Published October 31, 2021
There are significant discrepancies between the wetlands demarcation at 246 Montague Road in the ANRAD (Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation) report submitted by local environmental consultant SWCA (click here for the report with maps) on behalf of Barry Roberts and the Eruptor project and the delineation of the independent peer review (click here for the report and here for the map) engaged by the Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission, meeting on Wednesday October 27, spent very little time on the Eruptor ANRAD approval because the meeting ran very late and because they have not yet received a response from Mickey Marcus and his firm SWCA representing the Eruptor.
There were two other North Amherst topics on their agenda Wednesday: the massive solar array proposed for the Shutesbury Rd area and DONA’s Mill River History Trail project. A lot of opposition to the solar array which would clear cut dozens of acres of forest, and huge enthusiasm for the Mill River history walk project. They and others seem to be relieved to have something positive to support!
The next meeting of the Conservation Commission is Wednesday November 10 at 7 pm.
Published May 27, 2021
DONA Committee to Monitor and Advise Eruptor Project
A committee has been appointed by DONA to work with Stanley Rosenberg, a Principal of nuForj LLC of Springfield, the group planning the Eruptor Lab in North Amherst. The Eruptor Neighborhood Committee will monitor the project during the design phase so that any concerns or suggestions to make the new building neighborhood-compatible may be shared with the developers.
This effort grew out of a more comprehensive DONA study of the needs, opportunities, and threats created by potential commercial development in North Amherst. The designation of North Amherst as a Federal Opportunity Zone to encourage investment and development resulted in a heightened awareness of the need for such a review among DONA members. This study built upon prior work including the Town of Amherst Master Plan (2010), the PVPC Economic Development Plan for Amherst (2018), a Public Design Workshop focused on the North Amherst Village Center (2011), and results of a community meeting including 60 residents organized by DONA to learn specifically about the Eruptor Project (2019). After gathering comments and suggestions from North Amherst residents, the DONA Planning Committee will release a set of recommendations to define the characteristics and qualities of projects that North Amherst would welcome, to guide future commercial development.
Since a tentative purchase and sale agreement for a building site in North Amherst was recently announced, the Eruptor Neighborhood Committee was formed to look carefully at this specific project. A set of questions focused on the potential impact on the neighborhood and town was sent to Rudy Vogel, Founder and Managing Principal, and Stanley Rosenberg.
DONA has been assured by Senator Jo Commerford, Representative Mindy Domb, and District One Councilors Sarah Swartz and Cathy Schoen that we will be kept informed on the project as it moves through review. DONA has scheduled a meeting with town officials to discuss the project and identify areas where residents will have an opportunity to share questions, concerns, and expectations with the developers.
A meeting is scheduled with Stanley Rosenberg to learn firsthand about the status of the project and to establish a working relationship for mutual benefit. DONA takes no stand for or against the project, and several members of the committee have expressed enthusiasm for the general concept. The work of this committee is both to protect the interests of neighbors and town residents, as well as to guide and encourage the development of a project that we can all look upon with pride.
Members of the Eruptor Neighborhood Committee are; Lyons Witten (facilitator), Meg Gage, Aaron James, Janet Keller, Lauren McCarthy, Steve Rogers, Laura Sayre, Eve Vogel, Larry Zacharias, and John Gerber (recorder).
John M. Gerber