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Date: 12/27/2022
EASTHAMPTON – After the original Tasty Top closed and the property was sold to Tasty Top Development in April, the Easthampton Planning Board began its public hearing process with the developer during a Dec. 20 meeting.
The proposed development for the property will join the current construction of a new Starbucks to create a large complex including housing and other commercial development.
Luke Showalter, an engineer on the project with Furrow Engineering, gave a full overview of the what the development could entail.
“The proposed project will redevelop the site into a mixed-use residential-commercial development. It will have a Roots Learning Daycare facility, a Roots Gymnastics Center, 10 three-story apartment buildings, totaling 176 apartment units, two restaurant pad sites along Northampton Street, two mixed-use retail and office buildings with 26 apartment units above, one free-standing retail building and two commercial storage buildings,” he said.
Showalter added that the development will also include an internal roadway connecting each of the various parts of the site. It will also be serviced by municipal water and sewer.
Previously the property included a western portion with a driving range and ice cream stand, while the eastern portion was used as an agricultural field.
Don Able, an attorney based in Easthampton representing the project, reflected on the significance of the property to the city.
“As a longtime area resident, this is an iconic property in Easthampton, generations of residents have shared experiences and memories from visiting or working there, however time passes, growth and change occur – particularly as we are seeing in Easthampton. The previous owners of the property have attempted to sell this property for the last 20 years, recognizing that there was a need for them to move on,” he said.
Able added that there were two prior attempts by national corporations to develop commercial properties that fell through.
Able also highlighted the work the developer has done in Westfield with the Roots Athletic Center.
“These facilities had a very positive impact on Westfield and the surrounding communities, providing access to sports, recreational, social and educational activities. Roots Gymnastics is one of the facilities there and a version of that will be incorporated into this project, and it’s developed several Division 1 gymnasts in its tenure,” Able said. “The soccer complex that has been built there has been fantastic, hosting a number of community soccer leagues and now being used by many of the high schools to play soccer both indoors and out.”
Able explained that the project will be split into four different phases. The first phase of the project would include the construction of the infrastructure for roads and a crossing across a steam and the two Roots facilities. The second phase includes three housing buildings, each with 18 units of housing. The third phase includes two commercial spaces, including a restaurant space. The final phase will include three more residential buildings, two commercial spaces and two mixed use properties.
Able said the phase two housing would not have tenants until at least 2026 and the project itself could be finished several years after that.
“I think what’s critical is that it gives us a chance to build more slowly so we can get a sense of what’s going on – it’s an extensive project – and it gives the city a chance to adapt these changes. It’s going to be a reasonably slow process so we can all get a sense of how the project is moving along,” he said.
With the development of housing, Able said the site is consistent with one of the options presented for the lot in Easthampton’s Housing Production plan that was put together in 2021.
“One thing the Housing Production Plan encourages is the creation of more affordable housing in the city to meet the market needs of the community and provide more affordable housing,” Able said. “The other benefit is that if 10 percent of the city housing units are deemed affordable housing and the city avoids the potential of having comprehensive permits issued under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40B, which allows permits to be issued and potentially waiving local zoning requirements and being compelled to adopt because it does not meet that threshold.”
Frank Demarinis, the manager of the Tasty Top Development said the site would include as many as 132 affordable housing units and the development would include 202 housing units in total.
During the public comment section of the hearing, residents raised some concerns about the development and impact on the city, while some commenters were in favor of the increase in affordable housing.
One resident, who has lived in the area since 1988, said he was concerned the development would change the nature of the city.
“What are we doing to our town? I have seen this town completely change since I was a kid. There is almost no wild land left – none. Northampton Street used to be all trees. We have nothing left, we’re scratching at parcels here and there, we don’t need the tax resources that bad. We had a double fatality on Northampton Street this year because the traffic is the worst it is anywhere in town on that stretch of road,” he said.
Garrett Stover, a volunteer with the Pascommuck Conservation Trust also spoke against the project and said he felt that he was concerned preservation was not a high priority when putting together the plan.
“I find it disappointing that the conversations that happened did not reflect that deep community desire to not only protect and preserve open spaces, agricultural land – which most of this parcel is. But also, the city has constantly expressed a desire for smart growth and one of the things that involves is staying away from places that should not be developed,” he said.
Representatives for the Easthampton Affordable and Fair Housing Partnership and the Easthampton Development and Industrial Commission voiced support for the project, citing the importance of the increased affordable housing.
Ultimately the hearing was continued to the board’s Jan. 3 meeting, where the board will ask its questions and Tasty Top Development will provide answers to questions that were submitted prior to the Dec. 20 hearing. Tasty Top Development is also slated to continue its hearing with the Conservation Commission on Jan. 9.
Editor’s note: Reminder Publishing currently leases one of its offices at the Roots Athletic Facility in Westfield.