WESTFIELD – The Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is seeking a junk dealers permit to resell used housing and construction materials at a retail business to be located in the rear half of a store located at 310 East Main Street which was formerly a home improvement discount store.
A junk permit is required to sell any used materials under the city’s zoning codes. Habitat for Humanity, represented by Jason Tsitso, a board member and chairman of the Restore Planning Committee, spoke at the public hearing conducted by the City Council at its Jan. 5th session.
The councilors raised a number of concerns including the fact that group is seeking donations of surplus building and home improvement materials, before referring the permit application to the License Committee for further review.
The Restore store is a brand name owned by Habitat for Humanity.
“We’ll be selling donated goods, construction items, furniture,” Tsitso said. “We will have a donation site in the fenced area on the side of the building,” Tsitso said. “The store will be accessed through the side because there will be a retail area in the front of the building.”
Several council members asked about items being dropped off during the hours when the store is not staffed.
Council President Brian Sullivan asked how the staff “will monitor the drop-off area so it doesn’t become a dumping area.”
“We’ll have a dumpster on site to dispose of trash items,” Tsitso said. “We want to be good neighbors and hope it will not get out of hand.”
City Advancement Office Joseph Mitchell said the Habitat for Humanity Restore facility is based on a nationwide model and that the East Main Street building reuse is “very similar to what was there when it was the Grossman store. It’s a good fit and the profit goes into building homes.”
Maryann Babinski, an environmental activist, said at the council’s public hearing that she supports “any business dedicated to creating a mentality to restore, reuse, and repurpose anything so it does not end up in a landfill.”
License Committee Chairman Christopher Crean said that he plans to call for a committee meeting before Thursday when the City Council is slated to meet for its second January session because of the number of issues raised by other councilors.
“I haven’t set it up yet, but I’m doing it before Thursday so any council member with questions can attend the meeting,” Crean Said.
Conducting committee meetings on Thursday prior to the regular City Council meeting often raises conflicts because members cannot be present for committee meetings other than the ones on which they serve.
“I’m shooting for a Wednesday meeting so other councilors can attend, but I have to check with the other committee members,” Crean said. “It will be early (this) week.”
Ward 3 Councilor Brian Hoose and At-large Councilor Dan Allie serve on the License Committee with Crean, the Ward 6 representative.
