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Officials: Canal Street parcel needs further assessment; EPA grant expiration raises timing concern
Summary
Town staff and partners told the Select Board that the Canal Street parcel will need another assessment and remediation; experts recommended commercial/industrial reuse over residential because of soil exposure and movement, and an EPA grant that helped fund work is due to expire in September.
Town Administrator Kathryn Lynch told the Select Board she had met with SWRPC, BETA, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the EPA to discuss contamination concerns at a parcel on Canal Street and recommended another environmental assessment and remediation before reuse planning.
Participants on the call — including Sean Leary and consultants JB Mack (SW R C), John McLoughlin (BETA), Tanya Justham (DES) and Melinda Bubier (EPA) — agreed a further assessment was needed. Lynch said SWRPC has some funds to cover assessment costs but the EPA grant that provided earlier funding runs out in September; JB Mack has applied for an extension. Sean Leary added that exposure and soil movement make residential reuse more expensive than commercial redevelopment.
Lynch said those on the call recommended planning the parcel for commercial or industrial reuse rather than residential given remediation costs. The board did not take a vote on land use at the meeting; staff will pursue further assessment and follow up on funding status and grant extensions.
