Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 10/25/2022
HADLEY – With several proposals on the agenda, the Hadley Planning Board met with representatives from the Russell Road Taco Bell and Bramuxxi Construction during its Oct. 18 meeting.
Karissa Pankratz of the Russell Road Taco Bell presented a revised plan for the restaurant’s redesign. The new signage will not exceed the 64-square foot cap set by the town. Exterior lighting will remain the same. The proposed mural will be painted on the building’s side, but the Taco Bell logo has been removed from the picture. Seeing that the plan was in accordance with all the relevant regulations, the board approved the redesign.
Rick Bramucci of Bramucci Construction proposed converting the former North Hadley Village Hall property at 239 River Dr. into mixed commercial/residential building. Bramucci is a partial owner of the property. He initially proposed to install seven units of housing and use the remaining space for an office for his business. He said the housing would be “a mix of one- and two-bedroom units geared towards working professionals.”
He went on to say that his plan would “maximize the existing square footage of the building, and the revenue needed to cover construction costs.”
The board was supportive of Bramucci’s idea, but told him he would have to revise it before it could become reality. Board Chair Jim Maksimoski informed Bramucci that if the housing units were standard, he would need to secure a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) before the Planning Board could approve the project. However, if the units were created as senior housing, he would only require a special permit, which the board could grant him.
Additionally, six or more units would necessitate at least one of them being designated as affordable housing; to avoid this requirement, Bramucci would have to build five or less units. As a developer, he has the option to contribute to the Affordable Housing Trust instead, but Maksimoski cautioned against this.
“Being that the building is the way it is, I would highly encourage them to put in at least one affordable unit instead of contributing to the trust…It’s a perfect fit for it, it won’t be visible from the outside, and it will be much more conducive to do that,” he said.
Bramucci acknowledged that he had some decisions to make and that it would be a long road ahead, but was adamant that the project would be completed, stating “We’re going to do this.” In the meantime, the board passed a vote to let Bramucci use the building for his business while he figures it out, under the condition that no major alterations be made to the building itself at this time.
Jeff Squire of Berkshire Design Group presented revisions to the plan for the renovation of the Gardener’s Supply store at 285 Russell St. Squire reported speaking with Hadley Fire Chief Mike Spanknebel on the afternoon of the meeting, saying that Spanknebel had approved much of the plan with the exception one of the entranceways. Maksimoski summarized this by saying that the “only thing outstanding is the width of the gate and the turning radius at the easternmost exit.”
The property will be surrounded by fencing, and the gate at the easternmost exit may need to be widened to accommodate fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
The board passed a vote to waive their site plan approval for the changes shown on the plan, subject to a final plan acceptable to Chief Spanknebel, who will decide whether the changes shown reflect what he wants.