(The following story by Nick Kotsopoulos appeared on the Telegram & Gazette website on Weptember 22, 2010.)
WORCESTER, Mass. — Action on proposed zoning changes, a road closing and modifications to street layouts needed for CSX Corp.’s plan to expand its freight yard between Shrewsbury and Franklin streets has been temporarily put on hold by two City Council committees.
At the request of the city administration, the council’s Economic Development Committee last night tabled two petitions for zoning changes because CSX has yet to file an Environmental Notification Form for the project under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.
City officials had requested the information on the MEPA filing before the City Council entertained petitions regarding the zoning changes.
Maurice O’Connell, vice president of government affairs for CSX, told the council committee that CSX is working on the MEPA document and should complete it in a week or so.
Robert E. Longden, a local lawyer representing CSX, said the state wants to see certain aspects of the project identified and analyzed. He said environment officials want a “robust” Environmental Notification Form, which will detail the scope of the project.
“They want to see a larger amount of detail than normal because of the scope of this project,” Mr. Longden said. “We are completing the draft (Environmental Notification Form) and we are preparing to finalize it within the next couple of weeks. Once the draft is completed, we will forward a copy to the city.”
Mr. Longden said the MEPA application will encompass proposed work to be done by CSX as well as other improvements proposed by the state. He anticipates a three- to four-month review of the MEPA application. He said the process will involve a great deal of public input.
Councilor-at-Large Frederick C. Rushton, committee chairman, promised that his committee will make sure the CSX zoning petitions are “vetted properly.”
“As a committee, we’re not just going to roll over on this,” Mr. Rushton said. “If the MEPA study comes back and its findings are not favorable, we will have to take another look at it. While the general consensus of this body (City Council) is that this project is good for Worcester, the overall health of our residents is our primary concern. We are not going to skimp on the environmental studies; we want to make sure they are done correctly.”
The zone changes requested by the city administration involve roughly three acres along the CSX railroad tracks and 7.5 acres at 15 and 17 Putnam Lane. Joel Fontane, director of the city Planning and Regulatory Services Division, said the zone changes would formally recognize the track and a freight yard already exist in that area and allow for appropriate expansion of that use.
Meanwhile, at another meeting last night, the council’s Public Works Committee tabled four petitions involving street modifications for the CSX project. CSX requested more time to negotiate land purchases for abutting properties.
One petition requests closing part of Putnam Lane, from Franklin Street to the railroad bridge. Others call for a revised street layout for Franklin Street, from Grafton Street to Suffolk Street, along with new sidewalks and construction of an overpass on Franklin Street over the proposed CSX terminal.
All of those street modifications have been recommended by the Planning Board. The board also endorsed the zoning change along the railroad tracks, while it was deadlocked on the one for 15 and 17 Putnam Lane.