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Developer proposes new facility on Boston Road

Date: 7/31/2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM — If Sam Wilson wishes to build a new development on Boston Road, he is going to have major hurdles in front of him.

That was the message the Planning Board delivered to Wilson when he came before them at their July 25 meeting to discuss his intentions of knocking down the building located at 2451 Boston Road with the intention of re-developing the site.

"I'm looking to purchase that property and put up a convenience store [and] liquor store and possibly a second building as some sort of rental," Wilson said.

The building to be demolished, which is currently owned by Carl Pastorek of Hampden, he explained, would be the old Belli Restaurant, which has been condemned for some time. The convenience store would replace it. The rental building would be constructed on the other side of the property, which is bisected by Forest Street.

Planning Board Chair Richard Butler said he would have a hard time endorsing such a plan at this time because of the uncertainty surrounding the details of the project.

"We're all intrigued with getting that building down, but you would have to have a business plan that allows you to do that, obviously," he said. "We can't really ask you what is going to be in [the rental property] because you really don't know."

Wilson said he would be requesting variances reducing the required setback from Forest and Mountainview streets from 50 feet to 20 feet. Both buildings, he explained, would be set back at least 50 feet from Boston Road.

Board member Eric Fuller expressed his skepticism regarding such a development, citing traffic as his major concern.

"I can't envision anything worse going into that location than a convenience store and a liquor store, quite frankly," he said. "The people that have to exit Forest Street to get out of that whole place can't even get out now."

Wilson questioned the logic of advising against putting a store on a section of road with a lot of traffic.

"That's basically saying to any business that is going into Boston Road, 'Get out of there because that road is too busy. You don't want to put a store there because it's a high-traffic street,'" he said. "That's what I'm looking for is traffic."

When questioned by realtor Donald Flannery as to what the board would rather have at that location, if not a convenience store, Butler replied, "It's not what we would rather have, it's what the community that lives in that area thinks would work and what you think would work."

Butler later stressed that Wilson should take the time to talk with the property's abutters regarding his plans.

"The first thing we advise anyone who comes in to change anything in a neighborhood is talk to the neighbors," he said. "If you haven't, get out there and let them know what you are doing because people who are informed can tolerate a lot more than someone who says, 'Hey, he never told me he was going to do that.' You really need to get the pulse of the neighborhood."

Flannery expressed his confidence in the project, stating that it would be a benefit to the town.

"The parking requirements are going to be less, the building sizes are less," he said. "It's a win-win situation for the town. The people in the neighborhood have wanted to see that building come down for some time."

Wilson said that he had not secured a license to sell liquor, but had been told that there was one remaining license available. He added that if he could not secure that license, he would not pursue the project.

"If it looks favorable, I would have to set up some kind of lease agreement for the property and apply for the liquor license. If the license went through, I would then proceed to buy the property," he said.