WESTFIELD—The city’s planning board took care of another piece of contentious business last night, voting to deny the proposal for the Dollar General store on Southampton Road.
All but one member of the board voted to deny the proposal of a special permit, in spite of the site’s planners making several changes to the plan, acting on the suggestions made by residents and the board in a previous meeting. The special permit would have allowed Dollar General to build a store of about 7,500 square feet in a commercial A zone, which according to ordinance allows just up to 5,000 square feet of building without special permitting.
The reason for the planning board’s decision?
Many residents showed up for the Southampton Road Dollar General proposal being discussed by the planning board
Location, location, location.
“I certainly appreciate all the hard work you’ve done, but I am staying with my stance from last meeting. I am supportive of Dollar General but I’m not in favor of the location. I’m extremely uncomfortable with the location,” Cheryl Crowe, planning board member, said last night.
“Where that spot is on that corner is residential, and to have that spot on the corner breaks that down again,” Peter Fiordalice, planning board member, said. “I agree that it looks better, but it’s just such a big store on that corner spot and a store to be by itself.”
Several residents also voiced their concerns to the board, both at the prior meeting and this one. Their concerns matched the planning board’s, including questions of traffic flow and traffic safety.
“There is already tractor trailer traffic around there,” board member Carl Vincent said, regarding deliveries that would happen at the proposed site. “Residents believe that they will see their traveling prohibited and are against the construction.”
Other city officials also spoke at the hearing—with one speaking in favor and another speaking against the proposal.
“I don’t think we need to disrupt that thriving residential neighborhood by putting this building up,” ward 1 city councilor Mary Ann Babinski, said while speaking against the development. “This may be a great building and a great business but this is not a great place for it. I respectfully ask that this board make a decision for the benefit of this neighborhood.”
The crowd on hand erupted in applause after Babinski finished speaking.
City advancement officer Joe Mitchell though, felt that the project could have brought increased tax revenue to the city and was an appropriate fit for the area’s zoning, in spite of its residential neighborhood.
“It is a good use for that location,” Mitchell said. “Talking to our assessor, it will be assessed at a value of $500,000 and taxed at a business rate.” At the current 2016 commercial property tax rate of $36.68 per $1,000 of assessed value the tax revenue for the city would be in the vicinity of $18,300 per year with building of that value.
Mitchell added that the potential value of a home there, by comparison, would be around $230,000 and would be taxed at a lower rate. At the current 2016 residential property tax rate of $19.44 per $1,000 of assessed value the tax revenue for the city would be in the vicinity of $4,470 per year for a home of that value.
Additionally, Mitchell argued that the store would have brought several full- and part-time jobs to Westfield and would have been less busy than a typical convenience store, which may see several customers in and out purchasing small items.
In spite of Mitchell’s attempts however, the board appeared set in their decision, and only board member Robert Goyette voted in favor of the special permit.
The planning board’s next meeting is Jan. 3, at 7 p.m.
