Voters approve zone change, defeat scenic road bylaw at town meeting

Date: 5/4/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



HAMPDEN - The two articles that created the most debate at Hampden's Annual Town Meeting last Monday evening were about rezoning the property behind the Hampden Nurseries and accepting a Scenic Roads bylaw. The former received a favorable response from voters; the latter did not.

Both the Advisory Committee and the Planning Board supported favorable action on the zone change, which will make the entire 9.5 acre parcel behind Hampden Nurseries business instead of partially business, partially residential.

Gary Weiner, a consultant with Ecotec Environmental Associates and a Hampden resident, explained that the business development that land owner Mike Cimmino wants to create would be "done in a tasteful manner and in a way the town can be proud of."

Charlie Schmitt of Carlson and Schmitt Architects Inc. noted that the town already sees this land as "the best and most logical space for business use."

One resident voiced her concern over the traffic in the area of Somers and East Longmeadow roads. A representative from the Planning Board said that a traffic study would have to be conducted before anything happens with the land, and Weiner added that a traffic study is currently underway.

"This [the zone change] is not the end of the process, it's the beginning," Weiner stated. "Whatever goes here has to be approved by the Planning Board and the town engineer."

The zone change required a two-thirds vote of approval, which it received, according to Town Moderator Richard Patullo.

The Scenic Roads bylaw, which has a purpose of "achiev[ing] balance between the preservation of rural character and beauty, public safety and road maintenance," was presented by Connie Witt of the Hampden Historical Commission.

The bylaw would establish the procedure which must be followed "if substantial trimming, cutting down or removal of trees, or tearing down or deconstruction of stone walls, or portions thereof, is proposed in conjunction with any repair, maintenance, reconstruction, paving work on roads so designated." Work involving the substantial trimming or cutting down of trees would require approval from both the Planning Board and the Tree Warden.

One resident voiced concern over human safety that could be harmed due to large branches or entire trees falling; another stated that "everyone in Hampden takes good care of their property -- we don't need this [bylaw]."

Dana Pixley, Highway Superintendent, recommended against the bylaw, saying it would create "an enormous amount of bureaucratic red tape." The Advisory Committee also recommended unfavorable action.

The motion to accept the Scenic Roads bylaw was defeated.

Voters did approve of Hampden's fiscal year 2010 budget of $9,689,893, despite the fact that Advisory Committee Chair Timm Marini noted that a final budget is still "a moving target." He added that although the town most likely won't know its final budget until July 1, it will still have enough money to fund all its services.