WESTFIELD – The City Council is considering a zone change that would allow commercial development on commercial property of less than two acres within the aquifer protection district.
The Council’s Natural Resource Committee initiated that review last week prior to the regular council session, but decided to seek additional information before presenting a course of action. That action could be a recommendation to approve, deny or change the ordinance amendment.
Consideration of the ordinance change was initiated, in part, by a business owner who is seeking to develop a Dunkin Donut store on North Road. The business owner, represented by Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associated, petition the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals last July to issue a variance to allow the commercial development.
The lot, located at the intersection of North and Old County roads (directly across from East Mountain Road), was the location of the former 49er Lounge which burnt down decades ago. The 1.6 acre parcel, which is zoned for Business A (BA) uses, was never redeveloped.
Levesque, speaking at the Natural Resource Committee meeting Thursday, said the current zoning requires lot of at least two acres. Levesque said that only five parcels of BA property throughout the city which could be developed if the zoning amendment is approved.
“The soil conditions are suitable for septic disposal,” Levesque said. “It meets all the requirements to Title 5, stormwater and nitrogen loading.”
“This (zoning) amendment allows an avenue for this property and a few others to be developed,” Levesque said.
Ward 6 Councilor Christopher Crean said the zoning amendment will allow development “of blighted property in my ward. It would be cleaned up if it can be developed.”
Natural Resource Chairwoman Mary O’Connell said her committee has been waiting for the state Department of Environmental Protection to issue revised maps of the aquifer protection and recharge zone.
“We’ve been waiting for the new aquifer map to be redrawn,” O’Connell said. “The state is involved, so it could be a month or five years before we get it. I’s also like the BAPAC (Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee) and the PVPC (Pioneer Valley Planning Commission) to weigh in on this issue. There are other changes, some significant changes, in the proposed amendment, as well.”
The Barnes Aquifer supplies drinking water to four communities: Westfield, Holyoke, Southampton and Easthampton.
