13-home subdivision OK’d for East Forest Park in Springfield

This article first appeared on Masslive.com on January 28th, 2024. Read below to learn about my advocacy for protecting our urban woodlands in Springfield through my work as a member of the Springfield Conservatory and Nature Stewardship, or SCANS.

“Juan Latorre III, a member of the (Outer Belt) civic association, said it is time for the city to start talking about protecting urban woodlands while at the same time facing the fact that the greater Springfield area is facing a housing crisis.”

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SPRINGFIELD – A city developer plans to build 13 single-family homes on vacant land off Allen Street, saying the proposal will help with the housing crisis plaguing the state.

The Planning Board approved the project this month in a 4-0 vote. The Conservation Commission has also given its OK, adding conditions designed to protect the nearby wetland and conservation area.

But abutters and neighbors from the Outer Belt Civic Association see problems with increased water in their already wet basements and even more traffic on Allen Street.

Michael Serricchio, owner of RJH Development, said he is planning the development on six acres of vacant land close to where the street intersects Bicentennial Highway. The homes are designed to be a mix of two-story colonials and ranches that will measure between 2,200 and 2,700 square feet.

Residents, mainly of Wilshire Road and Hillside Drive, aired concerns that the construction and new homes will exacerbate problems with water they face on their properties.

One resident said homes that exist probably should not have been allowed on the land, saying his basement frequently floods and his sump pump operates constantly.

“Water is an issue. There is no doubt about it,” said Margaret Sheehan, who lives on Hillside Drive. “There is no guarantee the wetlands and the water table will not be affected.”

In the past there was one home on the property. An additional 12 will add traffic onto Allen Street, which is already bumper-to-bumper multiple times during the day, she said.

Sheehan said she has no objections to development if it is done properly. But she said people must consider the balance between preserving and protecting the environment with the need to reduce the housing shortage.

Another Hillside Drive resident, Maryann Fellion, mentioned the deer, ducks and other wildlife in her backyard that will be displaced by the subdivision. The additional traffic will also be problematic in her view. One day she waited 12 minutes to exit Wilshire Road onto Allen Street because of the never-ending stream of cars.

“I can’t understand the greed of trying to put that many homes in that area. It’s ridiculous,” she said.

Slowing traffic

The developers do understand the heavy traffic on Allen Street and Bicentennial Highway that intersects with it, said Filipe Cravo, project engineer for R. Levesque Associates, which is overseeing the project.

“Another concern is traffic, so we met with law enforcement to see what we can do [to] slow people down,” he said.

The company will continue to work with the Outer Belt Civic Association to address concerns residents have, Cravo said.

On the water issue, officials said city engineers have approved the developers’ system to manage storm water. The city requires any additional water generated by a development to remain on the site.

Before the Planning Board approved the project, Leo Florian, vice chairman of the board, said the development follows city zoning, lot size and other requirements, so the members cannot deny a permit, although they can require conditions to protect the area.

“I understand there are people who live by woods and don’t like to lose them,” he said. “It is just not a reason to turn down a subdivision.”

Juan Latorre III, a member of the civic association, said it is time for the city to start talking about protecting urban woodlands while at the same time facing the fact that the greater Springfield area is facing a housing crisis.

Planning Board member Jennifer McQuade said the Planning Board should look at its long-standing regulations to ensure they protect neighbors as well as developers.