29-010 Burts Pit Rd Fisheries & Wildlife Letter 2005MassWi/d/ife
January 28, 2005
Douglas Kohl
Tofmo Associates, Inc.
31 Campus Plaza Drive
Hadley, MA 01035
Commonwealth of Massachuietts
Division of
Fisheries IYiIdIife
RE: Proposed Development
Burts Pit Road and Stone Ridge Drive
NHESP File No 04 -14204
Dear Mr. Kohl,
The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) of the MA Divi lion of Fisheries and Wildlife
would like to make several project design recommendations in regard to rare spec ies and their habitats for the
subject property. The following recommendations are based on our consultation on January 7, 2005 and our
ongoing review of the proposed project under the MA Endangered Species Act (MESA) (M.G.L. c. 131A) and its
implementing regulations (321 CMR 10.00), which prohibit the "take" of rare species. In general, the extent of the
development including road layout should be positioned on the landscape in a mariner that avoids and minimizes
potential impacts to rare specie's and their habitats.
The proposed project should attempt to create several nodes of development accemible by constructing new roads
and/or cul -de -sacs that eliminate, to the greatest extent practical, all roads thru the interior of the subject property.
The proposed project should evaluate access points at the following preferred locutions: Stone Ridge Drive and
Burts Pit Road, while avoiding access from Overlook Drive and Gillian Terrace. Access to the subject property
from Stone Ridge Drive should avoid creating thru road conditions across the site and generally minimizing traffic
in this area. Additionally, the project should construct sloped style curbing and not utilize vertical sloped curbing,
which can block smaller wildlife species traveling across roads. If the proposed project is determined to result in a
probable "take," then it may be possible to redesign the project to avoid a "take." If such revisions are not possible,
the applicant should note that projects resulting in the "take" of state protected wi ldlife may only be permitted if
they meet the performance standards for a "Conservation and Management Permi under MESA (321 CMR
10.04(3)(b)). Please submit revised site plans and continue consultation with this office as your project moves
forward.
If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact Dan Nein at (508) 7')2 -7270, ext. 151.
Sincerely,
Thomas French
Assistant Director
cc: Northampton Planning Board
Northampton Conservation Commission
Ann Marton, LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Wayne F. MacCallum, Director
www.masswildlife.org
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Field Headquarters, One Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581 (508) 792 -7270 Fax (508) 792 -7275
An Agency of the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife Environmental Law Enforcement