The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02114 Charles D. Baker GOVERNOR Tel: (617) 626-1000 Karyn E. Polito Fax: (617) 626-1081 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR http://www.mass.gov/eea Kathleen A.Theoharides SECRETARY October 23, 2020 CERTIFICATE OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL NOTIFICATION FORM PROJECT NAME : 1234 and 1240 Soldiers Field Road PROJECT MUNICIPALITY : Boston PROJECT WATERSHED : Charles River EEA NUMBER : 16272 PROJECT PROPONENT : TDC 1234 Owner, LLC and TDC 1240 Owner, LLC DATE NOTICED IN MONITOR : September 23, 2020 Pursuant to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (M.G.L. c. 30, ss. 61-62I) and Section 11.03 of the MEPA Regulations (301 CMR 11.00), I hereby determine that this project requires the preparation of a mandatory Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). Project Description As described in the Environmental Notification Form (ENF), the project consists of the construction of an approximately 723,000 square foot (sf) mixed use development on two adjacent parcels located at 1240 and 1234 Soldiers Field Road in Boston. The 1240 Soldiers Field Road project component consists of a 438,000 sf development comprised of 535 rental units and 10,500 sf of retail space, and 220 structured parking spaces. The 1234 Soldiers Field Road project component consists of an approximately 285,000 sf development comprised of 120 condominium units, 255 hotel rooms, 4,000 sf of retail and 185 structured parking spaces. A site drive will bisect the parcels and provide delivery and service vehicles access through the site from Western Avenue and Soldiers Field Road. The project includes bicycle and pedestrian improvements within the vicinity of the project and approximately 72,000 sf (1.65 acres) of on- site open space. Extending from the open space will be a new publicly accessible pedestrian path and ramp which will connect the southern end of the new Telford Street Bridge to Western Avenue. This pedestrian improvement will provide accessible public access over Soldiers Field Road to the Charles River Reservation including nearby Artesani Playground and Herter Park. EEA# 16272 ENF Certificate October 23, 2020 Project Site The project site encompasses two parcels of land totaling approximately 136,971 sf (3.143 acres) in total. The 1234 Site encompasses approximately 51,267 sf (1.18 acres) and the 1240 site encompasses approximately 85,650 sf (1.97 acres). The project site is bordered by Soldiers Field Road to the north, properties to the east owned by the City of Boston Department of Public Works and Harvard University, Western Avenue to the south and Telford Street to the west. Western Avenue and Telford Street are under the jurisdiction of the City of Boston and Soldiers Field Road is under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Existing uses at the 1234 Site include the Studio Allston Hotel and Casa Cana restaurant. Existing uses at the 1240 Site include The Skating Club of Boston. The project includes demolition of these existing structures. The Skating Club of Boston is included in the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC)’s Inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth (BOS.17074). The project site abuts Soldiers Field road, a historic parkway that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places (BOS.9602) and is near the Charles River Reservation/Metropolitan Park System of greater Boston (BOS.VE). The project does not include any wetland resource areas and it is not located within rare species habitat. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Environmental impacts associated with the project include the disturbance of 3.14 acres of previously developed land, generation of 5,908 New average daily trips (adt) (7,438 adt total),1 creation of 241 New parking spaces (405 spaces total), increase in water demand by 114,323 gallons per day (gpd) (135,630 total) and an increase in wastewater generation of 103,930 gpd (123,300 gpd total). The project may have wind and shadow impacts on adjacent land and historic resources. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants are associated with on-site energy use and for vehicle trips generated by the project. The project will minimize and mitigate environmental impacts by eliminating 0.32 acres of impervious area; enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access, providing open space on 1.65 acres of the site; providing improved connection to the Telford Street pedestrian bridge; implementing Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures such as encouraging use of public transit and other alternate modes of travel; and construction of a stormwater management system with Best Management Practices (BMPs) to improve water quality, reduce flow rates and infiltrate stormwater. The DEIR should provide further analysis to demonstrate that the project includes measures to minimize stationary- and mobile-source GHG emissions generated by the project to the maximum extent practicable. Jurisdiction and Permitting The project is subject to the preparation of a Mandatory EIR pursuant to 301 CMR 11.03(6)(a)(6) because it requires State Agency Actions will generate 3,000 or more New adt on 1 As discussed below, total impact calculations include all project components including existing uses that will be demolished and replaced. The net “new” calculations exclude impacts from existing uses, which are still in use and already have impacts on the surrounding water/wastewater system and traffic network. 2 EEA# 16272 ENF Certificate October 23, 2020 roadways providing access to a single location. The project requires a Construction and Access Permit from DCR and a Section 8(m) Permit from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). The project may require an Article 97 land transfer from DCR. The project is subject to review under the May 2010 MEPA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Policy and Protocol (“the Policy”). It requires review by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 9, sections 26-27C (950 CMR 71.00). The project requires Article 80 Large Project Review and Planned Development Area (PDA) Approval by the BPDA and a Transportation Access Plan Agreement (TAPA) and Construction Management Plan (CMP) approval from the Boston Transportation Department (BTD). The project requires site plan approval by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC). The project requires a determination of no hazard to air navigation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater General Permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because the Proponent is not seeking State Financial Assistance, MEPA jurisdiction extends to those aspects of the project that are within the subject matter of required or potentially required Permits that are likely, directly or indirectly, to cause Damage to the Environment. Review of the ENF The ENF included a description of existing site conditions, project description and conceptual plans of proposed conditions. The ENF identified the project’s potential impacts on transportation, water and wastewater infrastructure, and stormwater and historic resources, but did not provide a detailed assessment of impacts or a comprehensive analysis of mitigation measures. Comments from DCR and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) identify additional transportation analysis and information that should be provided in the DEIR. Comments from MHC identify additional impact analysis for historic structures that should be provided in the DEIR. Comments from DCR and the Charles River Watershed Association commend the project for its incorporation of green space and improved pedestrian and bicycle accommodations; further information on these issues should be provided in the DEIR as noted below. The DEIR should provide a more detailed description of existing and proposed conditions and a comprehensive review of the project’s impacts and measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate such impacts, as set forth in the Scope below. SCOPE General The DEIR should follow Section 11.07 of the MEPA regulations for outline and content and provide the information and analyses required in this Scope. It should clearly demonstrate that the Proponent has sought to avoid, minimize and mitigate Damage to the Environment to the maximum extent feasible. Project Description and Permitting The DEIR should include detailed site plans for existing and post-development conditions at a legible scale. Plans should clearly identify buildings, interior and exterior public areas, impervious areas, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, and stormwater and utility 3 EEA# 16272 ENF Certificate October 23, 2020 infrastructure. The DEIR should describe the nature of the proposed improvements to the Telford pedestrian bridge including how the Proponent’s improvements will compliment improvements that may be undertaken by DCR. The DEIR should include a timeline of improvements proposed by both the Proponent and DCR to the extent this information is available. The DEIR should describe the project and identify any changes since the filing of the ENF. It should identify and describe State, federal and local permitting and review requirements associated with the project and provide an update on the status of each of these pending actions. The DEIR should include a description and analysis