WESTFIELD – The City Council conducted two separate public hearings Thursday night on permit applications submitted by two Northside businesses.
Westfield Electroplating submitted an application for council approval of the installation of a 10,400-gallon underground fuel storage tank next to its loading dock. The company was represented by Jason Perry of Tighe & Bond, who said that the application, which included the existing storage of a number of chemicals and compounds, used in the electroplating process, is misleading.
“The license application has to list all of the chemicals currently stored there,” Perry said. “What is new is the underground storage tank for # 2 fuel oil. They are removing an existing 10,000-gallon tank and installing this new tank in a different location (next to the recently constructed additions to the building).”
Perry said the tank is in compliance with all state requirements for monitoring and alarm systems, in response to a question by Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell concerning environmental safeguards.
At-large Councilor David A. Flaherty questioned Perry about the review of the license application by the Fire Department, an issue that has delayed approval of fuel storage facilities in the past.
Perry responded by saying that the City Council issues the license, not the Fire Department.
“I don’t think we can issue the license unless this document is signed by the Fire Department,” Flaherty said to the applicant.
The council members voted to send the underground fuel-storage application to its License Committee.
The second company presenting detail of it proposal at the second public hearing is seek special permit for motor vehicle sales at it 627 Southampton Road property.
Andrew Kurtz, an owner of Hometown Structures, is a builder of custom sheds, garages, home, barns, pergolas, gazebos and play sets, is petitioning the City Council for a permit to sell trailers.
Kurtz said that Hometown Structures is seeking to become the area dealership of B Wise Trailers of Chambersburg, Penn., and would engage in retail sales of trailers, dump trailers and equipment trailers if the council approves the special permit.
Kurtz said the six-acre Hometown Structure property is divided into two zones, Business B in the front area and industrial A in the rear of the lot. Motor vehicle sales are allowed in the Industrial A zone through a City Council issued special permit.
“We were approached by a trailer manufacturer to put trailer retail in the back,” Kurtz said. “We can’t do it in the front, but we can do it in the back of the property, sell B Wise brand trailers as an additional product line.”
The Council also referred that petition to its License Committee by a voice vote.
