The Salem Public Hearing - July 15, 2010

Beginning:  Presentation of the Proposed Development 

An overview of the site is provided by the development group.  Indication of the drainage problems is realized for Highland Ave and Lynn neighborhoods by flooding.  There is no solution proposed, and no answers.  Wal-Mart proposed to withdraw from the Wetland Overlay district, because their rep says according to the Long wetlands drawings in Salem which were drawn in the 70's, the map does not indicate wetlands on Walmart's lot.  Lowe's development proposes to use the existing wetlands to drain the site. ( These two links *one* and *two* explain the reasons why I began to burn inside listening to this request. There are potential vernal pools here, and part of these wetlands drain into Spring Pond.  I can't imagine the parking lot grease and building run off flowing through this environmental gem).    

Commentary by the Salem Planning Board:

• Wal-Mart is building a basin on a wetland.  The Rep replied - maybe/maybe not.
• Is this the latest satellite image of the area and what is in this buffer zone?  The Rep said- This is the latest areal of the area.  (How come I can get the latest areal?  What was presented isn't showing the new opening at 'Apple Hills'. See Buffering page below)
• It is understood there is flooding problems on Highland Ave.  Where does this water come from, and will Salem need to upgrade the Sewage pump to handle the excess water?  Answer: yes, the sewage pump will need to be updated by the City of Salem.  (I can tell you where the water comes from... see Drainage argument below - Walmart's building was built on a marsh in the past, and this area is in the valley of hills.)

Public Commentary follows...

Councilor Trahant of Lynn stood up first to say "See, this is what we have been talking about".  There are great drainage and flooding problems here already, and there is no solution if there is more water to be added to the drains... it will only make the existing problems much worse.

.....

Below are further arguments submitted to the Planning Board regarding Drainage/ Engineering/ Buffering and Architecture (by yours truly).  Comments by others in the crowd are organized with each category.  (Click on image to view, and again to zoom in). 

Drainage:  

Lowe's is not building on a flat site.  Look at the contours, the flow of natural water fills the wetlands and potential vernal pools.  Some of the natural water heads North and South of the site... into marshes and pools that stream to other pools, and then streams into Spring Pond.

A resident on Rt-107 said - in the presentation, the wetlands have increased since the 70's.  He then showed a map of wetlands from the latest Mass GIS data.  Lets not ignore the proposal is threatening to build over wetlands on these lots.

Two women from Peabody were present and said they were worried about the runnoff to Spring Pond, their drinking water supply, and asked if there would be studies done for this matter.

EMF Cellular Radiation Concerns

Building a water tower near a radiation tower? Drink dead water?

Condense the camp grounds near radiation tower?  What about the children?

Lighting Concerns

Buffering Concerns

Architectural Concerns

Councilor-at-large Cahill of Lynn asked to see a rendering of the proposed developments as one image. Currently the proposed Lowe's has been shown seperately from Super-Walmart.  If one looks frightening, then combining the two views will be double frightening.  

Concluding

Debra Walsh said that she concurs with Councilor Trahant. The flooding is a problem.  And there will be no camp.  The development will only provide a slab for the camp ground, but Camp Fire who rents from Camp Lion (the seller) has no money to build a building.  (So if Camp Lion is selling the land, where is the money going?)

Katerina Panagiotakis said this area has been voted by the public as one of the '1000 Great Places in Massachusetts', an act of legislation signed by the Governor.  If this place becomes destroyed it will be another layer of shame over this entire project.  The reason it was voted and won is because this area is loved by many people.

Leslie Courtemanche said that this area is loved by many people.  This development becomes a "Basis of Denial - when all the aspects are not met by the public, then it becomes a restriction."

One Lowe's supporter, who entered the room with a manager of Walmart or Lowe's said something like... "If they can make people go to the moon, then they can make this work".  (If I could speak twice... Only if man was able to make such a monstrosity work and non-existent to not disrupt the natural environment... then that will be a miracle in technology.)


Hearing to be continued to Sept 2.  Same time, same place.

Peace.