Published: 3/29/2017 3:56:08 PM
DEERFIELD — Salt City Inc. has pulled its application to build a 30,578-square-foot salt storage facility in East Deerfield.
The facility was first proposed at February’s Planning Board meeting on about 104 commercially zoned acres at 100 Railroad Yard Road, owned by Pan Am Southern LLC, near the Connecticut River and McClelland Farm Road.
Deerfield Building Inspector Richard Calisewski confirmed Salt City’s actions Tuesday, citing a recent email addressed to the Planning Board from Robert M. Levesque, president of R Levesque Associates Inc., the design firm in charge of the project.
“The applicant, Salt City Inc., is herein requesting to withdraw the aforementioned application for a Site Plan Review and Stormwater Permit based on the feedback from the Zoning Board of Appeals and feedback we have received to-date from the Planning Board,” Levesque wrote.
At February’s meeting, the project was met with questions from residents who lived near the railyard, voicing concerns about smell, noise, and potential safety hazards. A public hearing — which has been canceled — was continued to April 3.
In addition, Salt City Owner Michael Gaugh noted “re-evaluation” within a partnership with the salt and road service business Cargill as a reason for pulling the application. Gaugh said Salt City’s business relationship with Cargill was driving the project.
“There was also a lot of concern from the neighbors about the project, and there was concern about the variance of the building,” Gaugh added.
Zoning Board of Appeals Member Bob Decker said while town bylaws allow a salt storage facility to be built in a commercially zoned districts, project officials were asking the town officials to allow for a 12-foot height exception.
Preliminary designs outlined the facility to be 47 feet high. Zoning limits restrict structures to 35 feet maximum.
Looking ahead, Gaugh said he’s not certain if another Salt City facility will be proposed elsewhere in the region.
”Right now, the whole project is in a re-evaluation,” Gaugh said.