Gary Rome Hyundai could get a key
approval from the city as soon as May 19 to proceed with building a $10 million
dealership on Whiting Farms
Road after a committee recommended approval Tuesday (May 12).
The City Council Ordinance
Committee voted 4-0 to recommend that the full council approve a zone change Rome needs for the project.
The
committee also voted 3-1 to recommend against adopting a competing zone change
filed by residents who had eyed the same nearly-19-acre property on Whiting Farms Road
as Rome but for a
residential use.
Also,
the committee voted 5-0 to recommend the full City Council grant a zone
change to James P. Lavelle Jr. to allow for auto sales at the family-run JP's
Restaurant & Sports Bar at 200 Whiting Farms
Road.
The
Ordinance Committee in voting the recommendations at City Hall agreed with
recommendations the Planning Board had made regarding the Rome, residents' and
Lavelle zone change petitions. The City Council will consider the
Ordinance Committee recommendations May 19.
Rome needs a zone change to
Business Highway from the current Business General, which prohibits an auto
dealership.
Most
people who spoke at a public hearing March 31 favored the zone change for Rome.
Rome has a deal to buy the
property from the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department (HGE) for $2,050,000
contingent on getting the zone change.
Residents,
including former councilor Helen F. Norris, Gayle Keith and Terri Laramee,
sought a zoning designation for the property they said would be more compatible
for the neighborhood than an auto dealer called RM-20. That stands for
Multi-Family Residence at 20 units per acre. The uses are generally housing
with limited commercial uses like bed and breakfast, funeral home, hospital and
nursing home.
Lavelle
also needs a zone change for 200 Whiting Farms Road
to Business Highway from the current Business General to allow him to sell used
cars. He said he would sell a maximum of four used vehicles at a time.
No comments:
Post a Comment