GROVE STREET APARTMENTS - NOTICE OF PROJECT CHANGE Commonwealth of Massachusetts RECEIVE®
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs ■ MEPA Office APR 18 2023
CITY OF SALEM
Notice of Project Change BOARD OF HEALTH
The information requested on this form must be completed to begin MEPA Review of a
NPC in accordance with the provisions of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act
and its implementing regulations (see 301 CMR 11.10(1)).
EEA# 15043
Project Name: Mixed Use Development—Grove Street Apartments (previously reviewed
as Mixed Use Development— Harmony Grove Road Apartments)
Street Address: 60 & 64 Grove Street and 1, 3 & 5 Harmony Grove Road
Municipality: Salem Watershed: North Coastal
Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates: Latitude: N420 31' 20"
Lon itude: W700 54' 45"
Estimated commencement date: June 2022 Estimated completion date: June 2027
Project Type: Residential & Commercial I Status of project design: 90 %complete
Proponent: 116 Bennington Street Realty Trust
Street Address: 282 Bennington Street
Municipality: East Boston I State: MA Zip Code: 02128
Name of Contact Person: Robert H. Griffin, PE
Firm/Agency: Griffin-Eng ineerin Group, LLC Street Address: 495 Cabot Street, 2"d Floor
Municipality: Beverly State: MA Zip Code: 01915
Phone: 978-927-5111 Fax: E-mail: bgriffin@griffineng.com
With this Notice of Project Change, are you requesting:
a Single EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.06(8)) ❑Yes ®No
a Special Review Procedure? (see 301CMR 11.09) ❑Yes ®No
a Waiver of mandatory EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.11) ❑Yes ®No
a Phase I Waiver? (see 301 CMR 11.11) ❑Yes ®No
Which MEPA review threshold(s) does the revised project meet or exceed (see 301 CMR 11.03)? Identify
any new or modified review threshold(s) associated with the project change.
(3)(b)(5):New non-water dependent use of filled tidelands.
Which Agency Permits does the revised project require?
A new Chapter 91 license from MassDEP is required for the Community Building and Dog Park.
A license was issued for the removal of existing buildings, environmental remediation, stormwater
outfalls, and construction of a water-dependent shared-use pathway along and over the North River
canal. The removal of the 60 Grove Street office building was administratively approved by
MassDEP Waterways Division.
A MBTA license is required for the Fitness Building and Dog Park within the Zone of Influence. A
license from the Community Building is pending. A license (Application for Entry upon MBTA
Railroad, Transit, or other Property) was issued for railroad crossing improvements and has expired.
A new license will be required.
A new Order of Conditions is required for the Dog Park and Fitness Building. A Final Order of
Conditions for work under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act was previously issued by
MassDEP for the project. An Order of Conditions from the Salem Conservation Commission was
obtained for the Communi Building _ _
Effective January 6,2023
A Tier 11 classification/permit for environmental site cleanup activities under the Massachusetts
Contingency Plan (MCP) was issued by MassDEP. Cleanup work is generally complete.
Identify any financial assistance or land transfer from an Agency of the Commonwealth for the
revised project, including the Agency name and the amount of funding or land area in acres:
Metropolitan Area Planning Council funding (approximately$140k, administered by the City of
Salem) was received to support site environmental assessments.
PROJECT INFORMATION
In 25 words or less, what is the project change? The project change involves . .
redeveloping 60 Grove St. with a community building, constructing a dog park on 3
Harmony Grove Rd, and a fitness building on 64 Grove St.
See full project change description beginning on page 3.
Date of publication of availability of the ENF in the Environmental Monitor: (Date: 4/24/13)
Was an EIR required? ®Yes ❑No; if yes,
was a Draft EIR filed? ®Yes (Date: 3/26/14 ) ❑No
was a Final EIR filed? ❑Yes (Date: ) ®No
was a Single EIR filed? ❑Yes (Date: ) ®No
Have other NPCs been filed? ®Yes (Date(s): 3/15/15 & 8/30/16 ) ❑No
If this is an NPC solely for lapse of time (see 301 CMR 11.10(2)) proceed directly to
ATTACHMENTS &SIGNATURES.
PERMITS 1 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/ LAND TRANSFER
List or describe all new or modified Agency permits, financial assistance, or land transfers not
previously reviewed: include list of Agency Actions (e.g., Agency Project, Financial
Assistance, Land Transfer, List of Permits)
New Ch. 91 License for Community Building & Dog Park
META License
Are you requesting a determination that this project change is insignificant such that an EIR
should not be required (note that the Proponent may also seek an advisory ruling under
301 CMR 11.10(6))? A change in a Project is ordinarily insignificant if it results solely in
an increase in square footage, linear footage, height, depth or other relevant measures
of the physical dimensions of the Project of less than 10% over estimates previously
reviewed, provided the increase does not meet or exceed any review thresholds. A
change in a Project is also ordinarily insignificant if it results solely in an increase in
impacts of less than 25% of the level specified in any review threshold, provided that
cumulative impacts of the Project do not meet or exceed any review thresholds that
were not previously met or exceeded. (see 301 CMR 11.10(6))
❑Yes ®No; if yes, provide an explanation of this request in the Project Change
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Description below.
FOR PROJECTS SUBJECT TO AN EIR
If the project requires the submission of an EIR, are you requesting that a Scope in a previously
issued Certificate be rescinded?
❑Yes ®No; if yes, provide an explanation of this request The requirement to prepare
an EIR for this project was rescinded in the Secretary's Certificate dated May 8, 2015.
If the project requires the submission of an EIR, are you requesting a change to a Scope in a
previously issued Certificate?
❑Yes ®No; if yes, provide an explanation of this request
SUMMARY OF PROJECT CHANGE PARAMETERS AND IMPACTS
Summary of Project Size Previously Net Currently
& Environmental Impacts reviewed Change Proposed
LAND
Total site acreage 8.3 0 8.3
Acres of land altered 5.7 0 5.7
Acres of impervious area 2.8 +0.4 3.2
Square feet of bordering vegetated 0 0 0
wetlands alteration
Square feet of other wetland alteration:
Bank: 60 ft +285 ft 345 ft (30' Temp)
Land Under Water: 50 sf 0 sf 50 sf
Bordering Land Subject to Flooding: 80,000 sf 0 sf 80,000 sf
Acres of non-water dependent use of
tidelands or waterways 0 +0.3 0.3
STRUCTURES
Gross square footage 137,768 +8,646 146,414
Number of housing units 129 -5 124
Maximum height (in feet) 49.2' (Apt. Bldg) 0 49.2' (Apt. Bldg)
TRANSPORTATION
Vehicle trips per day 895 +23 918
Parking spaces 216 -15 201
WATERIWASTEWATER
Gallons/day (GPD) of water use 28,080 -2,370 25,710
GPD water withdrawal 0 0 0
GPD wastewater generation/treatment 26,325 -2,220 24,105
Length of water/sewer mains (in miles) 0.22 (water) 0 0.22 (water)
0.12 sewer 0 0.12 sewer
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Does the project change involve any new or modified:
1. conversion of public parkland or other Article 97 public natural resources to any purpose
not in accordance with Article 97? ❑Yes ®No
2. release of any conservation restriction, preservation restriction, agricultural
preservation restriction, or watershed preservation restriction? ❑Yes ®No
3. impacts on Rare Species? ❑Yes ®No
4. demolition of all or part of any structure, site or district listed in the State Register of
Historic Place or the inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth?
❑Yes ®No
5. impact upon an Area of Critical Environmental Concern? ❑Yes ®No
If you answered `Yes' to any of these 5 questions, explain below:
PROJECT CHANGE DESCRIPTION (attach additional pages as necessary). The project change
description should include:
(a) a brief description of the project as most recently reviewed,
(b) a description of material changes to the project as previously reviewed,
(c) if applicable, the significance of the proposed changes, with specific reference to the
factors listed 301 CMR 11.10(6), and
(d) measures that the project is taking to avoid Damage to the Environment or to minimize
and mitigate unavoidable environmental impacts. If the change will involve modification of any prior
mitigation commitments or previously issued Section 61 Finding, include a description of any such
changes and a draft of the modified Section 61 Finding (or it will be required in Supplemental EIR).
The project change description should include a comprehensive description of the proposed
project change, including a description of any work or activities associated with the original project
that have occurred to date. At the discretion of the MEPA Office, an alternatives analysis for the
changed component(s) of the project may be required, including a summary of alternatives
considered and associated environmental impacts at a level of detail commensurate with the scope
and scale of the proposed change. In addition to the required attachments, the filing should include
supporting technical data (e.g., a Traffic Impact and Access Study, Stormwater Report, etc.) as
appropriate. It should include a full list of mitigation commitments that remain unchanged from the
previously reviewed project.
The project continues to be the comprehensive redevelopment of the former Salem Oil &
Grease factory site on Grove Street and Harmony Grove Road in Salem. Building demolition and
environmental remediation is generally complete. The current property owner, 116 Bennington
Street Realty Trust, purchased the property in April 2018.
Redevelopment plans continue to include construction of three multi-family residential
buildings on the 64 Grove Street parcel and a shared use path through the site. Site work
commenced in June 2022. Construction of the first apartment building is underway.
The material changes to the project since the most recently reviewed Notice of Project
Change are:
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1) Community Building -The 2016 Notice of Project Change was to remove the former
office building on the 60 Grove Street property with no definitive redevelopment plan. The
present redevelopment plan is to construct a two-story, 2,400-sf community building. The
building first floor will contain a meeting room and gathering space (facility of public
accommodation). The second floor will contain two private offices. A parking lot with 15
parking spaces is proposed in front of the building. The 25-ft wide water-dependent use
zone along the North River Canal will be improved with benches, walkway, bike rack,
landscaping and an interpretive sign describing the history of the property.
2) Dog Park-A dog park is proposed on the remediated former tannery infiltration area
between the railroad tracks and the North River Canal on the 3 Harmony Grove Road
property. The proposed 5,300 square-foot fence-in dog park will be open to the public.
3) Fitness Building —A one-story, 4,800 square-foot fitness building with outdoor basketball
court is proposed at the rare of the 64 Grove Street property. The area was formerly
designated as a containment cell for remediation waste. The waste has been removed
from the site. The fitness building is intended for apartment complex residents.
4) Minor Apartment Building Changes—The property Architect and Proponent have made a
few minor building changes: the number of units has decreased by 5 (from 129 to 124) and
the number of bedrooms has decreased thereby reducing waster and sewer demand.
5) Minor Site Layout Changes—Minor site changes have been made reflecting Salem
zoning changes. Some retaining walls have been removed or reduced due to site grading
and parking layout changes. The fitness building reduced the westerly parking lot size.
The Proponent presented modified project plans to the City of Salem Planning Board at
public hearings in 2022. The Planning Board commissioned a third-party engineering consultant to
review the site design changes and stormwater management system. The plans were modified to
incorporate board and consultant input. The Planning Board approved all of the changes shown
on the modified site plans provided herewith.
The project changes lessen potential project impacts so that there is no longer any
exceedance of the MEPA review threshold for Transportation as presented in the 2013 ENF (918
vehicle trips per a day proposed). The construction of a new non-water dependent Community
Building continues to exceed the MEPA review thresholds for Wetlands, Waterways, and
Tidelands. The property is entirely comprised of filled tidelands and was previously occupied by a
17,000 square-foot office and warehouse building. The proposed 2,400 square-foot Community
Building is a less intensive use of the property and will better serve the public. The small
Community Building significantly lessens traffic, water demand, wastewater generation, and
stormwater management impacts.
Unavoidable potential project impacts have been minimized through careful project design.
During construction, erosion and sedimentation controls will be implemented to minimize potential
impacts to the adjacent North River Canal. Proper construction techniques will avoid impacts on
surrounding properties. Stormwater runoff quality from the site will improve significantly as
compared to pre-construction conditions due to the implementation of modern stormwater
management techniques and site-wide environmental cleanup. The Project Proponent has
committed to complying with the MEPA Greenhouse Gas Policy to reduce potential future
environmental impacts.
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ATTACHMENTS &SIGNATURES
Attachments:
1. Secretary's most recent Certificate on this project
2. Plan showing most recent previously reviewed proposed build condition
3. Plan showing currently proposed build condition
4. Original U.S.G.S. map or good quality color copy (8-1/2 x 11 inches or larger) indicating the
project location and boundaries
5. List of all agencies and persons to whom the proponent circulated the NPC, in accordance with
301 CMR 11.10(7)
Signatures:
Tf
Ad
Date Signature of Responsible Officer Date Signature of pers reparing
or Proponent NPC (if different from above)
AnthonyRoberto Robert H. Griffin. PE
Name (print or type) Name (print or type)
116 Bennington Street Realty Trust Griffin Engineering Group. LLC
Firm/Agency Firm/Agency
282 Benninciton Street 495 Cabot Street, 2"d Floor
Street Street
East Boston. MA 02128 Beverly. MA 01915
Municipality/State/Zip Municipality/State/Zip
617-293-1525 978-927-5111
Phone Phone
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