GREENFIELD — The Planning Board and Economic Development Committee will hold a joint public hearing Tuesday to gather feedback on a revised proposal to rezone certain parcels on the French King Highway to expand industrial space.
The meeting will be held in the City Hall meeting room on the second floor, as well as via Zoom at bit.ly/3Vx5YKj. Meeting ID: 977 3334 0909.
Planning and Development Director Eric Twarog discussed the revised plan in March, which reduces the original proposal by five parcels — or 7.22 acres — for a total of six rezoned parcels over 40.98 acres on the French King Highway. The parcels would be changed from General Commercial, which provides for mixed retail, to Planned Industry, which is meant for manufacturing and industrial development.
Twarog previously said the changes came after consulting with Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, who initially proposed the rezoning in September 2022. He noted the changes retain some retail options, while still proposing an expansion of the industrial area that could fit “two or three major expansions.”
The changes stemmed from City Council’s concerns regarding the need for housing. The new plan would leave the five parcels across from Stop & Shop on King and Gill roads in the General Commercial zone, which allows both retail and residential uses. Other councilors have argued the proposed rezoning may jeopardize the “deal” made in exchange for votes for the new Greenfield Public Library in 2019.
The new plan helps to address “clearly demonstrated demand” for industrial land in Greenfield, according to meeting minutes from the Planning Board’s March 16 informational session. At least one local business, NE-XT Technologies, has been vocal in its support for the rezoning.
The original plan had called for a zoning change for 48 acres, or 11 parcels and appeared to be a shoo-in when first presented. The proposal failed, however, when brought to City Council for a vote in December 2022. After At-Large Councilor Penny Ricketts asked to reconsider the motion, the “no” vote carried in January.
“When it comes before City Council [likely in June], this will be the third swing at the bat,” said At-Large Councilor Phil Elmer, who also chairs the Economic Development Committee. “The Planning Board has put forward a new version of the original proposal where, if you think of the French King property as a fish, they’ve cut off the tail and left that General Commercial, which allows two- and three-family housing by right.”
To pass at City Council, the proposal requires a two-thirds majority, or nine votes. Three councilors supported the proposal at the December meeting and seven voted in support in January.
“I don’t know how the town feels, but I suspect the prospect of 100 or 200 or 300 high-paying jobs and families moving into Greenfield and sending their kids to school would be attractive,” Elmer continued. “I’m hoping the councilors get over their various objections and finally vote ‘yes.’”
Elmer said councilors have expressed concern for a portion of the land that includes White Ash Swamp, a Native American burial ground. Nolumbeka Project President David Brule previously wrote in a My Turn that he asks for the city’s guarantee that the land will remain protected from development.
“It was promised by the previous owner when he died [that the parcel] would be given to the Native Americans,” Elmer explained. “He didn’t do it. The mayor had been asked. She didn’t own the property so she couldn’t give it.”
Elmer said he reached out to the mayor’s office to see if there was the possibility of getting a promise from the owner’s representative but hasn’t heard back.
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.