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Date: 11/9/2021
HADLEY – The Hadley Planning Board met on Nov. 2 and reviewed during a public hearing the application of Ideal Movers and Storage for a special permit of Farmland Preservation through the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). This is to construct a 96,500-square-foot building at 10 Mill Valley Road. This would be 10.5 acres of TDR.
The site of the project is located across from 27 S. Maple St. next to Norwottuck Rail Trail, outside the normal business and industrial zoned lands that qualify for use of the TDR. The town’s bylaw limits these to properties “with frontage on Route 9, Mill Valley Road or North Maple Street.” This is where a three-story building with a gross footprint of 96,500 square feet and a second one-story, 4,000-square-foot structure would be located.
According to the application, the site plan application is made with the understanding and intention that the proposal is compatible with the Zoning Bylaw and ensures a harmonious relationship between proposed development and its surroundings. The land is currently owned and under purchase agreement with the applicant pending municipal permit approvals.
The hope for the applicants from Ideal Movers is to have the first three-story structure be a climate controlled and the secondary structure to be a garage-style cold storage building. This project would give the company a new site location and would give them much needed improvements in company space.
The developer of the project has been using the town’s transfer of development rights that allows for a denser project in exchange for preserving farmland elsewhere or making a payment to protect agricultural land.
This project has support from planners and the board as the Planning Board was able to motion and approve the application for site plan approval under section 7 of the Hadley Zoning Bylaw, as well as the special permit under section 17 upon the following conditions that the project is in general harmony the general purpose and intent of the site plan approval bylaw and of the farmland protection bylaw.
With the passing of the motion, Ideal Movers and Storage can use their application and special permit for construction purposes. Now with the proper municipal permit approvals, a deal for the land can be finalized and the project can continue.