WESTFIELD—After discussion about process and concerns from residents, the Westfield City Council voted to close the public hearing on the proposed medical district zoning in a special meeting scheduled prior to their regularly scheduled meeting.
The proposal will now be going to the Legislative and Ordinance and Zoning, Planning and Development subcommittees of the City Council for further deliberation and potential changes.
The medical district zoning is a proposal that would create a zone around the area of Baystate Noble Hospital and could change the process for the hospital to make changes, such as having site plans go before the Westfield Planning Board instead of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The proposal also currently lists permitted uses, which “would include a hospital, medical or dental offices, clinics, nursing homes and rehabilitation services, social services and parking facilities along with ‘accessory uses customarily incidental to a permitted use’,” according to a Sept. 14 article in The Westfield News. Additional regulations, such as building size and setback distances, are also within the proposed zoning.
Former Planning Board member and Westfield resident Carl Vincent addresses City Council during the special meeting on the medical district zoning Nov. 2.
The hearing was continued from a previous council meeting, and there were concerns about whether or not it could be left open while it gets sent to the committees for deliberation.
“I would like to have this public hearing remain open, go to subcommittee,” Ward Four City Councilor Mary O’Connell said, adding that they then also still take public input.
“By closing this public hearing and sending it to subcommittee you shut off all communication from parties,” she said.
Ward Two Councilor Ralph Figy, who was the one who made the initial zoning proposal, said that this would be true if it wasn’t for the additional processes afterward.
“If we didn’t have [a second] set of public hearings coming I would agree with you,” Figy said. “Because we have a second set we need to be moving towards that.”
Figy also said that he thought that public hearings cannot be held within committee.
At-Large Councilor Stephen Dondley said that the process has become politicized, causing issues.
“Unfortunately, this whole process has been heavily politicized and it shouldn’t be,” he said.
“We just need to work together through this process. Let’s please, just stop politicizing this, move through the process and get it done,” he added.
At-Large Councilor David Flaherty disagreed, however.
“This isn’t politicizing, it’s a matter of process,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re doing it the right way.”
Flaherty added that he believed it should be open in front of the entire council.
Figy agreed, but felt that it was time to move the motion to committee.
“I just don’t know how much more input the public can make,” he said.
Ward One Councilor Mary Ann Babinski said that she did not believe the process was being politicized either, and that they are attempting to follow procedure, as well as benefit the public.
Ward Three Councilor Andrew Surprise added that residents wanted transparency.
“People want to know what’s going on,” he said. “We just want transparency, people want input.”
Figy reiterated the second set of public hearings that could occur however, which could allow for changes to be made still.
“Not an end-all proposition,” Figy said of closing the public hearing.
Following the discussion between councilors, At-Large Councilor and City Council President Brent Bean opened the floor to residents and others.
Carl Vincent, Westfield resident and former Planning Board member, asked if once the proposal goes to the committees does it begin the 90-day clock by which the ordinance must be voted on by City Council. The answer was yes. In addition, the new City Council that will be voted in on Nov. 7 may be the ones voting on the proposal.
Rob Levesque, of R. Levesque associates, who is the land consultant for Baystate Noble, said that he was in favor of the proposal. He said that they held a neighborhood meeting as was suggested by Surprise and that they would like to see the process move forward.
There were some residents, however, that spoke in opposition of the zone, citing problems such as property values possibly dropping, potential environmental issues, noise and light pollution and by-right uses for the zone.
“I’m opposed to this,” Vincent said, citing in particular by-right usage.
Vincent said that items such as the medical and dental offices should be stricken, and parking should also be addressed, among other items.
Westfield resident Karen Pighetti was among the residents that approached the City Council, as well.
She said that while the hospital is an asset for the community, protection is important, as well.
“I feel that protection for community is equally as important for hospital needs,” she said.
She cited concerns about noise and light pollution, as well as the potential to reduce the neighborhood’s character through development.
She also said that environmental concerns should be considered, particularly due to wetlands that are in the area of the proposed zone.
“I think that environmental concerns should not be taken lightly when developing on this land,” she said. “I think restrictions and safeties should be added.”
She also voiced concerns about runoff from the parking lot and impervious ground, exhaust and chemicals among other items of concern.
Another resident, Holly Robbins, spoke in opposition. Robbin said that it appears Baystate Noble is running out of space.
“I would like to see Noble Hospital think outside the box, they are running out of room,” she said.
She also said that she thinks that they are an asset to the community, “but quite frankly, they’re a pain in the asset.”
In addition, letters to councilors from residents were added to the record for deliberation.
Surprise said that residents have been voicing the aforementioned concerns about the proposal.
“People want us to slow down,” he said.
Levesque spoke in favor of the proposal though, citing the need for process for developments. He said that where developments proposed currently go for the hospital, which is the Zoning Board of Appeals, is inappropriate and should be with the Planning Board.
“We aren’t saying we don’t want protections in neighborhood. It’s important to have protections there,” he said. “We need to have process.”
City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell also spoke in favor of the proposal, addressing a need for change to the process like Levesque.
“Baystate Noble is going no where,” he said. “They’re our single biggest employer.”
He said that if the proposal does pass, neighbors will be involved in the process.
After further discussion by the City Council on the process, it was determined that they may vote on closing the public hear and moving the proposal to Legislative and Ordinance and Zoning, Planning and Development Committees.
The vote was in favor, with Surprise and Babinski being the only “no” votes, and At-Large Councilor Cindy Harris abstaining.
