MEMO

TO: Mark Montanari, Chair Planning Board

Anna Hueston, Vice-Chair Planning Board
Maren Toohill, Town Planner
FROM: Cindy Napoli, Chair Select Board
DATE: 11/29/20
RE: Planning Board Meeting 11/5/20
Special Permit for Major Industrial Use
Cc: Select Board Members
Anthony Ansaldi, Town Administrator
Joe Laydon, Assistant Town Administrator

I watched the 11/5/20 Planning Board meeting with Larry Beals, Brad Griggs and other members
of the Amazon Team . The following are my comments/questions relative to the discussion
during that meeting.

A. Larry Beals identified certain benefits to having Amazon, an e-commerce industry,

located on Taylor Street.

Near Public Transportation

Economic Development brings jobs and increases tax base
Access to highway
Potential partnership with Cross Town Connect

He also states that this facility will have “no impact on residents”. As we know, town officials
are concerned about the impact this facility will have on residents living on Foster Street and
Taylor Street.

Question: Is Amazon aware of the truck restriction on Taylor Street? Will tractor trailers be
instructed to utilize Route 2 only to access the facility? What traffic mitigation is planned for
Foster Street?

B. Amazon representatives met with Cons-com and agreed upon some measures to mitigate
concerns of that committee which include the following:

A. Salting of parking areas and impact this could have on the aquifer. Amazon agreed to
heat the section of the roadway which crosses between wetlands to limit the use of
salt in this area. Also agreed to institute monitoring wells to monitor water quality
and amount of salt being used.
B. Trash. Larry Beals mentioned a way to mitigate “a lot of trash” blowing around the
parking area will be to install a guard rail with a chain link trash screen. He also
mentioned having people monitoring the area and trash pick-up.
Question: Will there be trash receptacles placed in parking area? If so, who will be responsible
for emptying those receptacles. I think the town would that all trash be disposed in a trash
receptacle. Is this included with the “Mitigation Package?”

C. During the Site Operation Summary provided by Brad Griggs there was a lot of
discussion about the cycle of vehicles arriving and departing from The Site (151
Taylor Street). I understand that the traffic study is still in progress, but the number
of vehicles pertinent to The Site seems to be a moving number.

Anna stated during the meeting and Amazon representatives confirmed the total
number of vehicles for The Site include: 33 Tractor Trailers; 118 Associates;
39 Managers; 350 Drivers

Mr. Griggs stated that the Tractor Trailers, Management and Associates will
arrive overnight. Anna confirms the number of Tractor Trailers is 33. The first
cycle of drivers (30 for each cycle) will begin arriving at 9:45 a.m. They will
park in a designated area the Parking Lot located at 153 Taylor Street, and drive
their delivery van to the site to pick-up their packages. They will then depart The
Site to begin deliveries.

This cycle will continue 4-6 times between 9:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. every 20-30
minutes. However, this number may increase from October through November.

However, later in the conversation, Mr. Griggs states that 10% of the Tractor
Trailers and 165 “flex drivers” will arrive during the day. Question: Is this
10% in addition to or included in the count of 33 tractor trailers arriving
overnight? Do the 165 Flex Drivers have staggered arrival and departure
times? What are those hours? Are the 165 Flex Drivers in addition to or
included with the count of 350 drivers?

During the conversation Mr. Griggs stated that “This Site” takes on a certain amount of
Zip Codes. Which Zip Codes? He also states repeatedly that 300 parking spaces are needed for
“This Site.” However, he also states at 2:57:50 on the video that “This site will use no more
than 300 spaces” but the parking area allows for additional parking for potential sites that
may need parking down the road for overall operations in the region.

As stated in Maren’s memo, 153 Taylor Street is planned to be used as a satellite parking
facility for a distribution center located elsewhere. We have no idea where this other facility will
be located. Will this facility be managed by the same group as 151-153 Taylor Street? How
will the town manage and/or mitigate problems or concerns caused by the drivers from this
unknown offsite facility? Has this anticipated increase in parking been included as part of
the traffic study? Will the town be notified when an increase in parking at this site
occurs?