Thanks blogger!

Like to send a special thanks to another blogger S.D. who has given our cause much attention!  Thanks for posting about our cause on your blog and linking to the recent newspaper article!   Don't worry, your potty mouth attacks on several blogs have not been bothersome, and there is now some safety knowing who might of been behind the several fake Facebook accounts targeting a certain person.   Is that your writing too on the newspaper blogs?


Do you really work on marketing for Wal-Mart and Lowes as you posted on a local blog?....   

Couldn't help reading all your 'pipe dreams' for a new Super Wal-Mart and Lowes on your personal blog and in others (in several posts)... since January (or sooner was it?).  Interesting how your double vision came more to light a couple months later.

Sorry we respectfully are unable to return the favor and give your blog attention with a direct link, but we will be happy to share the info if needed.   


Do you know anything about realty?  If so, maybe you can help the developments find a lot which doesn't have a negative impact on the community and environment.  


peace

Salem Public Hearing update

Update

The Salem Public Hearing 

for this Thursday, May 20 

has been continued to 

Thursday, June 3rd

7:00 pm

120 Washington St., 3rd fl

Open to all members of the 'Public'

Agenda found here:  http://www.salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_PlanAgendas/2010Agendas/S02A6B036

Submit Comments to MEPA

   

Here is a link to the ENF form submitted to MEPA, The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, by the... Development Group.  

http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/mepadocs/2010/010610em/nps/enf/14532.pdf

Send Your objections or commentary regarding this submittal to MEPA. 
Please write to Ian A. Bowles, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs,  the following... 

     'I understand the commentary period has expired for the Proposed Lowe's, Walmart and Meineke Expansions, and Future Camp Lion Improvements, EEA No. 14532.   I was not aware sooner, and I wish to request an acceptance to my commentary to be amended to the review.  I have significant (environmental, traffic, historical, etc.) concerns that need to be also addressed.   (followed by comments) ' 

Include your concerns regarding traffic congestion/ pollution/ global warming concern, the rare flora and wildlife you have seen, the existence of wetlands, the impact on the nearby ponds, and neighborhoods, historical value of the old estate, public parcel, etc...  (ASAP!... please)

The mailing address for comments is:

Secretary Ian A. Bowles
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Attn: MEPA Office
Dierdee Buckley, EEA No. 14532
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston MA 02114

cc. A digital copy of the letter to the Department Email, and note the hard copy to Your letter is in the mail.

env.internet@state.ma.us

Traffic Facts from WakeUpWalmart

The Real Facts About Wal-Mart's Traffic Impact

Walmart stores generate a significant amount of traffic congestion.

• Walmart stores can put a lot of new car traffic on the roads. An average-size Walmart Supercenter will generate nearly 10,000 car trips per day¹.
• Studies on the potential impact of Walmart expansion in three California cities, Milpitas², San Bernardino³, and Sonora⁴, found that it would have a “significant and unavoidable” impact on traffic near the store.
• Walmart stores also cause a major increase in truck traffic. A Supercenter often has between seven and nine tractor-trailers arriving every day, as well as one or two smaller trucks delivering goods from vendors. When a Walmart store is converted to a Supercenter, the store may see an increase of three tractor-trailer deliveries per day.⁵

Traffic generated by Walmart worsens air quality.

• In May 2009, a judge in San Bernardino County, CA overturned approval of Walmart’s plans to build a Supercenter in Yucca Valley, CA, stating that Walmart’s proposal underestimated the large amounts of greenhouse gas, dust, and ozone pollution that the store would generate⁶.
• A review of a proposed Walmart expansion in Fairfield, CA found that greenhouse gas emissions related to the expansion would have a “significant unavoidable impact⁷”.

Footnotes
1. Figure based on 1) the average Supercenter store size of 186,000 square feet, cited in Walmart Stores, Inc. Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2009 and 2) Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation Rates, 8th Edition, for Free Standing Discount Superstores (ITE Code 813), reproduced online at http://www.mikeontraffic.com/2009/08/trip-generation-8th-edition-spreadsheet.html
2. “Draft Environmental Impact Report: Milpitas Walmart Expansion Project,” prepared for the City of Milpitas Planning and Neighborhood Services Department by Michael Brandman Associates, November 5, 2009, p. 2-16. http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/_pdfs/plan_eir_walmart_expansion_deir.pdf
3. “Highland Avenue Walmart Expansion Project Environmental Impact Report,” Prepared for the City of San Bernardino by Michael Brandman Associates, October 15, 2009, pp. 2-2 and 2-3. http://www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6903 NB: Since the draft document was so lengthy, it was incorporated by reference into the final version; only alterations to the draft text were present in the final version issued October 15, 2009. The document linked to here is the draft version, but the relevant sections cited were not altered in the final version
4. “Sonora Walmart Expansion Project: Draft Environmental Impact Report,” prepared for the City of Sonora Department of Community Development by Michael Brandman Associates, December, 17 2009. http://www.sonoraca.com/walmarteir.htm.
5. “Sonora Walmart Expansion Project: Draft Environmental Impact Report,” prepared for the City of Sonora Department of Community Development by Michael Brandman Associates, December, 17 2009. http://www.sonoraca.com/walmarteir.htm.
6. “Judge blocks Walmart's supercenter proposal for Yucca Valley,” Margot Roosevelt, The Los Angeles Times, May 16, 2009. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/16/local/me-Walmart16.
7. Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared for Fairfield, CA, March 2006, Chapter 2, p. 14. http://www.ci.fairfield.ca.us/files/Ch-2.pdf. Since the draft document was so lengthy, it was incorporated by reference into the final version issued later in 2006; only alterations to the draft text were present in the final version. The document linked to here is the draft version, but the relevant sections cited were not altered in the final version.

Source:  http://wakeupwalmart.com/facts/traffic.html

Traffic

X marks the spot for todays posting of traffic pics, at the intersection of Rt. 107 Highland Ave and Marlborough Rd, Salem.  The photos were taken on Friday, May 14, 2010 at 4:30pm, and the photo on Marlborough Rd was at 6:00pm.   (I know this post isn't necessary because most of us already know how bad traffic is here.)

Driving Northbound on Rt. 107 Highland Ave, towards Marlborough Rd. (Swampscott Rd intersection is ahead before Marlborough Rd.)

'oops'... Stuck at Swampscott Rd. intersection.  'sorry guys'  (long wait to get to turn left onto Marlborough Rd)

'oops again... can't back up'. (look how far back the cars end up.)  Oh yeah... and here's the drag race course on the right hand side, until it gets to traffic ahead.  Thank goodness they created a lane merger before reaching Lynn's dense neighborhoods.  There used to be many deaths before the lane merger.

On to Marlborough Rd.  'Feel so sorry for the other lane which is backed up.' 

Now image the traffic nearly doubling (says so here under Transportation, filed to MEPA by the developer). However, there is another study stating the traffic will be a lot worse... here, just for Wal-mart alone.  What is the traffic increase for Lowe's?  And is everyone aware of the new Transition Station off Highland Ave, which promises to bring hundreds of Trash Truck trips per day to RT. 107.  'What will we be really getting ourselves into?' - a question from a woman at the Public Hearing.

Here's more traffic pictures at Buchanan Bridge (Floating Bridge) on Rt. 107 Western Ave., Lynn (South of the site for development):

http://heartoflynn.blogspot.com/2010/04/mother-may-i-take-some-road.html

Public or Private property?

Salem took 4 acres by eminent domain from the Camp (says so here...).  And today Salem is selling this parcel (which is now public) to the Retailer (says so in the 2nd drawing below).


This 1st drawing, shows the current ownership of the parcels.   Salem's Public Parcel of 4 acres (which was once the Camp's parcel) will become a Lowe's parking lot, Lowe's access road and then part of Super Wal-Mart's lot, as seen in the next images.  (click on images to enlarge, then right-click to download if needed).

Question!  What is Camp Lion getting out of this?  A camp behind Lowe's and in between future residential developments?    I see no land swap for the camp, just more land  and pristine woods being taken away.

Lowe's proposed... on one of the highest hill tops on Highland/ Western Ave, siting over Salem's Public parcel, Camp Lion's parcel, pristine woods and WETLANDS (see link to plans). Super Wal-Mart will propose a similar negative environmental impact.

So why the Salem Public Hearings if it appears Salem wants this deal?   Because the developments are seeking a permit to build over Wetlands.  (Exact wording of the hearing:  Planned Unit Special Development Permit, and Wetlands and Flood Hazard Overlay District Special Permit)  A 'special permit' can be given to an enormous development for this?

Camp Lion is a Non-profit Open Space