Wilbraham Planning Director John Pearsall says the zoning map is not changing much.
By Charles F. Bennett
Turley Publications Staff Writer
WILBRAHAM – From a planning and development perspective Wilbraham is seeing some nibbling around the edges but no big bites by companies moving in with development plans, retail or residential, according to town Planning Director John Pearsall.
In a wide ranging conversation last week Pearsall blamed the malaise on the economy, fallout from the storms last year and potential higher energy costs: “We’re in a period of transition and uncertainty, waiting for the economy to improve before any major retail companies come in to the Boston Road corridor,” he said.
Looming over the situation are several movements, said Pearsall, one local with a new discussion about the town’s vision of an updated Master Plan. And, one larger issue about globalization. “The globalization model could break down,” said Pearsall, “caused by higher energy prices,” which could force big companies to keep their operations in the United States rather than pay higher transportation costs to ship from overseas. That puts business on a more local level. “We already see it in Wilbraham. The Planning Department is receiving more and more business certificates by people who are working from home and using the Internet,” suggests Pearsall. They avoid commuting costs to downtown Springfield, for example. In planning lingo Pearsall called the trend, “live, shop and work local.” “It’s convenient and safer,” said Pearsall. Add to the mix the fear factor after the bad storms of 2011. People are finding out that in a disaster, going without power for a number of days, they are not as self-reliant as they thought they were and need to rely on their neighbors and town services more. This builds community spirit, said Pearsall.
The trend may influence the Wilbraham Planning Board and others like the Open Space Committee who will be asking for feedback from citizens about how they want to live for the next 30 years as part of an updated Master Plan for the next 30 years. (Watch for details in an upcoming issue of the Times.)
What’s in the Mix?
Pearsall provided an update on current business and zoning activity going on in town, satisfying some curiosity about rumors flying around, like what is going to happen with the Rice Fruit Farm store? Big box stores coming to Boston Road? What kind of development will go into the former Bennett Turkey Farm property?
Based on the lack of applications for permits or corporate queries, new development will remain relatively quiet on Boston Road. The developer who did have an option to buy five parcels fronting the road from Gregory’s to across from Post Office Park has given up his options to develop it for a Target or Kohl’s type store or auto dealer. Also, there is nothing in the planning for “mixed use” – residential combined with retail – development like Village Commons in South Hadley.
The Sunset restaurant was sold to the former banquet operators at the Hampden Country Club. At presstime they were applying for a liquor license transfer for an establishment called Dana’s Grillroom, after renovations are completed on the old building.
Pearsall said he has been contacted by the family that owns Cindy’s Drive-In in Granby for zoning advice over purchasing the Rice’s store. Some family members are residents of Wilbraham. It is their goal to reopen the farm stand store and run it as the late Jesse Rice did, selling cider, coffee and donuts, locally grown fruit purchased for the new owner of Rice’s orchards, providing breakfast and lunch and convenience items.
They would add to that a seasonal ice cream take-out operation. But the potential owners need an exemption from the Department of Agriculture to sell the produce purchased directly from the fruit farm owner across Main Street who bought the orchards from the Rice Estate. The Cindy’s owners need the exemption in order to open the business and get financing. Pearsall said he is actively pursuing the zoning exemption from the state. A purchase and sale agreement is pending, he said.
Another automotive repair business owned by Kenneth Bernard, now located in Springfield, wants to move into available space in the Citgo station next to O’Driscoll’s by the underpass on Boston Road. If approved he would hire more people and provide new jobs.
Condos?
Realtor Donald Flannery has met with the Planning Board, according to Pearsall, to sound them out about developing the former Bennett Turkey Farm property wedged between Main Street and the rear of Minnechaug Regional High School.
The town had the opportunity to buy the land when the turkey farm went out of business but declined. Flannery purchased the land, minus the farmhouses, and is looking into building a subdivision of condos. Perhaps single family homes with a 25 percent affordable housing component to it, said Pearsall. Nothing is concrete because Flannery is doing the groundwork first, said Pearsall.
A dental practice is looking into buying the land of the former lighting shop across from Post Office Park but is unsure, because of the condition of the building, whether they want to build a new structure on the site or remodel the existing one.
There is no progress at all in selling the vacant former Belli’s Nightclub across the street from the Alpha Oil complex. The word is the property is condemned, open to the weather and infested with animals. Also on hold is development of the former Family Wireless store across from the Big Y complex.
Charles F. Bennett can be reached at cbennett@turley.com.
