Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comTheThe Westfield WestfieldNews News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 201 Chief Bishop Councilors’ recommends renaming questions on Southwick Wells 7 and 8 Hill Road answered By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor By AMY PORTER SOUTHWICK – The town is moving Staff Writer forward on renaming a portion of WESTFIELD – All 13 Westfield City Councilors were Southwick Hill Road. present for a Special City Council meeting on Aug. 18 with The Select Board Aug. 18 addressed An ALDI Market is proposed at Westgate Plaza next to TJ Maxx. (HOPE E. only two agenda items; an update on Wells 7 & 8, and to an ongoing concern about several streets TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) approve a $30,000 transfer within the Law Department for that were considered confusing because purchase of services, which passed unanimously. they were split for various reasons. Prior to the update from the Police Chief Kevin A. Bishop said of the ALDI Market looking to Department of Public Works, six or seven streets initially considered Council President Brent B. for renaming, two were considered for Bean II said the Council voted naming and he recommended just one, in June to request a report on Southwick Hill Road, be renamed. come to Westgate Plaza Wells 7 & 8, and submitted Bishop said after meeting with residents more than 50 questions in By AMY PORTER would be delivering to the market. advance. He said no question- of the road, the majority agreed they Staff Writer Currently the plan is to drive around would like the street renamed to Iron ing would be conducted fol- WESTFIELD – Robert Levesque of the back of T.J. Maxx and the proposed lowing the presentation. Horse Hill. R. Levesque Associates and applicant ALDI to the side of the building, The other street considered for renam- “I will say that this is an Reuben Twersky of Brixmore SPE where the tractor trailer would back update. It’s really not going to ing was Evergreen Road, which is divid- came before the Planning Board on into a loading dock located to the rear ed by a pump station. Bishop said he be this back and forth of con- Aug. 18 for a public hearing seeking a of Taco Bell. stant follow ups,” Bean said, believes technology can solve that prob- special permit, site plan and stormwa- Jane Magarian asked whether the HEATHER adding that if follow up is need- , lem. ter permit for an ALDI supermarket in trucks would go through the parking STAYTON P.E., ed, he recommended going Systems Engineer “Prior to the meeting I used Google Westgate Plaza. lot of Taco Bell. Levesque said the directly to the Water Department with the Westfield Maps and put in different [house] num- According to information on its deliveries would be at off hours, and bers and they all came up,” he said. or Water Commission, or taking Water Department. website, ALDI is one of America’s there would be a temporary disruption it up in the council at a later Selectman Russell Fox suggested fastest growing retailers, with nearly when the trucks back into the loading rather than renaming Evergreen, small date. 2,000 stores across 36 states, and is on dock. He said that most of the parking Representing the Water Department, Systems Engineer signs could be added to street signs track to become the third-largest gro- in the rear of Taco Bell is underuti- alerting motorists to which direction to Heather Stayton began by saying that on June 18 the cery retailer by store count by the end lized, and the majority of business Council voted for an update on Wells 7 & 8, and agreed to go for specific house numbers. Selectman of 2022. Ninety percent of its products goes through the drive-through win- Chair Douglas Moglin said he supported submit questions in advance to the department. Fifteen are ALDI-exclusive brands. dow, which would not be impacted. questions were submitted at that time, several of which that idea and likened it to signs indicat- Levesque said the property is owned “We are not anticipating conflict ing room numbers in a hotel. went beyond the scope of an update on Wells 7 & 8, by Brixmore, and they have been with delivery times and peak usage of according to Stayton. She said another 37 questions were Bishop said in his 37 years as a working on a proposed lease agree- Taco Bell,” Levesque said. Southwick police officer he knows of submitted at the end of July. The Water Dept. then con- ment with ALDI for a number of years. Delivery for the ALDI tractor trail- sulted with the Law Department as to which questions only one major concern with confusion He said they have a store in West ers, which would come out of South on Evergreen and that was from an “out- might impact ongoing litigation, including financial ques- Springfield, and feel that Westfield Windsor, Conn. would be between 5 tions. side company” and not a delivery ser- would be a good market for them. p.m. and 5 a.m. A representative said vice. “There is no financial matter relative to Wells 7 & 8 Levesque said the 19,750 square Coca-Cola would also deliver three before the Council,” Stayton said, adding that the status of “In talking with residents, I have not foot supermarket in Westgate Plaza times a week, and milk three times a heard of any issues with deliveries,” said and updates on Wells 7 and 8 and Wells 1 and 2 continue would be located between TJ Maxx week. to be discussed at regular meetings of the Water Bishop, adding that Fire Chief Russell and Taco Bell. The plans include con- Rich Salois said the area in the back Anderson was in agreement. Commission. Regarding questions brought by residents struction of an end cap, reconfigura- of the store would become a two-way and business owners, Stayton reminded them she is avail- Bishop said to let technology work for tion of the parking lot in front of the street, and it is one truck width. users and place the numbered signs and able to answer questions at 413-572-6226 or by email to store, and a loading dock. “We do not Levesque said it has two-way traffic [email protected]. train dispatchers on the streets using plan to impact much more of the park- now, conceding that it is a little narrow cross streets. Although many of the questions were technical and ing than needed. We’re not looking to behind ALDI, but could be handled referred to documents that Stayton said must be obtained “Every call should use cross streets – do wholesale changes to the property,” with signage almost like a one-way Miller Road at Congamond Road,” through public records requests, the majority of the ques- Levesque said, adding that there will bridge. He said there is an opportunity tions pertained to PFAS test results on Wells 7 and 8. Bishop said, noting bigger cities use be minimal disturbance to existing for a truck turn-around behind T.J. cross roads regularly when dispatching Stayton said that on June 22, the Owen District Road plazas, whose leases will be respected. Maxx. Water Treatment Plant at Wells 7 and 8 started up for its first responders. Other plans include upgrading drain- Salois also asked questions about the Sgt. Rhett Bannish weighed-in and operational trial according to Department of Environmental age within the building and in the back truck exit. “Getting out of the shopping Protection guidelines. She said 12 million gallons were run said he was going to recommend the and tying into city water and sewer. All center is not an easy chore,” he said. address number signs as well. during the trial in June and July, and on Aug. 4, the plant required utilities are on site. Levesque “I do agree, the area is a free for all; received approval from DEP to operate. “We’re looking at, at most, six signs,” said because the building is located I’ve been cut off numerous times. said Bannish. within the 100-year flood plain of the Does get to be a little bit of a mess. My See Wells, Page 5 Chief Administrative Officer Karl Little River, they will be filing a Notice main concern is traffic safety,” said Stinehart said he would work with Town of Intent with the Conservation Cheryl Crowe, who was chairman pro Counsel Benjamin Coyle to prepare a Commission. temp for the meeting. document and a public hearing would be Much of the questioning by the An abutter at 10 Mainline Drive DAYTRIPPER: scheduled before the Board votes on the Planning Board centered around the renaming. traffic flow for the 18-wheelers that See ALDI Market, Page 3 Ashintully Gardens Cha-ching: Westfield Bank, Advance MFG offer natural escape By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor win in Dan Welch City Cup tourney openers TYRINGHAM – Ashintully Garden offers a picturesque By CHRIS PUTZ came on in relief to force a setting for those daytrippers looking to relax and enjoy a bit Sports Editor quick fly out near the third of nature. WESTFIELD – The base bag to end the inning. Less than an hour up Route 23 from Westfield, the public Greater Westfield Babe Ruth Cortina Tile squandered a garden in Tyringham is part of the Trustees of the Baseball Dan Welch City Cup chance to score some runs as Reservation and is free for visitors.