Salem Planning Board Approves Casella Sites, Continues Walmart Over Container Violations

SALEM — January 25, 2024 — Salem Planning Board approves Casella Waste sites on Pelham Road but stalls Walmart application over persistent storage container violations. The board voted 6-0-1 at its January 25 meeting to conditionally approve site plans for Casella Waste Management at both 53 and 51 Pelham Road, with conditions including a $5,900 road impact fee and $1,620 public safety impact fee at 53 Pelham, a requirement to investigate potential vernal pool habitat at wetlands B and D on the 51 Pelham parcel, and the use of wildflower seed mixes and silt socks in disturbed areas near wetlands — the latter two at the request of member Linda Harvey. The Walmart application at 326 North Broadway, seeking revised circulation, two 77-square-foot vestibule additions, and a conditional use permit to allow up to 40 storage containers on site between September 15 and January 15 each year, was continued without a vote after board members including Vice Chair Joe Fioli and council representative Paul Pelletier catalogued 23 trailers still scattered across the 220,000-square-foot store's parking lot — well past a prior August 31 deadline for their removal. "Now they come back and they say they're going to do it till January 15th — blown off again," Fioli said.