Sept. 6 Planning Board hearing to cover lot size, C.O.R.E. signs, explosive transport

Date: 8/31/2011

Aug. 31, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

WESTFIELD — Residents will have one more opportunity to comment on proposed zoning ordinances regulating signs in the city’s C.O.R.E. business district, lot size and redevelopment and the transport and storage of hazardous substances when the Planning Board meets on Sept. 6.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the city council chamber of City Hall, 59 Court St.

This public hearing is the second introduction of these three proposed zoning changes, which were introduced by Ward Two City Councilor James Brown and Ward One City Councilor and Council President Christopher Keefe as part of the City Council meeting on Aug. 18.

Brown submitted a proposed zoning ordinance regarding signs in the C.O.R.E. district of the city. In his proposal he stated that the only ordinance for that district involves small, accessory-type wall signs and that many businesses are unknowingly in violation of the ordinance because they are using large signs, or sandwich-board type sidewalk signs on public ways.

“[Ward Three City] Councilor [Peter] Miller, who splits the C.O.R.E district with me, will appreciate [the importance of] having an ordinance that says what kind of signs a business can have,” Brown said.

At-Large Councilor David Flaherty, who had proposed a review of the ordinance governing freestanding lawn signs, such as those used in political campaigns, at an earlier council meeting, asked if this ordinance would also cover sandwich board-style signs. Planning Board Director Larry Smith, in speaking to the council about the proposed signing ordinance, said that adding regulations about sandwich board signs was a good idea.

At-Large Councilor John Beltrandi III, in looking at this proposed ordinance as well as one by Flaherty and another proposed by Ward Five City Councilor Richard Onofrey Jr. regarding signage for home-based businesses in his district, said, “It seems we have sign ordinances in five or six places.”

Miller noted this occurs because “every district is different.”

Smith said the council should take the time to ensure the sign ordinance for the C.O.R.E. district is written properly, and addresses the problem of those businesses with existing signs that might be in violation of any new ordinance.

At the suggestion of At Large City Councilor Brian Sullivan, the proposed ordinance was submitted to the zoning and planning committee, which was already considering three other sign-related ordinances.

Keefe submitted a zoning change application amending the zoning ordinance regarding existing lots size.

Keefe said he had recently consulted with West Springfield Planning Department Director Richard Werbiskis regarding a similar zoning ordinance amendment drafted by his town. The goal of both amendments was to allow owners of older lots, many which no longer meet zoning ordinance rulings regarding frontage and depth, to now sell or develop those lots.

“The [proposed] ordinance will require that the lot be at least 60 percent of the existing lots in a neighborhood,” Keefe said, adding that lot owners would also need to apply for review and approval by the Planning Board before developing or selling the lot.

Unlike subdivision development this zoning change, Keefe said, would utilize existing access to city water and sewer.

“It’s just another option of [city] planning,” he added.

Keefe also introduced a zoning amendment regarding the transportation of explosive materials in the city.

He told Reminder Publications that this amendment was prompted by an application to the Planning Board from Baystate Blasting Inc. requesting permission to store dynamite in 13 bunkers on property the business owned on Ampad Road, which is zoned Industrial Business A. However, Keefe said, the company would be driving the explosives through residential areas, and storing them in close proximity to residential areas.

He said the purpose of the proposed zoning amendment was to “firm up the ordinance” to insure the business would not be allowed to use public ways to transport the dynamite.

Debbie Gardner can be reached by e-mail at debbieg@thereminder.com