Sierra Vista Commons Project Description
Secretary’s Certificate on Final Environmental Impact Report Issued August 2
The Secretary’s Certificate on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) was issued on August 2, 2024 and is available here. The Certificate finds that the FEIR adequately and properly complies with MEPA and its implementing regulations. As such, no additional MEPA review is required.
Final Environmental Impact Report Filed June 17, 2024
The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) has been submitted to the MEPA Office and is available for regulatory and public viewing and downloading here. This document is large and may take a moment to be available. Please note that the FEIR is anticipated to be advertised in the Environmental Monitor on June 26, 2024 and comments will be accepted by the MEPA Office through July 26, 2024. Comments may be submitted directly to the MEPA Analyst or through the online comment portal accessible at: https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/PublicComment/Landing/. A hard copy of the FEIR will be made available at the Emily Williston Public Library located at 9 Park Street, Easthampton, MA for review by Wednesday June 18, 2024.
Secretary's Certificate on Draft Environmental Impact Report Issued April 1st
The Secretary’s Certificate on the Draft Environmental Impact Report was issued on April 1, 2024 and is available here. The Certificate allows the preparation and filing of the Final Environmental Impact Report by the Proponent. The Certificate provides a Scope of information to be provided in the next filing.
Draft Environmental Impact Report Filed February 15, 2024
The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) has been submitted to the MEPA Office and is available for regulatory and public viewing and downloading here. This document is large and may take a moment to be available. The Executive Summary of the document is available here. Please note that the DEIR is anticipated to be advertised in the Environmental Monitor on February 23, 2024 and comments will be accepted by the MEPA Office through March 25, 2024. Comments may be submitted directly to the MEPA Analyst or through the online comment portal accessible at https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/PublicComment/Landing/. A hard copy of the DEIR will be made available at the Emily Williston Public Library located at 9 Park Street, Easthampton, MA for review by Saturday, February 17, 2024.
In-Person Project Update Scheduled January 31, 2024
Join a Project representative between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM at the Emily Williston Public Library (9 Park Street, Easthampton, MA) to ask your outstanding questions on the regulatory review status of the Sierra Vista Commons Project, the current design, and how you can access, review, and provide comments during the next phase of the MEPA Process – the filing of the Draft Environmental Impact Report. This is an informal drop-in session with no formal presentation. Please feel free to stop by with questions at your convenience.
Secretary’s Certificate on EENF Issued
On August 16, 2023, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and the Environment issued her Certificate on the Sierra Vista Commons Project (EEA# 16729). This Certificate denied the request for a Single Environmental Impact Report and the Project will require the filing of a Draft and Final Environmental Impact Reports. The Certificate also provided a Scope of material to prepare for the pending Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). The Secretary’s Certificate can be accessed here.
Prior to filing the Draft Environmental Impact Report, an in-person community meeting will be held for interested parties to learn about the changes to the Project between the EENF and the DEIR filings. Additional details regarding this meeting will be provided at least two-weeks prior to the event.
Expanded Environmental Notification Form Filed with Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office
The public notice appeared on June 30, 2023 in the Hampshire Gazette. The Project will also be published in the Environmental Monitor, scheduled for July 10, 2023. Once the EENF is published in the Environmental Monitor, a MEPA Analyst will be assigned to review the Project. Public comments can be submitted via email to the MEPA analyst listed in the Environmental Monitor or to MEPA@mass.gov. The Environmental Monitor can be viewed here.
Informational Project Office Hours
A Project representative will be available at the Emily Williston Memorial Library for Office Hours. Drop by to ask questions, pick up a project informational flier, or provide a comment or suggestion about the project. This is an informal opportunity to learn about the project and the MEPA process overall.
Office hours will be held:
- Wednesday May 3 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
- Saturday May 6 from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
The library is a short walk from the Union Street bus stops.
The proposed Project is a redevelopment project for a mixed-use residential and commercial center. The Project includes the following proposed development:
- Roots Learning Center (Daycare facility) (approximately 9,000 square feet (SF))
- Roots Gymnastic Center (approximately 7,000 SF)
- 10 mid-rise (3-floor) apartment buildings, 180 units total (approximately 13,000 SF/building)
- 2 Sit-down restaurants, 220-seat capacity each (approximately 5,500 SF/building)
- 3 Mixed-use retail/office buildings with apartments above (approximately 34,100 SF total); and
- 2 Mixed-use warehouse/storage, contractor units (approximately 6,800 SF/building).
The Project proposes a mixed-use development within the Highway Business zone which has direct frontage on Northampton Street. The 10 residential apartment buildings, each containing 18 units, are proposed in the Residential-Suburban A zone, at the rear of the property, away from Northampton Street. An additional 26 residential apartments are proposed to be located within mixed use buildings. At least 35 apartments would be designated as affordable housing.
To support the proposed businesses and residences, the Project includes the construction of an internal roadway to provide access and circulation, parking spaces for each facility and building, and typical site utilities. The internal roadway will include sidewalks, crosswalks, and speed humps at critical points. To access the norther portion of the property, a bridge will be installed that will be compliant with the MA Stream Crossing Standards.
Potential Environmental Justice Impacts
Short Term Impacts
Short-term environmental and public health impacts that may affect EJ populations include potential air quality and noise impacts from the use of construction equipment. These impacts will be mitigated by implementing requirements to minimize vehicle idling, emission control devices, and control of dust. Work will be limited to normal workday hours to the extent possible. There may be times when a flagger or police detail may be needed to provide for safe site access or to allow for utility interconnection with Northampton Street.
Stormwater and erosion impacts associated with construction will be managed and mitigated through proper use of erosion and sediment controls. These controls will be used as permitted in the EPA CGP and will be maintained throughout the construction period.
Long Term Impacts
The site currently supports a golf driving range (currently closed) and a limited area of farmland. This open space will be developed into a mix of residential, commercial, and retail uses. The project design has avoided any direct impacts to wetlands and proposes to retain the majority of existing trees; however, there will be limited tree removal along the existing edges of the forested areas. This project will result in the long-term conversion of privately-owned open space to a mixed-use development.
Noise levels are anticipated to increase with residential and other uses of the site. Noise impacts from the site on surrounding residential areas will be mitigated by maintaining a vegetative buffer containing at least 50% evergreen trees between the development and existing residential areas. Within the site, seven of the ten apartment buildings will be separated from the mixed-use portion of the site by a forested area and set to the rear, away from the main road to limit road noise impacts for residents.
Finally, there will be increased vehicle trips to the site and traffic along Northampton Street related to the proposed redevelopment of the site. The traffic study indicates there will be no reduction in the level of service along Northampton Street associated with the project. The project proponent will work with MassDOT to facilitate the necessary intersection design to support the anticipated traffic.
The project has balanced development with resource protection by avoiding direct wetland impacts and preserving the majority of trees onsite. Certain parking areas have been designated as facilities that will only be constructed if necessary, once the site is operational, to minimize and potentially avoid some impervious cover.
Environmental Justice Benefits
Environmental and social benefits of the site include increasing the overall housing capacity and the affordable house capacity within the City of Easthampton which may ease the increasing housing costs observed in the City for the last several years. Additionally, the site has been designed to include a playground, pool, and community garden for outdoor recreational use by the residents. The site design includes crosswalks and sidewalks along with speed humps as necessary to create a walking-safe development.
The site layout has been designed to avoid impacts to wetlands and maintains most of the forested buffer zone onsite as undisturbed areas. The development has also been designed with electric vehicle infrastructure to support the electric transition and decrease overall emissions from the development.