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Date: 11/8/2023
LONGMEADOW — Longmeadow voters at the Nov. 7 Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved a zone change that fell a handful of votes shy of a two-thirds majority at the 2021 fall Town Meeting. The change cleared the way for the developer, The Colvest Group, to build high-end retail shops and a restaurant on the site of the former First Church of Christ, Scientist at 916 Williams St.
Jeffrey Roberts, an attorney for The Colvest Group, said that while the site could support three single-family homes, the retail development would provide the town with $250,000 in tax revenue — an amount he estimated to be the equivalent of 10 homes.
Roberts acknowledged traffic concerns but said the proposed development would “not be a significant imposition on infrastructure.” He added that the developer was discussing combining parking lots with The Longmeadow Shops adjacent to the property. This would potentially decrease the number of turns on and off of Williams Street.
Matt Wittmer of Phase Zero Design described the plan for the property as a “natural extension” of The Longmeadow Shops. The single-story storefronts would have a “very New England style,” he said. Wittmer sought to dispel traffic concerns, telling voters there would be no vehicular access from Redfern Drive and the existing entrances from Williams Street would remain unchanged.
The Colvest Group owner Frank Colaccino said that he met with abutters to address their concerns and has been transparent with residents about his plans for the property, which he described as a “first-class, premiere shopping plaza.”
Several residents were in favor of the zone change and related development. Most supporters cited the need for more tax revenue. A couple of residents spoke against the project. Kurt Friedman said property values would decrease due to the project and said it lacked buffer zones for neighbors.
Many others had questions about the use of the property. Larry Goldberg said there was high traffic on Redfern Drive and asked what the town planned to do to ensure pedestrian safety. Assistant Town Manager Corrin Meise-Munns explained that the focus of the article was on the zone change and speculation on traffic impacts was premature. A traffic study and mitigation plan would be a part of the planning process, Planning Board Chair Cheryl Thibodeau said.
The issue passed with a vote of 625-95.
Another hot-button topic was a request for $1.17 million from the town’s free cash for repairs to Reynolds Pool at Bliss Park. The pool has been closed for the past three years. A study of Reynolds Pool found that it needs a pool liner, electrical work, drainage connections, refurbished sand filters, a replacement for the existing pool pump and a back-up pump in case the primary one must be shut down, and improvements that will make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Finance Committee did not recommend approval of the article because they felt it was not in the “fiscal best interest” of the town. Chair Nora MacKay said pool passes have decreased in popularity and other projects are higher on the town’s priority list.
Several voters spoke in favor of the project, citing the location of Greenwood Park Pool as being too far for children to bike there. Brian Crawford said the pool passes were a “chicken and the egg” situation and said opening the pool will lead to more people availing themselves of it.
Select Board member Mark Gold said people consistently ask him and his colleagues when the pool will be open. He described the empty pool as an “attractive nuisance” for vandals. He also noted the project would not raise taxes because it would come from previously appropriated funds.
One resident suggested community preservation funding should be used for the pool, but Town Manager Lyn Simmons explained that it is ineligible as the repairs are considered “maintenance.”
The article passed 179-123.
In another article, $220,000 was approved for Greenwood Park Pool, which requires some of the same repairs as Reynolds Pool. After the work is completed on both pools, their opening in the summer of 2024 is still contingent on having enough lifeguards to properly staff them in the face of a multi-year national lifeguard shortage.
The final topic that received a significant amount of debate was the borrowing of $1.46 million and $8.53 million to replace sewer and water mains, respectively.
Mike Nelson of Fuss & O’Neill explained that a $9 million project from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will completely redesign Longmeadow Street and is slated to begin in 2025. Before that work is done, however, the town wanted to address aging water and sewer infrastructure on Forest Glen Road and Longmeadow, Converse, Llewellyn and Laurel streets. Nelson explained that the mains are nearly 100 years old and need replacement. Rather than tear up the new streets to address the mains after the MassDOT project is complete, the work would be performed in 2024.
The bond for the water mains will impact water rates in town, but the warrant stated that future interest on bond proceeds and excess revenue in the Water Retained Earnings account would be used to offset the initial increase of between 6% and 8%.
The project would require detours, side street closures and night work on the busiest intersections. Nelson said that while it was “temporarily unpleasant” it was an investment. Julie Morgan asked how long the construction would disrupt the town. Between the two projects, Nelson said it would stretch from the construction season of 2024 to 2026.
Morgan then asked if the project would be pursued if it were not for the impending MassDOT work. Nelson told her the work needs to be completed, but the timing of the Longmeadow Street project is the major factor in the push to do the work all at once.
Nicole Choiniere expressed concern for the safety of children walking to school along the roadways where construction would take place. Nelson said only one side of the street would be worked on at a time and the other side would be clear for pedestrians. He also noted that a substantial budget for traffic safety and police had been included in the figures.
The borrowing for the water and sewer main work was approved. All other articles were also approved by voters.