Planning Board approves changes to St. Mary's

Date: 3/22/2010

March 22, 2010

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW -- The Planning Board hosted a public hearing last Wednesday to discuss the proposed additions and alterations to the existing building and property located at 489, 519 and 462 Longmeadow St., also known as St. Mary's Church.

The proposed changes, which include constructing a new 2,400 square foot parish center, a new 2,200 square foot rectory and turning the current rectory into offices, were presented at the hearing by John Mac Millan, an architect with Reinhardt Associates, based in Agawam.

Mac Millan explained the parish center would be made up of one large meeting space which could be subdivided if necessary along with a small kitchen and storage areas. Both the center and the new rectory would be built of brick with white trim and asphalt shingle roofs to match what currently exists on the St. Mary's campus.

Maria Brugnoli, a resident of Hopkins Place, asked what the parish center would be used for.

Joanne Denver, chair of the Finance Council for St. Mary's, said it would provide relief for the school which is "used 24/7 now." She explained the center would be used as a meeting place for small groups, and would not be rented out to the public -- it would be for parish use only.

Issues raised by resident John Stankiewicz, of Hopkins Place, had less to do with the proposed construction and more to do with public safety on the campus.

"I've been in my residence for 28 years. I've never had an issue [with St. Mary's]. I couldn't have a better neighbor," Stankiewicz said. "My concern is safety. We will see an increase in traffic over the years with the use of the new center."

Both Stankiewicz and members of the Planning Board noted how children leaving the school's gymnasium have no designated path to get to the parking lot -- they have to walk in the driveway.

Talk of creating a sidewalk or moving the driveway prompted Denver to state, "I don't want to wrap [that work] up in this project but I do want to address it. The parking lot issue has come up several times."

"We're not even certain we have enough money to do both projects [the center and the rectory] right now," Mac Millan added.

After a lengthy debate, Planning Board Chair Walter Gunn motioned that the board approve the project's site and design review contingent upon the board and St. Mary's reaching a reasonable solution to the after-hours traffic safety issue outside the school gym. The motion passed 4 - 0.

Mac Millan commented that at the earliest, work could begin on the new buildings by mid-May.