WESTFIELD – The Planning Board will conduct a public hearing tonight on an amendment to the city’s zoning codes which would allow construction of facilities for commercial amusement, recreational and assembly.
City Council President Brent B. Bean II is sponsoring the zoning code amendment and will present details to members of the Planning Board which provides the City Council with a recommendation of zoning matters.
Bean said this morning that sports facilities were allowed in the industrial A zone, but that the language was changed in 2007. The commercial amusement/recreation/assembly activities are currently allowed in the Business B zone through the special permit review process.
“At one time this was allowed, and then it was pulled out of the (ordinance) language,” Bean said. “We’re trying to build and the only land we have is industrial A.”
Bean said that the language of the amendment is a little broad in scope, but that it will not be a by-right use of the land which provides the city with zoning protection.
“This will still require a special permit review, site plan review and stormwater management plan review through the Planning Board, on a lot of no less than 2 acres, so there are levels of protection,” Bean said.
“Everything is around a project and in this case there has been a project discussed,” Bean said. “But what we’re really doing is creating an opportunity for an entity to build a sports facility, someone willing to invest in the community.”
Bean said that the zoning ordinance may also include outside athletic, as well as indoor facilities for soccer, field hockey and lacrosse.
The public hearing is slated for 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers. The City Council is scheduled to conduct its own public hearing on Oct. 16. Its next meeting date.
