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| By Erin O'Connor Staff Writer WEST SPRINGFIELD The Planning Board denied a request for a special permit for the operation of a Dunkin' Donuts facility with a drive-through window at 2260 Westfield Street, in a unanimous vote on Dec. 20. The denial came after six consecutive continuations on the matter. "I am pleased that the legislative body listened to the people," Irene Schuh, a community member in opposition to the Dunkin' Donuts, said. "People were speaking out strongly about what they thought was beneficial to the community." The property at 2260 Westfield Street is owned by Sunil R. Patel of North Easton, MA and the applicant for the permits was Consulting and Design, LLC of Lee, MA. The meeting came after a Nov. 15 continuation. The first presentation to the Planning Board was made in September. Since that meeting abutters of the property gathered a petition with at least 75 signatures of area residents opposing the Dunkin Donuts Drive-through. "I don't actually live in that area but I argued against the Dunkin' Donuts from the stand point because of the high amount of trans fats in their products and its connection to heart disease," Schuh said. Schuh said that at the Dec. 20 meeting the room was "filled to capacity" . The Board consisting of Frank Palange, Katie Harrington, Dave Akers and Jayson Lacasse denied the permits based on reasons stated in the certificate of denial: The proposed use of the property for a fast-food restaurant with a drive-through window was not compatible with the abutting residential and commercial uses and would generate a significant increase in peak hour vehicular trips; was not in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the Ordinance and would constitute a significant hazard; the proposed use would constitute nuisance by reason of air and noise pollution due to significantly increased vehicular activity on the site and queuing of vehicles at the drive-through and the lack of landscape buffers in accordance with the zoning ordinance. The Board stated that the final reason for the denial was that the proposed use of the property as detailed on the submitted plans would not be in conformity to all applicable Zoning Ordinance requirements with respect to the parking design and traffic mitigation. "The proposed use as a high-traffic generator is incompatible with the findings and recommendations of the Route 20 Corridor Study and the Master Plan for the Town of West Springfield," the Board stated in the Certificate of Denial. Patel and Consulting and Design, LLC have 20 days from Dec. 21 to appeal the decision. "We don't need this Dunkin' Donuts," Schuh said. "It would put us second in line from Springfield with the most Dunkin' Donuts in the area." Schuh supports legislation in Massachusetts for the banning of transfats in restaurants. "You have these young people who are not nutritionally conscious, not aware of the lethality of the products they are eating." Many other residents opposed the Dunkin' Donuts because of traffic worries. "We have no problem with [Patel] establishing the property, but with something that is good for the community," Anthony Bragga, an abutter of the property, said at an Oct. 18 Board meeting. |