necessary, bi-directional amplifiers for police & fire communications. This will enhance the safety of residents and first responders by ensuring radio transmissions can be heard from the buildings to our dispatch center and other units in the field. Further, the Development Team should give consideration to partnering with Walpole Emergency Management's CERT program to provide for proper emergency planning, evacuation, and sheltering plans. Finally, the buildings in the complex should be fully protected with emergency generator power to ensure that all heating, refrigeration, elevators, and fire