WESTFIELD – The Legislative & Ordinance Committee will discuss a request to change the zoning of land on Southampton Road from rural residential to Commercial A, which would allow more options for development.
The land, owned by DV Realty Groups, LLC c/o Paul Dion, is on the west side of Southampton Road just north of the intersection with North Road, and is in the transition area between commercial and industrial property to the south of the site and rural farming and residential property to the north of the parcel.
A similar petition was heard by the City Council in March of 2012 and was referred to the Zoning, Planning and Development Committee, where it languished for months until the property owner withdrew that zone change request.
The Commercial A zone allows, as by-right uses, (under Article III, Section 3-90) retail and service stores, barber shops and beauty salons, jewelry stores, appliance repair stores, banks, financial offices, real estate offices, medical and dental clinics, and self-serve laundries.
Under that zoning, other uses are allowed by special permit, including multi-family housing, funeral homes and elderly group housing. Also included, by special permit, is self-storage, which was a lightning rod in this case.
The zone change drew criticism from both members of the public and City Councilors at the Oct. 15, 2015 public hearing. One difference is that two years ago the Planning Board voted 5-2 to send a negative recommendation to the City Council. This zone change application was given a positive recommendation by the Planning Board, again by a 5-2 vote, at its Oct. 6, 2015 meeting.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph Figy, chairman of the L&O, said that the zone change petition “was not well-received at the public hearing. Two years ago the council voted it down and at least six members who voted then are still on the City Council.”
The issue was also sent to the council’s Zoning, Planning & Development Committee which will make its own recommendation and refer the issue to the L&O to bring out of the floor for discussion and, potentially a decision.
