GREENFIELD — International Container Co. has withdrawn its special permit application without prejudice for the construction of a container manufacturing facility on the former Bendix property.
Lindsay Rowe, communications and constituent services coordinator for the town, said she believes the Holyoke-based container manufacturer withdrew its application for procedural reasons.
“They’re working on the financing piece of that and I think they’re doing some internal working and negotiations, so I don’t think it’s a permanent thing at this point. I think they pulled it pending some internal negotiation,” she said, adding, “I would be surprised if it didn’t come back.”
The former Bendix property at 180 Laurel St. is owned by the town and was obtained through a taking for back taxes. Cutting oil and degreaser fluid were used at the site for metalworking, which led to contamination. Both the town and Honeywell International, which was blamed for pollution on the property, have spent years cleaning it up.
International Container previously submitted plans to the town to build a 85,314-square-foot manufacturing facility on the property with a total of about 85 employees. The company was supposed to go before the Planning Board for a special permit hearing and site plan approval under major development review this month.
Town Council also previously approved a 15-year tax break for the company, expected to save International Container a total of $1.2 million. In exchange, the company promised to add 67 full-time jobs and invest $12.9 million.
“Obviously we’re excited about the number of jobs and things along those lines, I think it’s just part of when you have a huge project, as things happen, different pieces fall into place different times,” Rowe said.
She added that the town is in the midst of demolishing a vacant building on the property, which is being done through a $600,000 state grant.
“Right now we have through the RFP with ICC, ICC has that piece of property,” Rowe said. “If something happened and they decided not to come, it’s a very saleable piece of land.”