Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 8/23/2022
HADLEY – The Hadley Planning Board hosted a public hearing on Aug. 16 for a proposal from Amherst Development Associates to construct a new three-story office building at 401 Russell St., currently the Howard Johnson Motel.
Mike Gagnon, a principal civil engineer with SLR Consulting of Springfield, and Curt Shumway, president of Hampshire Hospitality Group, presented the current site plan for the 41,700 gross-square-foot building. The Howard Johnson was constructed in 1966 and measures 27,000 square feet.
“The building is actually going to be removed completely, in its entirety, as well as the surrounding pavement,” Gagnon said.
Gagnon first presented the prospective project in October 2021. Gagnon said the plans are now under peer review by the Berkshire Design Group, but early feedback from Berkshire Design has already led to some quality-of-life changes to the plans, like an abutters map.
The plan includes 209 parking spots behind the building and 42 three-inch caliper trees dispersed around the parking lot.
“That’s a big tree,” said Planning Board Chairman Jim Maksimoski. “If you list a three-inch caliper tree, we want to see a three-inch caliper tree put in. We’ve seen this before; somebody lists three- or four-inch and they come in with an inch and a half. Given the droughts and everything else going on, I don’t think you want to put a three-inch caliper tree in. That’s just my opinion coming from years ago of farming.”
Curt Shumway replied, “I’m going to agree with you. We’re doing that building down on the corner across from Ginger Garden and we’re having a brutal time even getting this type of planting.”
The board and Shumway decided to meet for another public hearing on Oct. 4. Planning Board Clerk Bill Dwyer requested that before the next meeting, Gagnon reach out to Hadley’s fire chief, Michael Spanknebel, to have his plans approved for the Hadley Fire Department’s requirements related to structural access and turning radius.
“Very good presentation,” Maksimoski said. “We appreciate when you apply for something. When you come in, you’ve done this before, you know what’s expected and you have at least 75 percent or more already done. It’s a very smooth process.”
“You saved us a few bucks on the trees, I appreciate it as well,” Shumway said.