Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ECD board approves RCSS use of Lot 8 in Southeast Bristol Business Park; resident urges review of historic contamination
Summary
At a special Economic and Community Development meeting, the board approved allowing Road Construction Safety Services (RCSS) to use Lot 8 in the Southeast Bristol Business Park as a company headquarters and distribution facility, after a resident raised unresolved contamination concerns dating to Superior Electric’s electroplating operations.
At a special meeting, the Economic and Community Development (ECD) board approved allowing Road Construction Safety Services (RCSS) to use Lot 8 in the Southeast Bristol Business Park as a company headquarters and distribution facility, but said final site and building plans must return for ECD review.
The vote followed a presentation by RCSS founders and a public comment from resident Michael J. Dutko, who told the board he had collected state Department of Environmental Protection records indicating “there was once high contamination sitting under that lot” tied to electroplating at the former Superior Electric site and a swale that drained into a contaminated lagoon behind Forest Glen condominiums.
The decision matters because Lot 8 is the last available parcel in the Southeast Bristol Business Park and the board’s approval of a use type lets a developer proceed to prepare technical site and building plans and pursue zoning approvals. RCSS told the board it intends to build a steel headquarters with garage bays and indoor storage and employ staff out of the facility.
Alan Salas, who identified himself as a co‑founder of the company, described RCSS as “a traffic control firm, and we currently employ over a 100 traffic control technicians,” and said the proposed building would consolidate the company’s statewide operations. His co‑founder Ken said the pair are former Bristol police employees and intend to follow park guidelines.
Resident Michael J. Dutko pressed the board to review historical testing and remediation documents before the parcel is further disturbed. “There was once high contamination sitting under that lot,” he said, describing past cadmium deposits, a paved swale, and a fenced lagoon. Dutko said he presented notarized documents to the board in prior years and asked that the records and a map be considered at the full board meeting.
Staff explained that selling or permitting development does not bypass the site plan process: the ECD’s approval at this meeting applies only to the business use on Lot 8 and requires RCSS to return with final site and building plans and obtain any necessary zoning approvals before closing or construction.
Sharon Arcega, identified in the transcript as recording secretary and department administrator, moved the motion to approve RCSS’s proposed use for Lot 8; Dave Mills seconded. The motion was approved by voice vote; individual tallies were not specified in the record.
Board members and staff said they would take Dutko’s contamination concern up at the full board meeting and review the documents he offered. The ECD’s conditional approval allows the applicant to proceed with technical planning but preserves the board’s review of final site and building plans.
The special meeting adjourned and the board moved on to its regular session.
