06-051 (3) SEP-18-'90 11:57 ID:LEGRL DEPT-WESTEORO TEL NO:508 366 9011/2878 11134 P07
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Wljt QQnmmonalrulth of attssarhusrtts
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
1/4June 30 1972
is
D.P.U. 1
Petition of Massachusetts Electric Cozpany for a determination by the Department of Public
Utilities that the present situation of a portion of a certain parcel of land on the west
side of Haydenville Road (Route 9) in the City of Northampton, as shown in detail on maps
or plane On file with the Department, and the service building facilities to be constructed
thereon by Massachusetts Electric Caryany, are reasonably necessary for the convenience
and welfare of the public, and that said lend and the service building facilities to be
constructed and maintained thereon be exempted fres the operation of the zoning ordinance
of said city to the extent, applicable thereto, .
Appearance: P. H. R. Cahill, Esquire, for the Petitioner
20 Turnpike Road, Westborough, Massachusette
This is a petition of the Massachusetts Electric Company under the provisions of
section 10 of Chapter 40A of the General Laws for a determination by the Department that
the proposed situation of a portion of a certain parcel of land on the west side of Hayden-
ville Road (Route 9) in the City of Northampton, as Shown in detail on tape or plans on
file with the Department, and the service building facilities to be constructed thereon
by Massachusetts Electric Company, are reasonably necessary for the convenience and welfare
of the public, and that said land and the service building facilities to be constructed and
maintained thereon be exempted from the operation of the zoning ordinance of the City of
Northampton.
The petitioner is an electric timpani ae defined by Chapter 164 of the General Laws
authorized to generate, tranamit and distribute electricity and is a public service cor-
poration providing electric service to numerous Massachusetts cities and towns including
the C1ty of Northampton and the nearby Towne of Williamsburg and Goshen.
On the above matter a public hearing was held at the Department's hearing room, 1210
Leverett Saltonstall Building, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts, on May 23, 1972,
No one appeared in opposition, nor did the Department receive any eozmunications expressing
fo ucr -w=roumu ItL. ml:Oub ibb '1011re rb P1. 4 Yn1b
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opposition. The Planning Board of the City of Northampton wrote to the Department to the
effect that it had no objection to the proposal provided the building was in harmony with
the surrounding area. The representativea of an abutting owner who requested information
from the Department were referred to Company officials who testified at the hearing that all
inquiries were satisfied.
The petitioner has maintained service facilities for the Northampton area since 1925
at 212 Main Street in the City of Northampton. The building Is owned by the Northampton
Gas Light Company, In 1964 the federal Securities and Exchange Commission ordered New
England Electric System, which controlled both Northampton Gee Light Company and the Massa-
chusetts Electric Company to divest itself of all its gas properties. The order was finally
affirmed by the United States Supreme Court in 1968.
In bite 1971 New England Electric System accepted an offer made by the Springfield
Gas Light Company to purchase Northampton Oae Light Company and early in 1972 the trans-
action wee conslm Bated. Since the gas company was the owner of the building at 212 Main
Street, it went with the Dale and under the sales agreement Massachusetts Electric Company
was given until December 31, 1972 to find other premieee which it could occupy.
The petitioner testified that it found no suitable existing buildings in the City of
Northampton or in either or the other two comrunitiea in which it supplies electric service.
The petitioner therefore made a study of ?eaaible locations where a new service building
might be constructed. On the beets of this study, it was determined that the proposed site
was the best site available.
The proposed service building will house the District Manager's department, the
Commercial and Residential Sales Operations, the Customer Inquiry Center, Meter and
Appliance Service, the Transmission and Distribution Department, the District Engineering
Department and the Stores Department. There will be a substantial storage area and garage
for corpus vehicles at the rear of the tuilding. The building will be of one story con-
struction with a total floor area of 19,000 square feet. Of the total area, the office
portion, approximately 50' x 140' , will occupy 7,000 square feet, and the garage and
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storage portion, approximately 100' x 120' , will occupy the remains 12,000 square feet.
The parcel of land for which the petitioner aeeke exemption conslate of 8.18 acres
with a frontage of 522.25 feet on Baydenville Road. The frontage to be improved is about
270 feet, with the building set back approximately 150' from the road and situated ao that
there will be approximately 80' between the building and the south property line and
approximately 125' between the building and the north property line. There will be provi-
sion for parking approvima tely 60 oars belonging to company personnel and business visitors.
A chain link fence will enclose the service and storage areas which are located to the rear.
}:' ThaF3b0`w111 be landscaped eo as to screen the service and 'storage areas and•to prevent a
pleasing appearance from the road.
The general exterior design of the office portion will be colonial. It was testified
that the architectural treatment will be similar to that of the Company's existing service
building in Great Barrington, photographs of which were introduced at the hearing.
The garage and storage portion of the structure in the rear will be of masonry or
metal panel construction. The design and construction will meet applicable codes, includ-
ing, but not necesearlly limited to, the City of Northampton Building Code, OSHA Regulations,
and the National Electrical Code.
Thsre are certain definite advantages to the construction of a new service center at
the proposed location. There are:
}y a) The building and facilities will be designed and constructed for specific.r;. purposes and uses, thus contributing to more efficient operation.
b) The location approximates the center of the service arca whereas the present
Tr-Lilding is located at the southerly end of the service area in the heart of the
City of Northampton. With the exception of the southern portion of the service
area, travel time will be reduced and will be more uniform throughout the area
thus providing improved maintenance and repair services to the customers in
general.
c) The location is relatively tree of congestion and heavy truffle, a condition
that facilitates the moving of heavy equipment and construction materials from
the warehouse to a work site.
d) The removal of company vehicles ant employees care from the center of Northampton
will have a benefioial effect upon traffic and parking conditions in that city.
StY-1d-'dd 11:bd IU:LELRL DEMI-WESTBUHU TEL'MJ:b✓d db6 9U11/Mid p1G4 N1U
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The
e alto 1S located in a Residential District and the use of the land for the put-
pones alleged is not permitted by the zoning ordinances of the City of Northampton.
After notice, a public hearin3 and consideration, the Dc;'orthent DECIDES that the
proposed situation of the parcel of land in question and the type of structure to be
erected thereon are reasonably necessary for the convenience and welfare of the public.
Accordingly, it is
Orv-ERED: That the parcel of land in the City of Northampton, Massachusetts, situated
on the Welt side of Rout: 9 (Raydenville Road) bounded and described as follows:
NOMBERLv, by land of Kenneth L. Vile, et ux, 380,42 feet;
EASTERLY, by lend of Donald R, Affhaueer, 234,62 feet;
NCaTi lLy, again by land of Affhauser. 417.58 feet;
EA`T+73LY, by t12 westerly aide line of Haydrnville Road, 322.23 feet;
511S7M2LX, by land of Arthur J. Lebeau, et ux, 712.02 feet;
end
lf'STP2UJY, t7 land of Arta rachvicetts Electric Company, 590.69 feet, es shown in detail
on a plan, NO. D-8'402 dater Anrch 27, 1972, and entitled "Massachusetts Electric Cc pang
:.ms Slowing Location of Nortnn _oton Service Building in Northampton, Massachusetts", and
.'.vrthnr jClnlificl as Exhibit 1, u ,.o,y of which is on tile with the Department and the
_ :ctrie cv nice b:iidin3 faeilitice to be erected thereon located on said plan, be and
:oy tiara;; are e-omptedi from tis operation of the zoning ordinance of the City of Northemp-
tca un' r the provisions of ooct!on 10 of Chapter 40A of the General Laws to the extent
that they coy he u;Ac in connection with the business and operations of the petitioner,
all. in accordance with the testimony given at the hearing; subject, however, to the
Th11,w1ng coniiticn: said facilities shall be located, constructed and landscaped in a
❑ti,•:r to be approved by the Dr"^.rtment.
SEP-1E 'SU 11:b7 ID:LEURL DEPT-WESTBORO TEL NU:SIr' 3Eb tltl11f4W'd P134 Hu
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By order of the Department
FRANCIS J. HICKEY, JR.
/S/ Secretary
A4504
A true co
}yAttes,/� '
/Fr
Secretary
Appeal an to matters of law from any final decision, order or ruling of the Coanieaion
nmy be taken to the Supreme Judicial Court by an aggrieved party in interest by the filing
of a written petition praying that the order of the Commission be modified or set aside
in whole or in part.
ret+tion for appeal shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commission within
,wenty.dayc after the date of service of the decision, order or ruling of the Cooeaiasion,
within such further tine as the Commission may allow upon request filed prior to the
rmiration of the twenty days after the date of Service of said deciaion, order or runny,.
(Seo. 5, Chapter 25, G.L. , Ter. Ed, as most recently amended by Chapter 485 of the Acts
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DOLORES :74,..:. COMPANY
C/FA R E L L/ !./3 ,`O ''" \, I CERT/FY THAT THIS PLAN HAS -
ET AG/ `1 m i BEEN PREPARED IN CONFORMITY
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A.HB /03.9: ' L,� �' . /4L2O0'
- S2/'S6 /10"W S.B. LNG! NEW ENGLAND POWER SERVICE COMPANY
PROUTE 9 (State Highway) WA`s B e„s°e,,, MASsAIM ��SYSTEM
` PLAN Sw01N/NG LAND IN
—” M.X.O AttimiAMFTON, MACsArausETTS
YO BE CVNFEYED TO
AaSSAcNusrTTS VECTRICCOtIFANY µ
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS DO CRAB C/r.4R&tt/ ETAt/
1111111 HAMPSHIRE COUNTY 'S / '00 .afl Z4 AV
.�- ..�u�. uE-10090