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RDA weighs finishing EIR for urban renewal plan or waiting for MEPA special-review procedure
Summary
Staff recommended completing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the authority’s urban renewal plan after recent discussions with the MEPA office about a possible special-review procedure; the board will meet with consultants and housing staff to decide whether to finish the EIR or pause for a new administrative pathway.
Fall River Redevelopment Authority staff told members they are evaluating whether to complete an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a waterfront urban renewal plan or pause to await an administrative “special review” procedure that the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office is considering for certain project types.
Sarah Page and project staff said MEPA officials recently proposed a special-review procedure that could allow grouped review of similar urban renewal plans instead of lengthy, project-by-project EIRs. Page said MEPA showed a model used for shellfish farms and suggested a similar approach might apply to urban renewal plans statewide. Staff are deciding whether to stop the current EIR process and restart under the new procedure if it becomes available.
Page said the authority already completed the Extended Environmental Notification Form (EENF) and received direction from MEPA on the EIR scope. She described discussions with the housing department and consultants (Innes Associates and the authority’s engineering team) to evaluate whether the authority should “bite the bullet” and finish the EIR now, or wait for the special-review procedure to be finalized through public review. She cautioned both paths carry uncertainty: the EIR could result in more stringent requirements, while the special-review procedure’s final content and timeline are unknown.
Staff and consultants will assess the simplified urban renewal plan revisions and estimate EIR costs and timelines. The authority plans to meet with housing department staff and consultants before deciding; staff said they will report back in August with a recommendation.
Board members discussed whether additional public hearings or council review would be required depending on revisions; staff said changes to previously approved plan elements could trigger additional public hearings. Page encouraged coordination with the Lieutenant Governor’s office to communicate the authority’s status and concerns while the MEPA process evolves.
The authority did not decide whether to stop its current process or proceed with the EIR at the meeting; staff will return with a recommendation after meetings with consultants and housing department staff.
