W E T L A N D S

Some of the businesses might want to withdraw from the original application for the Wetlands/ Flood Hazard special permit at the next Salem Public Meeting, because they feel the permit doesn't apply to their property.  According to Mass GIS data maps, the lots in question do fall into Wetlands and other protected areas, but according to the current Salem Zoning Maps they do not.  


The Wetlands/Flood Hazard overlay special permit is based on a wetlands outline done for the City, created by Jerome Long, which is used in Salem's Zoning ordinance.   The Jerome Long wetlands outlines were done in the seventies and are outdated today.  The Salem Zoning Ordinance was recently revised, but without the latest Mass GIS data.   There is word that the City is looking into updating the data.   This hiccup could occur in any township, so feel free to call yours to make sure the mapping data has been updated to reflect the data from Mass GIS.  


According to the data from the Mass GIS government site, not only does 488 and 440 Highland Ave have DEP wetlands, but they are both blessed with 'Potential Vernal Pools' and Surface Water Protection Areas, Zone A and B.  Conservationists and Historians claim there are significant factors to these lots and others.

Fortunately, the review of impacts on wetlands and waterways is handled by the Conservation Commission, after review of the current Mass DEP data and regulations.   


If Walmart or any of the other lots withdraw from the Wetlands/ Flood Hazard special permit in the next Salem Public Meeting on June 17, be sure to request they file a Notice of Intent with the Salem Conservation, Traffic and Historic Commission as well as any other Commission that may be fit.  


The current application process has not ended with MEPA yet.   To send commentary to the DEP, follow this link...  http://www.springpondwoods.com/2010/05/submit-comments-to-mepa.html 

The map above has been extracted from OLIVER, a Mass GIS data software open to the public, found on the Mass government website here...    http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/massgis_viewer/index.htm


The software Vectorworks was used for attributing the extracted Mass GIS data, into the map, created by a local designer.


peace@springpondwoods.com