[stextbox id=”warning”]This page concerns the 2006 MEPA process related to the Great Barrington Fairground. It has no information on the 2013 plans.[/stextbox]
Great Barrington Fairgrounds MEPA review
The Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) issued in March 2006, a Certificate (pdf) on the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) for the $38 million proposal to develop the Great Barrington Fairgrounds. Even though the project does not meet any MEPA review thresholds for a mandatory Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the Secretary used his discretion and determined that the project would benefit from a comprehensive review of impacts and proposed mitigation before proceeding to local and state permitting authorities – therefore the proponent must submit a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).
The MEPA process is designed to ensure public participation and ensure adequate information is available to the permitting agencies to help them issue “findings” that require environmental impacts are avoided, minimized, and mitigated to the maximum feasible extent. The Certificate provides the scope of the DEIR.
BEAT applaud’s the Secretary’s decision. We agree that the public and the decision making agencies need much more information.
Below is background information on this project:
F Group LLC, a group of New York City investors, has proposed construction of a 100-room hotel, 60 condominiums, an events facility and retails space on the fairgrounds property. The property includes about 57 acres of floodplain along the Housatonic River.
The developers have prepared an Environmental Notification Form (ENF) that triggers a Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review of the environmental impacts of the proposed development. The public is welcome to comment as well. For copies of the developer’s ENF call Eric Bernardin (413) 452-0445 x4430. Comments may be sent to MEPA reviewer, Briony Angus until March 14. (see submittal information below) The state will issue its findings in a “Certificate” by March 24.
The purpose of MEPA is to bring to the table all the important information about the site and the proposed development. The review can find that the ENF (and subsequent submittals by the applicant before the Certificate is issued) was insufficient to determine the environmental impacts – in which case the proponent would have to start all over again. Or the Certificate can require a more complete environmental review, by calling for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) – usually done in two phases; a draft and a final report. Or the Certificate can find that the ENF adequately describes the potential impacts and the other reviews can proceed.
The company’s principals are Anthony Errico and Anthony Fauci. Fauci is married to the former Elaine Ward, whose family owns Ward’s Nursery. The company has a contract to buy the property from fairgrounds owner Henry D. Vara of Boston.
The engineering firm Fuss & O’Neill prepared the report, which indicates potential impact on rare plant and animal species on the property as well as close proximity to the flood-plain area. There will also be an increase in traffic with an estimated 8,594 car trips per day going in and out of the complex. The fairgrounds project will require layers of review by town boards, but no zoning variances. The will be a review by the town’s Conservation Commission, and a special permit is required from the Selectmen.
EOEA No. 13735, The Fairgrounds Mixed-Use Development Project, Great Barrington For copies call Eric Bernardin (413) 452-0445 x4430 MEPA analyst Briony Angus (617) 626-1029 The comment period is closed, but for future reference – email comments to Briony or mail comments to : Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Attn: MEPA Office EOEA #13735, MEPA Analyst Briony Angus, 100 Cambridge St. Suite 900, Boston MA 02114