Commonwealth of

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office

Environmental Notification Form

For Office Use Only EEA#: MEPA Analyst:

The information requested on this form must be completed in order to submit a document electronically for review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, 301 CMR 11.00.

Project Name: 780 Morrissey Boulevard Street Address: 780 Morrissey Boulevard Municipality: Dorchester, Watershed: Neponset River Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates: Latitude: 42° 17’ 44.8” N 19 N 331245 4684645 Longitude: 71° 2’ 49.7” W Estimated commencement date: Spring 2021 Estimated completion date: Spring 2023 Project Type: Residential Status of project design: 25%complete Proponent: Dorchester-Michaels LLC c/o The Michaels Organization Street Address: 155 , Suite 700 Municipality: Boston State: MA Zip Code: 02110 Name of Contact Person: Stephen Martorano Firm/Agency: Bohler Street Address: 45 , Floor 5 Municipality: Boston State: MA Zip Code: 02110 Phone: 617-849-8040 Fax: E-mail: [email protected]

Does this project meet or exceed a mandatory EIR threshold (see 301 CMR 11.03)? Yes No

If this is an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) (see 301 CMR 11.05(7)) or a Notice of Project Change (NPC), are you requesting: a Single EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.06(8)) Yes No a Special Review Procedure? (see 301CMR 11.09) Yes No a Waiver of mandatory EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.11) Yes No a Phase I Waiver? (see 301 CMR 11.11) Yes No (Note: Greenhouse Gas Emissions analysis must be included in the Expanded ENF.)

Which MEPA review threshold(s) does the project meet or exceed (see 301 CMR 11.03)? 301 CMR 11.03 (3)(b)(5) – New or existing unlicensed non-water dependent use of waterways or tidelands

Which State Agency Permits will the project require? Chapter 91 License, State Highway Access Permit (MassDOT), Access Permit (DCR)

Identify any financial assistance or land transfer from an Agency of the Commonwealth, including the Agency name and the amount of funding or land area in acres: N/A

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Summary of Project Size Existing Change Total & Environmental Impacts LAND Total site acreage 1.81± New acres of land altered 1.81± Acres of impervious area 1.75 ± acres - 0.26 ± acres 1.49 ± acres Square feet of new bordering 0 vegetated wetlands alteration Square feet of new other wetland 0

alteration Acres of new non-water dependent 0.10

use of tidelands or waterways STRUCTURES Gross square footage 10,230± SF +153,655± SF 163,885± SF Number of housing units 0 206 units 206 units Maximum height (feet) Two-story restaurant 47’± 70’± TRANSPORTATION Vehicle trips per day Negligible +1,122a 1,122 Parking spaces 196 - 60 136 WASTEWATER Water Use (Gallons per day) N/A + 27,600± GPD 27,600± GPD Water withdrawal (GPD) N/A + 27,600± GPD 27,600± GPD Wastewater generation/treatment N/A + 25,100± GPD 25,100± GPD (GPD) Length of water mains (miles) N/A 0 0 Length of sewer mains (miles) N/A 0 0

Has this project been filed with MEPA before? Yes (EEA # ) No

Has any project on this site been filed with MEPA before? Yes (EEA # ) No

aBased on ITE LUC 221, Multifamily Housing (Mid-Rise); 206 dwelling units.

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GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION

PROJECT DESCRIPTION EXISTING SITE

Describe the existing conditions and land uses on the project site:

The Site is located at 780 William T. Morrissey Boulevard on multiple parcels consisting of approximately 78,877 total square feet of land (1.81 acres) (“Site”). The Site is currently an underutilized surface parking lot and vacant restaurant and is bounded by Freeport Street and Morrissey Boulevard to the West, a surface parking lot to the North, Interstate I-93 to the East, and the Ramada Inn to the South. Refer to Appendix A for a site location map.

There are no known wetland resources located on or immediately adjacent to the project site. According the most recent Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the proposed limit of work of the project is not located within a mapped 100-year flood plain (Appendix A). According to the latest edition of the Massachusetts Natural Heritage Atlas, 14th edition, the subject site is not located within a priority or endangered species habitat (see Appendix A). A small portion of the site (about 0.10 acres) is located within 250 feet of the Mean High Water mark as shown in the Existing Chapter 91 Aerial Exhibit in Appendix B.

The existing project site is a paved surface parking lot, a single building, and some areas of grass and trees. The existing impervious coverage is estimated to be over 90%. Existing elevations vary from an elevation of approximately 12 feet Boston City Base (BCB) in the northwest corner of the existing parking lot to approximately 21 feet BCB in the southwest corner of the site in front of the existing restaurant.

Please refer to the Project Maps provided in Appendix A and the Existing Conditions Plan (No Build Alternative) provided in Appendix C.

PROPOSED PROJECT

Describe the proposed project and its programmatic and physical elements: NOTE: The project description should summarize both the project’s direct and indirect impacts (including construction period impacts) in terms of their magnitude, geographic extent, duration and frequency, and reversibility, as applicable. It should also discuss the infrastructure requirements of the project and the capacity of the municipal and/or regional infrastructure to sustain these requirements into the future.

The Proponent proposes to develop one (1) building of varying heights containing a 5-story portion and a 6-story portion (“Building”) totaling approximately 163,885 gross square feet that will contain two hundred and six (206) residential units, residential amenities and one (1) level of garage parking at ground level. The Proponent will hire a general contractor (“Contractor”) to oversee construction of the Building. The proposed residential units will contain a mix of studio units, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. There is one level of structured parking that contains 123 spaces, with an additional 13 outdoor spaces, a total of 136 spaces.

Environmental Notification Form 780 Morrissey Boulevard - 3 - The parking level will be accessed from Freeport Street. Loading and delivery, residential move-in and move-out loading, and trash and recycling pick-up will take place within the exterior parking area at the north end of the site. Additionally, the exterior space at the north end of the site is designed to accommodate a potential future connection to the proposed DCR/MassDOT Neponset River Greenway multi-use path extension from Freeport Street, with connections to Dorchester Shores Reservation, Tenean Beach, and the waterfront. The Proponent has met with DCR and MassDOT to conceptually review the future connection and will continue to work with those agencies as the design progresses to accommodate the connection. Based upon early conversations with DCR/MassDOT, the construction of the multi-use path extension is expected to occur concurrently with the Project.

The space at the south end of the site will be landscaped and is anticipated to contain some of the building’s exterior electrical and mechanical equipment. There is a proposed drop-off, courtyard and landscaped area along the Morrissey Boulevard frontage. Additional landscaping is proposed around the site and within courtyard and amenity spaces. Plantings and other landscape features will enhance the overall character of the site, creating a softer, greener environment for residents and the public.

The proposed stormwater management controls will be designed in accordance with both the City of Boston requirements and those described in the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Stormwater Handbook. In general, stormwater runoff generated as a result of the project is designed to be collected and treated through a combination of Best Management Practices prior to discharge to the existing City drainage infrastructure. The project will also result in an overall decrease in impervious area through the introduction of landscape and open space elements. The additional proposed pervious surface will reduce stormwater runoff and promote infiltration onsite. Based on initial discussions with the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, there is sufficient sewer and water infrastructure in the project vicinity to serve the proposed project. In addition, initial coordination efforts with private utility providers indicate that existing infrastructure is available in the vicinity.

As described in further detail below, a small portion of the site is located within 250 feet of the Mean High Water line, totaling approximately 0.10 acres, and is under the jurisdiction Chapter 91 (Public Waterfront Act) – G.L. c. 91, ss 1-64, as amended, commonly called “Chapter 91.” The site area under jurisdiction is proposed to be parking spaces that are open to the sky. There is also a small landscaped area and a small portion of balcony area on upper floors of the building within the jurisdictional area, as shown by the Proposed Chapter 91 Aerial in Appendix B. In addition to providing open space elements, the project will also provide future convenient pedestrian access to the Neponset River via a planned connection to the proposed extension of the Neponset River Greenway currently under design by DCR/MassDOT. This connection to the riverfront (see Appendix B) will further enhance the pedestrian accessibility and access to the waterfront. The Applicant will work closely with MassDEP to permit the proposed project and obtain a Chapter 91 license following the conclusion of the MEPA process.

Through Article 37 – Green Buildings, the City of Boston encourages buildings to decrease energy and water use and cost, improve the efficiency and useful life of building systems and infrastructure, and

Environmental Notification Form 780 Morrissey Boulevard - 4 - reduce the burdens imposed by buildings on city services, the environment, and public health. The proposed project is subject to the requirements of Article 37, which includes demonstrating that a project would meet the minimum requirements to achieve a LEED Certified level (all LEED Pre-requisites and achieve at least 40 points) without registering the project with the USGBC, or “LEED certifiable.”

The City of Boston has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050 and released the 2019 Climate Action Plan update to outline strategies to reach carbon neutrality in Boston’s buildings, transportation, waste, and energy sectors. The plan indicates that new construction buildings will need to adopt Zero Net Carbon standards by 2030. In order to work towards this goal, the Project is increasing efficiency within the building and plans to utilize all-electric heating, cooling and hot water systems to reduce the reliance on and use of fossil fuels.

Key elements of the Passive House standards are anticipated to be implemented such as a fully electrified building and air sealing for compartmentalization. The project has focused on implementing sustainability initiatives that will have positive short and long-term impacts for the future residents of the project.

Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2021 and end in Spring 2023.

TIDELANDS

Chapter 91 Jurisdiction

The Project Site consists of jurisdictional tidelands, landlocked tidelands and non-jurisdictional upland as described below.

The historic high water mark, shown on Appendix B, Existing Chapter 91 Aerial, is based on the 1894 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey of Dorchester and Roxbury (t2204) and the 1847 U.S. Coast Survey of Boston Harbor “From Neponset River to Roxbury” (T-232-1). The MassDEP has determined these plans to be the “presumptive line” for historic high water. The historic high water mark runs through approximately half of the Project Site in a northwest/southeast direction. The original low water line, also shown on Appendix B, Existing Chapter 91 Aerial, is from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (H-2161) from “Deer and Peddock’s Islands to and Neponset Village, 1892-1893”. The historic plans used to determine filled tidelands are included in Appendix B. As the historic low water line is seaward of the parcel, there are no Commonwealth tidelands on the Project Site.

Filled tidelands which on January 1, 1984 were entirely separated by a public way and 250-feet from the high water mark from any flowed tidelands are defined as landlocked tidelands. Landlocked tidelands are found on about half of the Project Site, as the Project Site is separated from the Neponset River by a public way () and is generally more than 250-feet from the existing high water mark.

A small portion of the Project Site, approximately 4,193 sf, is less than 250-feet from the existing high water mark and is composed of jurisdictional filled private tidelands. Activities within this area are subject to licensing.

The balance of the site, approximately 74,684 sf, is non-jurisdictional uplands.

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