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Date: 9/6/2023
EAST LONGMEADOW — Residents will soon have a new place to do their banking. A Chase Bank is under construction at 14-16 Maple St.
The 12,591-square-foot building, on the corner of Maple Street and Shaker Road, was built in 1950. It has been home to a nail salon and several restaurants, including Boston Market and Pho.
The East Longmeadow Planning Board approved the proposed bank on Feb. 21. Josh Kline of Stonefield Engineering & Design, representing the developers, TPG Architecture, said it will “clean up a very prominent intersection in town.”
The driveway for the project will be moved to the left of the property and a “raised mountable median” will be added to the current entrance closest to the rotary, to discourage people from entering and exiting the site in the wrong place. There will also be signs and pavement markings. Kline said traffic will follow a “right in, right out” pattern.
Kline told the board that the traffic study they conducted showed the business would increase traffic by fewer than 100 trips per day. “The project won’t have an adverse impact,” he said.
Kline said the plan calls for “significantly reducing the impervious surfaces” and “enhancing landscaping.”
A solid fence will be installed behind the site, for security and to create a separation with Center Field, which abuts the property.
East Longmeadow has few drive-thrus, and the Planning Board is careful about where they are allowed. Typically, Kline said there is only one vehicle at the drive though at a time, although three or four cars may queue.
Two residents at the Planning Board meeting had spoken against the project. Jason Alberts said he wanted the town center to be a walkable destination and “having a bank with a drive through and another big parking lot” would encourage people to “drive through, idle and drive-out.” He added that the drive though would be dangerous for pedestrians and children. Resident Deborah Huber said it was an “inappropriate use” of the space.
Planning Board member Russell Denver said that the building was vacant and that it was not good for taxes or economic development. A bank is a permitted use in that zone and would not be “intrusive,” he said, adding that there was “no reason” to reject the project.