GREENFIELD — After an hour-long public comment period during which a sizeable crowd of residents voiced concerns about Noble Home LLC’s plans to build 22 condominiums divided into multi-family buildings, the Conservation Commission continued the hearing to Aug. 12.

Valley Community Land Trust, a regional nonprofit that purchases and leases land for conservation and affordable housing, bought the land on Stone Farm Lane for roughly $995,000 last summer before leasing portions to Noble Home LLC, an architectural design firm from Shelburne Falls, and the Valley Housing Co-op for development.

As a small portion of the proposed development’s parking area and utilities will fall into a wetlands buffer zone, under both state law and the local ordinance, the application requires the commission’s approval.

“The project is going to disturb about 121,000 square feet, and that includes the existing road, the existing parking lot, which is a good chunk of that — we’re going to be moving through 1,000 square feet temporarily of the buffer,” said Bucky Sparkle, a civil engineer hired by Noble Home for the project. “The reality is, within the riverfront area, because there is existing parking there to a large degree, this would be effectively a redevelopment project. We are putting back gravel parking where there is gravel parking.”

In discussions over the proposed development, Conservation Commission members posed questions about the development’s stormwater management system related to its topography, use of native plants and wastewater management system.

Responding to Commission Vice Chair Christin McDonough’s inquiry into the site’s proposed stormwater system — in which she noted that she “didn’t love” the proposed swale system — Sparkle responded that it would take a very large storm for the system’s wastewater to discharge.

“The site has quite a bit of topography and stormwater management has a few driving factors. One is, water goes downhill, and downhill of the site are duplexes and septic systems. So all of those easy areas are already occupied with infrastructure that has an offset requirement from stormwater management systems,” Sparkle said. “Discharge is very limited in this case. In fact, you have to really get to the 100-year storm before there’s any discharge from that stormwater management system.”

The majority of those who spoke during public comment expressed concerns with the development plan, with many saying the development might endanger the area’s natural life and foliage.

“All current abutters in our neighborhood have spent many, many years watching a variety of animals, walking, running and even sleeping within these acres for years. It’s been called the Wildlife Corridor,” Sunrise Avenue resident Denham Lunt said. “This doesn’t even address the unique bird population, which is huge.”

Another Sunrise Avenue resident, Lisa Guilbault, also expressed concerns with the proposed development’s threat to wildlife, adding that she does not believe the site has adequate space to accommodate 22 housing units.

“There’s going to be people walking down in that area and that’s going to impact the area. I’m also concerned with how it’s going to impact the sewer system, the main water line and just in general, that’s a narrow road that goes down there,” Guilbault said. “It’s a very tight area, and I just don’t see all these trucks and this long-term project going on down there. It’s just really disheartening.”

The commission voted unanimously in favor of a continuance until Aug. 12, when the applicant can provide a “more thorough” presentation on its stormwater management system, and provide alternative options.

“I have every confidence that this system is way more than it needs to be. I thought the numbers spoke for themselves,” Sparkle said. “We could be discharging quite a bit more material, more water to the downstream, receiving waters, and we’re electing not to with this current design. But we’ll follow along with whatever the commission requires.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.