Toyota build underway
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
EAST PUTNAM — Tangible progress is evident at the site of the future Toyota dealership on Rt. 44.
Footings and foundations and concrete support posts are being poured where the showroom/offices will be toward the front of the parcel.
In addition, storm water structures/systems are going in.
In order to safeguard the wetlands toward the rear of the parcel, a complicated system is going in. There are large pipes, storm water structures where the pipes intersect, and a system that will control and filter storm water.
Regulations require that the first 1.3 inches of water (including runoff from the parking lots, etc.) is captured. Town land use official Bruce Fitzback said generally that first flush of water contains the most pollutants. The structures hold the captured water and allow it to slowly infiltrate into the ground — filtering it much like a rain garden.
If there is more than 1.3 inches of rain, the additional water will bypass by pipe.
Fitzback said he is impressed with the caliber of land use work being done. He said with a level site such as this one, one silt fence is required. CM&B construction of Beverly, Mass., has two silt fences and a coir coil to protect the site.
Last July, in its lengthy plans approved by the Inland Wetlands Commission the McGee Automotive Family, Toyota of Hanover (Mass.), and owner of the land, Sean & Michael Putnam LLC, said: “The site improvements will include a parking lot for customers and for vehicle display. The parking lot will have a storm water management system to treat and mitigate storm water prior to outflow towards the wetlands area. There will be two plunge pool type outlet areas adjacent to the wetlands
In the application McGee Toyota said “no disturbance to wetlands, but work is along 400 feet of wetland edge.” The affected number of acres breakdown includes “site improvement area (upland to wetlands) is 4.19 acres. Site improvement area within 100 feet of wetlands equals 0.96 acres and direct impact to wetlands is zero acres.”
In March 2022 Sean and Michael Putnam, LLC purchased the 12-acre parcel just east of the Putnam Parkade. The sale price was $1.335 million, according to town clerk records. In August 2022 Sean and Michael Putnam LLC purchased a 1.1 acre parcel adjacent to the 12-acre parcel for $725,000. The additional parcel gives the developers enough useable land for the dealership. The 12-acre property has a good deal of wetlands.
Construction started around the beginning of April. The construction of the “mega store” is estimated to take a year from the start. McGee Toyota in Dudley will move into this property.


Foundation and footings


Storm water system. Linda Lemmon photos.
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