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Date: 10/12/2022
WESTFIELD — The Planning Board voted unanimously on Oct. 4 to approve a request by the Target Corp. to withdraw its plans for a distribution warehouse on North Road.
A discussion and possible vote on the proposed 525,800-square foot warehouse had been scheduled for the meeting, however, Target sent the city an email requesting to withdraw its application “without prejudice,” to allow the company to study next steps for the 120-acre parcel north of Westfield Barnes Regional Airport, partially overlapping the aquifer.
The project had been drawing increasing opposition from residents on the North Side, with 70 to 80 showing up at recent Planning Board meetings to speak in opposition, including the last meeting on Sept. 20 where the matter was continued at Target’s request, and residents were not allowed to speak.
In the email sent to Planning Board members on Oct. 3, Target representatives cited Chapter 40A, Section 16 of state law in requesting a withdrawal.
That section states that “Any petition for a variance or application for a special permit which has been transmitted to the permit granting authority or special permit granting authority may be withdrawn, without prejudice, by the petitioner prior to the publication of the notice of a public hearing thereon, but thereafter be withdrawn without prejudice only with the approval of the special permit granting authority or permit granting authority.”
Since the request came in after the posting of the hearing, it required approval from the Planning Board to take effect.
City Planner Jay Vinskey said when a project is withdrawn without prejudice, the proponent can refile it at any time. On the other hand, if a project is denied, it cannot be refiled within two years, unless the applicant substantially changes the proposal.
Susan McFarlin, president of the Hampton Ponds Association, applauded the withdrawal of the project.
“We are extremely pleased that our natural resources have been protected, and our road safety has not been further compromised,” she said. “We are grateful to all the support that we’ve received from the people who live on the north end of Westfield. Hopefully, the city will more closely examine the problems of traffic and pollution impacts, prior to encouraging certain future development.”
Ward 6 Councilor William Onyski represents the area where the project was proposed, and has spoken against it at previous meetings. He agreed with the Planning Board’s vote to approve Target’s request to withdraw without prejudice.
Onyski, a former Planning Board member, confirmed that he would have opposed the project if Target had not withdrawn it.
“There are certain parameters that need to be met for a special permit, and I didn’t feel that all of those were met. I think it will be good to maintain the status quo on the north side without a huge influx of trucks. That’s beneficial,” said Onyski.
Onyski also said because the North Side has the Massachusetts Turnpike exit and a railroad line, it takes the brunt of the industrial development.
“This is over the aquifer, and now the aquifer has some tough restrictions on it that are even tougher than they were 10 years ago when Target was here first,” he added.
Target had proposed a different warehouse plan in 2005, before withdrawing that plan.