An artist rendering of the Hannoush property located at 99 Springfield Rd (WNG file photo)
WESTFIELD – Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Assoc. came before the Planning Board on Tuesday on behalf of Nabil Hannoush and N & J, LLC for a proposed development on 99 Springfield Road. Levesque said the application is for two proposed buildings on either side of the Shortstop Grill; one, a 17,400 square foot building for a gym tenant, which he did not name. However, City Planner Jay Vinskey said the sketch shows Planet Fitness as the proposed tenant.
The other building on the East side will be 9,000 square feet, and does not currently have a tenant, although the speculation is for more traditional retail, Levesque said. He also said the development will be in conjunction with a MassWorks grant of $1.93 million that will be paying for a new traffic light at the intersection, widening the road, and adding a turning lane.
The development at 99 Springfield Road was previously approved in 2014, with the condition of adding traffic improvements. In conjunction with the MassWorks grant and Westfield’s investment in its design, Hannoush entered into an agreement with the city to invest in the property, expand the development and create jobs, according to City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell.
Levesque said the design for the road improvements is at 25% and will go out to bid over the winter, with construction beginning in April. He said it would lag behind construction on the site, because the agreement with the tenant is on a fairly tight timetable.
Levesque said the proposed site for the second building and parking areas will be marketed but not touched at the moment.
The project will be going before the Conservation Commission on Nov. 27. Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann Babinski also requested that the Flood Control Commission be advised of the plans prior to their meeting on Nov. 28. Levesque asked for clarification, saying he had never submitted anything to the Flood Control Commission previously, but has submitted to the Conservation Committee regarding the Wetlands Protection Act. He said the Conservation Commission reviews the plans, and gives a detailed report on flood plain gain and loss. He also said in this case, there is a significant surplus of compensatory storage on the rear of the property.
Vinskey said the Flood Control Commission is contacted later in the process at the building permit stage. He said the applicant doesn’t submit directly to that commission, but the building superintendent is responsible to notify both Conservation and Flood Control. He also said the formal process goes through the Building Department, and the applicant’s presence at Flood Control is not required.
Levesque requested a continuance from the Planning Board until the meeting of Dec. 4, after the plans are reviewed by the Conservation Commission. He also said he would send the plans to Flood Control.
“I’m happy to see a building going in that parcel if everything is confirmed,” said Planning Board chairman William Carellas.
