Aug. 3, 2022 | Amy Porter aporter@thereminder.com

Target representative Katie Rivard answers questions at Westfield Planning Board public hearing on July 19. Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter

WESTFIELD – The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA), VHB engineers and representatives of Target convened a remote informational hearing for the proposed Westfield Target Supply Chain Facility on 125 acres owned by the company on North Road and Falcon Drive, just north of Westfield Barnes Airport.

During the hearing, which included an hour of questions from residents, Mark Swanson of the Ryan Companies, the general contractor for the project, Michael Petrin, project manager with VHB, and Katie Rivard of Target underlined some of the changes that have been made to their plans since the beginning of the permitting process in 2021.

Among the changes are the reduction in the size of the warehouse from 648,000 square feet to 525,000 square feet, and a reduction in trailer parking from 578 to 376. Included in the plan are 56 trailer stalls that won’t be developed initially, Swanson said.

In addition to the tractor trailer parking is space for parking for 500 employee vehicles. The tractor trailer and employee entrances have been separated, with the trucking entrance to be located off of Falcon Drive, and two employee entrances on North Road.

While plans for on-site diesel fueling have been scrapped, there will be a trailer maintenance building located outside the aquifer area. In response to a question, Rivard said a detailed list of maintenance tasks to be performed on-site will be given to the Planning Board before the next hearing.

Petrin said in terms of air quality, Target has proposed a pilot program of four stations for charging electric trucks. The plans include a total of 11 electric vehicle charging stations with 40 percent of the site EV ready. Petrin said the building will be all electric.

Additional existing tree cover and grasslands will be maintained and protected, notably 50 acres of grassland identified by Natural Heritage as being a suitable home for at least five species of endangered birds, reducing the total development from 120 acres to 70 acres.

Planting of 160 native trees of 2 inch caliper is also in the plan post-construction. Job creation for a variety of skill levels, starting at $15 per hour minimum to administrative skill levels will include 400 permanent jobs and 200 temporary construction jobs. Representatives also detailed employee benefits, the company’s “Dream to Be” education incentives and community partnership programs.

In response to a question, Rivard said she would provide a list of the area and state organizations that have received donations in the past from Target.

VHB traffic engineer Rob Nagi said a detailed traffic study has been done as a part of the MEPA and local permitting processes. Nagi said they heard “loud and clear” the concerns about increased traffic on both North Road and Southampton Road, and are proposing several mitigation efforts.

Nagi said the company will contribute to physical improvements at the intersections of Falcon Drive and Southampton Road, and North Road and Southampton Road, with lane widenings and signal upgrades. They are also studying the intersection and light at North Road, Old County Road and East Mountain Road for future mitigation efforts.

Nagi said they are coordinating closely with the PVTA for increased bus service to the location.

Significantly, in response to concerns about increased congestion on Southampton Road during the Westfield Intermediate and Southampton Road Elementary schools dismissal times of 2 to 3:30 p.m., Rivard said they will hold trucks on-site during that dismissal period.

During the question and answer period, area residents continued to express their concerns about increasing the already congested traffic routes and adding to the air and noise pollution in the area. At the end of the hearing, Jennifer Hughes of MEPA said any comments to be included in MEPA Environmental Impact Report must be made in writing and may be sent to her at jennifer.hughes@mass.gov.