Plex proposal withdrawn, residents relieved

Date: 10/23/2014

AGAWAM – Applause erupted at the Agawam City Council meeting on Oct. 20 as a long battle ended, at least for now.

The petition for a zone change, which would allow the construction of The Plex, was withdrawn just two hours before the meeting, as announced by City Council President Christopher Johnson.

The Plex, an indoor/outdoor sports complex proposed by Don Cameron of DCJ Realty LLC, has been the source of heated debate. Residents of Agawam and Feeding Hills repeatedly voiced their concerns over the South West Street site that Cameron had chosen, citing issues such as parking, traffic and the effect of the complex on the surrounding wetlands as more trouble than The Plex was worth.

While the proposal has been removed from the City Council’s agenda, Johnson said there is still a chance that it can be brought back before the council again.

“The withdrawal is without prejudice to the petitioner to coming back and making the request again in the future, but if the petitioner does so make that request it would have to go from the very beginning of the process as a new petition,” Johnson said.

Overall, the residents in attendance were pleased with the outcome, but Councilor Gina Letellier shared her disappointment in the project’s origins. In a subcommittee meeting, Cameron said that state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga and state Sen. Donald Humason Jr. recommended that he apply for the South West Street site, according to Letellier.

“To me, it’s an example of how out of touch they are because if they know anything about Agawam, people don’t want something that monstrous,” Letellier said. “It’s a very narrow street. There’s no shoulder. It’s very bumpy. It was a poor choice, and to say that they recommended it is concerning.”

Regardless of where the idea came from and the possibility of The Plex popping up again down the line, locals who attended the meeting were overjoyed to hear that the complex that has been plaguing them for more than a year is presently off the table.

Agawam resident Harrison Grant was just one of many who showed at the meeting to express concern. After the announcement, however, Grant was all smiles.

“The area that was selected was not the right place for it,” Grant said. “I am happy with the outcome, very happy.”