WESTFIELD – A petition to change the zoning district, presented Thursday night at the City Council hearing, from Rural Residential (RR) to Commercial A of a parcel of land on Southampton Road near the Southampton Town Line drew criticism from both members of the public and City Councilors.
The land, owned by DV Realty Groups, LLC c/o of 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.
The zoning petition was presented by Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates on behalf of Dion. Levesque said Dion is seek to have the zoning changed to develop the land for commercially allowed uses and that the commercial A zoning is a “less intense” use of the property than Business A which allows a greater range of uses. The property just south of Dion’s land is zoned Business A and is currently occupied by the 7 Bs Bar and Grill.
The Planning Board, at its Oct. 6 meeting, voted 5-2 to give the City Council a positive recommendation for the zone change.
Levesque said Dion has not determined how the property will be developed if the zoning change is allowed.
“There are a number of uses allowed under commercial A zoning,” Levesque said, then recited some of the possible uses.
The usage allowed by-right in that zoning district under Article III, Section 3-90 include retail and service stores, barber shop 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.
“Isn’t this the same property we talked about two or three years ago?” At-large Councilor David Flaherty asked Levesque. “I remember that resident wanted to preserve the rural character at that end of town. Is this the same parcel?”
Mary Babinski said the current zoning change is the same petition that was heard in March of 2012 by the council, which referred it to the Zoning, Planning & Development Committee. The issue was held in committee until the property owner withdrew, without prejudice, that zone change request.
Babinski said the Planning Board by the same 5-2 vote had sent the City Council a negative recommendation.
“What has changed?” Babinski asked during the questions of fact portion of the public hearing.
Ward 6 Councilor Christopher Crean asked Levesque “how will the agricultural nature of that area be protected.”
Levesque said that Commercial A districts “are usually sandwiched between more intense usage zone and a less intense usage zone.
Two residents, Joe Mitchell, City Advancement Officer, and Matt Roman spoke in support of the zone change. Mitchell said a Commercial A use of the property will increase tax revenue and that further review by the Planning Board and Conservation Commission will ensure that the use of the property is appropriate for that area and the surrounding environment.
A half dozen residents spoke against it, with one resident presenting a petition signed by residents of that area.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph Figy made a motion to refer the zone change to both the Zoning, Planning & Development Committee and to the Legislative & Ordinance committee. The motion was approved.
