MARSHFIELD MARINER (Massachusetts) 13 July 05 Turtles slowing sports complex project (Elizabeth Malloy)

The builders of a sports complex planned near Enterprise Park remain hopeful that the recent discovery of protected turtles in the area won't keep them from breaking ground this summer.

Stephen Brait, one of four Marshfield brothers who own Brait Builders Corporation, said he still thinks construction of the $20 million Marshfield Athletic Club could be underway by the end of July.

"We're just waiting for a permit from the National Heritage and Endangered Species Act to come through," Brait said. "We're very hopeful to [break ground this summer]."

Brait Builders has acquired all the local permits necessary to begin construction, Brait said, but the National Heritage and Endangered Species Program, of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, has held up the permitting process because Eastern box turtles were spotted in the area last year.

To obtain the necessary state permits, Brait Builders must set aside land for the turtles, said attorney William Last, Jr., who works for Verocchi Realty Trust, the group which owns much of the land being developed behind Enterprise Park.

"There are three phases to the development," Last said. "The turtle issue did not surface until the final stage."

Last said other projects going into the developed area, including Roche Bros. Supermarket and Mt. Skirgo housing development provided mitigation for the turtles, but it did not appear as if it would be necessary for Brait Builders. Since it became evident that Brait Builders must set aside land for the turtles, Last said they have made arrangements.

William Galvin, an attorney for Brait Builders, said the group is working with the town to use nearby conservation land for turtle mitigation.

"I think there is enough consensus [between the town and developers] that [these] projects need to go forward," Galvin said of the athletic complex and other projects such as housing that will go into the area behind Enterprise Park. "We're just waiting for approval from the state, which could come any day now."

Originally proposed for town-owned land in the Planned Mixed Use Development area, the Marshfield Athletic Center will be built an 11-acre parcel land behind Enterprise Park. The $20 million, 180,0000-square-foot facility will feature a skating rink, indoor pool, field house, track, rock climbing wall, weight room and restaurant. While some residents raised concerns about the facility generating more traffic troubles along Route 139, the project has received widespread support from town officials.

Galvin said most of the projects going into the area have agreed to help fund construction on Route 139 that would alleviate traffic on the road, so it's in the town's best interest for the projects to go forward.

Characterized by their domed shells, eastern box turtles are usually 5 to 6 inches long, frequently live to be about 40-years-old and are the official state reptile of North Carolina, according to the Web site www.wildwnc.org, Eastern box turtles live in forest areas, not water, but during hot, dry spells they will seek out springs where they will bury themselves in the mud. The turtles are omnivores who eat both plants and small animals like snails and insects.

Eastern box turtles are protected in the northeast due to their declining population, however Galvin said they appear to be thriving in Marshfield as they frequently turn up in areas in which developers are trying to build.

"It's unfortunate but that's one of the realities of developing real estate," Galvin said. "We just view it as one of those things you have to deal with."

Brait said he is confident his company will be able to take care of the turtles quickly and begin construction.

"If we can get that situation taken care of we're still hoping to break ground, it could possibly even be this month," he said.
Turtles slowing sports complex project

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• MA Press: Turtles slowing sports complex project - W von Papineäu, Thu Jul 14 21:09:05 2005