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Date: 6/15/2022
SOUTHWICK – The Planning Board on June 7 unanimously approved a preliminary plan for a business park at 686 College Highway, the property at the center of the Carvana controversy a year ago.
Land surveyor Rob Levesque presented the preliminary plan on behalf of the applicant, Indus Realty Trust. He said the property would be divided into five lots of varying sizes for different businesses to occupy, rather than a single large development occupying the entire area, as was the plan with Carvana.
The lot itself has garnered the attention of large developers for years, even before Carvana, which Levesque said is because it has an extremely high development value.
“This property is probably the single most developable property in Western Massachusetts that I have run into,” said Levesque.
He added, “We listened and have heard loud and clear that the town of Southwick does not want to see a large development on this property.”
None of the five lots have any prospective tenants yet, but Levesque and the applicants sought preliminary approval of the overarching plan first, which so far consists of an access road attached to Tannery Road that goes towards the center of the property, and ends with a cul-de-sac where multiple tenants could be located. Levesque said it could be possible that access could come from College Highway, as well.
Planning Board Chair Michael Doherty said that another public hearing would need to take place for the definitive plan to receive final approval from the board.
Of the five prospective lots, Levesque said two would be 5.7 acres, one would be 48 acres, one would be 6.6 acres with a significant wetland area, and one would be 23 acres.
Earlier this year, Blue Rhino Corp., the propane tank company, hosted an informal discussion about its own inquiry into the same property, with the intent of building a propane tank refurbishing and refilling facility.
Levesque said the lots could be changed or recombined as needed.
“I’m not saying it will be specifically developed like this, but it will be similar,” said Levesque.
Town Planner Jon Goddard said after the meeting that this preliminary plan would not preclude Blue Rhino from occupying any of the lots, and that at least one of the lots would have enough space to accommodate the informal plan they presented to town residents, which projected 25 acres of development.
Goddard said that the board will now need to grant definitive approval of a plan for the business park as a whole, if it is to be built. The applicants will need to present a more detailed plan which will go to a full public hearing before a Planning Board vote.