WESTFIELD – The Planning Board voted last night to continue a public hearing on a site plan submitted for the expansion of the North Elm Butcher Block store, requesting that more specific detail be added to the project plans.
Consultant Joseph Miller of Miller Development Enterprise, Inc. of Springfield presented details of a plan revised over the past couple of days, an issued raised by the Planning Board members that led to the vote to continue the hearing to Oct. 15 since the schematic drawings being reviewed by the board did not reflect the most recent modifications of the plan.
Miller, representing Butcher Block owner Dan Puza, also withdrew the special permit request for a new, free-standing, sign along North Elm Street which was initially part of the application.
Miller said the resubmitted plan provides detail of a sidewalk and additional fencing on the property. The proposed addition is 15-by-70 feet, with half of that new space to increase the retail area and half for the kitchen and cold storage.
Miller said the parking lot paving and landscaping would be done in two phases. Phase 1 includes the parking lot between North Elm Street and the end of the existing building and will be done in conjunction with the construction of the addition.
Miller said that the paving and landscaping work on the remaining area of the lot would be done next spring.
Board Chairman Philip McEwan said the site plan presented to the board is not stamped by a certified profession engineer or architect.
Miller said that additional detail of the plans would be submitted by the contractor, Crestview Construction, at a later time.
“That has to be part of this application,” McEwan said. “You have to show connections to city services. You plan to connect (the rear parking area abutting Union Avenue) to the stormwater system. You need the approval of somebody saying that would be allowed.”
“It’s not unusual for a plan like this to come back before the board a second time, just to tighten it up, show dimensions,” McEwan said. “What you are showing here is a vast improvement over what is there now.”
Board members also requested that proposed fencing around the loading dock be eliminated and that the Union Avenue curb cut be better defined because vehicles entering the lot will do so to the passenger side of vehicle exiting the lot onto Union Avenue, an atypical traffic flow.
Board member Peter Fiordalice suggested that a rumble strip be added to separate vehicle entering the lot from those exiting the lot because of the unusual traffic pattern required on a one-way street.
The board also requested modification to the traffic flow signs on North Elm Street to better indicate that the curb cut is a no exit access into the Butcher Block and not an exit. There will be signage at the lower Pochassic Street exit was well, directing patrons to the Union Avenue exit.
Carl Vincent of South Maple Street spoke in support of the project, stating that “the last several years have been a difficult time (for the business) because of the bridge construction. Mr. Puza should be commended for investing in the community.”
