Update on the Eruptor:
A major development is planned for North Amherst. Rudy Vogel of Springfield and parent company nuForj have signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement (P & S) with the Mitchell family to purchase a large section of their farm between Montague Road and Sunderland Road, contingent on receiving approval from various Town planning and zoning bodies.
This property is zoned Professional Research Park (PRP): Section 2.03 of the Zoning Bylaw says “The purpose of the PRP District is to provide an open and attractive environment for office, research and low intensity industrial activities. The standards and regulations are intended to limit development to those activities that are non-commercial in nature and that operate in a clean and quiet manner.”, a zoning designation that seems appropriate for this kind of development. The site includes significant wetlands and a 100-year flood plain. The entrance to the site is from Sunderland Road.
nuForj partnering with Scannell Properties, based in Indianapolis, a privately-owned real estate developer and inverstor plans to build The Eruptor, an 80,000 square foot space where products will be developed and then manufactured on a small scale before advancing to mass production elsewhere. The technology will be a variety of 3D printing processes.
Stan Rosenberg has joined the company as a Principal . His role is to help nuForj and Scannell navigate town and state procedures, requirements, and funding opportunities. Both town and state require assessing the wetlands and flood plain on the west side of the property, as well as noise and light pollution, emissions, and traffic impact of the proposed project on the environs and will take several months, according to Rosenberg. Rosenberg has already helped the company to apply for a State bond to support the project.
Barry Roberts, senior advisor with nuForj, is helping the out-of-towners – Scannell and Vogel – to navigate town departments and committees. He reports that the height of the building is in part governed by the height of Montague Road and might have to be built into the hill to comply with height restrictions.
You can read more in The Gazette or MassLive or The Indy.
DONA’s Role
DONA has created a neighborhood committee to track the project and to represent the interests of the North Amherst neighborhoods. Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Mindy Domb have committed to including DONA and the neighborhood committee in future communication with the Eruptor principles.
DONA has been in touch with our District One Councilors, Cathy Schoen and Sarah Swartz, and with Alisa Brewer, at-large councilor who lives in District One, to communicate our eagerness to be included in any and all developments and opportunities to participate in discussions about the project. DONA has also written to the Town Manager, all Council members and staff and committees asking to be included in all deliberations about the project and to be given advance notice of filing of plans, hearings, and pending decisions.
DONA’s is committed to working to maintain communication among District One neighbors, town officials, and the Eruptor project. We will communicate any concerns and will try to work with the Eruptor to resolve them. DONA will not take a position for or against the project – we understand that neighbors’ opinions range from support for jobs and tax revenue from research and manufacturing at the site to concerns about air, water and light pollution, damage to floodplains, wetlands and habitat, and increased traffic, as well as disruption during construction.
We will keep everyone up to date as this project advances.