SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Planning Board will continue a hearing on a plan hatched by a local entrepreneur for a building on Hudson Drive to it’s next meeting.
Brendan Greeley of R.J. Greeley Company, Inc., came before the board on behalf of Anastasios “Timmy” Karathanasopoulos, owner of the town’s Village Shopping Plaza, seeking to modify a previously issued well head protection permit for a building on Hudson Drive in accordance with the town’s zoning bylaws.
Greeley stated that Karathanasopoulos’ intent is to purchase the building from 43 HudSon Drive, LLC., who had plans at one time to place an adult day health facility in the building and to subdivide the building for several different contractors to use for both office space and storage.
“The original permit specified for a ‘restoration contractor’ and he (Karathanasopoulos) doesn’t have a specific contractor,” said Greeley. “He has various other contractors who he has relationships with that are all looking to store equipment and tools in the building and have access to an office area.”
He added that there would be no additional modifications to the site, such as paving but that there would be modifications made to the building, as it was never finished completely.
Board Vice-chair Roz Terry expressed concern over what sorts of contractors would be occupying the space and storing tools in the building.
Karathanasopoulos’ son was also present with Greeley and mentioned the possibility of a tree service occupying some of the subdivided space.
Board Chair Doug Moglin pressed further, asking if any trucks would be stored inside the space, a move that would almost certainly warrant concern for the well head protection permit, to which Greeley replied that there would be no storage of outside vehicles inside.
“Timmy has to make it clear to his tenants that there are some restrictions on what they can do with that property,” said Terry. “They can have an office, they can store equipment and supplies, but they maybe can’t run a full fledged (operation).”
“There may be some (contractors) that may not work, and he’s got to look at each one individually or he would be in violation of the special permit,” she said.
Terry added that if Karathanasopoulos was going to allow tenants to park large vehicles on a gravel section in the rear of the property, he is going to have to pave the lot and have a water separator put in place.
When asked by Greeley is Karathanasopoulos could avoid paving the lot by simply prohibiting parking large vehicles on gravel in the back of the building, the board said he could.
Moglin made a motion to continue the hearing at the board’s next meeting, but stated Karathanasopoulos should bring a detailed, updated site map with him.
Greeley asked if the board would be prepared to present a permit to vote on at the next meeting, to which the board replied in the affirmative.
“Don’t make this thing too complicated. We’re really going back to the beginning and adding a concept of protection for the aquifer,” said Board member Robert Johnson. “It’s not that complicated.”
Moglin asked Greeley to have the current owner of the building submit a letter to the board affirming that they approve of the special permit application.
“This application is by someone who everyone knows, but Timmy doesn’t own the building or the land,” said Moglin. “Just a letter from 43 Hudson saying ‘We approve of this’ and that there’s a sale contingent on approval of this special permit.”
The planning board will continue the hearing at it’s next meeting on December 9 at 7:30 p.m.
