ROB LEVESQUE of R. Levesque Assoc. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – During the continuation of a special hearing from April for RC Retail, a proposed marijuana retail shop at 265 Union St., Robert Levesque of R. Levesque Assoc. addressed concerns about the site selection previously expressed by the Planning Board, before a vote to continue the hearing again was requested by RC Retail.
Leveque said the subject property is zoned Industrial A, and the proposed business is an allowed use. He said the residence and barn on the property will be razed, eliminating any homes within 300 feet. He said the closest houses are 500 and 800 feet away.
Levesque also said while some abutting properties are zoned Rural Residential, due to the floodplain only commercial industrial buildings would be permitted on the sites, as homes would need to be six feet above ground. “Commercial structures are often built within the floodplain,” he said.
He also repeated several times that floodplain regulations are in Conservation Commission jurisdiction, and they planned on filing with them shortly. He said they also planned to work with a neighboring property owner for additional compensatory storage for the site.
“This is probably one of the last remaining sites for marijuana,” Levesque said. RC Retail, dba “Red Cardinal” and the City of Westfield entered into a Host Community Agreement on Nov. 9, 2020.
During public participation, Melissa Kielbasa of 342 Union St. said they were definitely still against the plan, and not only because of its proximity to residential zones. “This is basically in the center of town,” she said, with school buses and families walking by. “I don’t understand why this site was chosen with all of the businesses there. It’s not appropriate,” she added.
Charles Kielbasa also said they plan to continue to farm the land behind the proposed shop. “We’re farmers. I’ve been involved in the land on Union Street for 58 years,” he said, adding, “we’re not looking to build on our land, and we don’t want this land to be built up. I should be farmed as well.”
Planning Board member Jane Magarian, who cannot vote on the proposal due to a prior absence, said she agreed that it is not an appropriate location due to its proximity to Powder Mill Village apartment complex. “It’s a valid point that needs to be considered,” she said.
Charles Kielbasa asked to speak again. “Today was a classic example. Mr. Levesque said they’re going to cater to West Springfield traffic. Today, traffic was backed up both ways in front of my house, and this will be bringing in more traffic, I won’t be able to get out of my house,” he said, adding that it will become even more difficult when he has to drive farm equipment down the road.
Planning Board Chair William Carellas said he’s been struggling with this permit, adding that Levesque was not far off on a lot of the points he made, although he was on some. Carellas said the proposal definitely meets two of the four findings for a special permit, but he was struggling with site appropriateness, proposed use and adverse effects. He said even if they were to take the term marijuana out and put in general retail, he would be struggling with it. “Somewhat the answer is no. I’m not sure I want retail there with more traffic,” he said.
Cheryl Crowe said during the last meeting she had brought up the issue of traffic, and asked whether the anticipated traffic from West Springfield had been studied.
After more back and forth with the board over traffic, the site appropriateness, and flood concerns, Jeff Roblyer, construction supervisor for RC Retail, said they would be willing to do a more in-depth traffic study for the site. “The impact study was not a true traffic study. What will happen is the engineer will go there and count the cars. They may even go to other (marijuana) store and count the cars. I continue to promote a full traffic study to answer your concerns,” he said.
Levesque asked for a “temperature” of the board to find out how members were leaning to be fair to the applicant before voting on a continuance. No members expressed support for the project
However, Roblyer still requested the continuance to do the traffic study and more homework. The continuance was scheduled for July 20.
In another continued hearing, the Board voted to approve the site plan and stormwater permit or Western Mass Hospital for a new parking lot configuration and addition at 91 East Mountain Road. The permit had been continued to await approval of the stormwater plan.
