GREENFIELD — A handful of residents came to City Hall on Tuesday to share their thoughts on a revised proposal to rezone some parcels on the French King Highway with hopes that it will spur industrial development in the city.
The proposal was the subject of a joint public hearing held by the Planning Board and Economic Development Committee, as the boards sought feedback on a revised plan to rezone six parcels over 40.98 acres on the French King Highway from General Commercial, which provides for mixed retail, to Planned Industry, which is meant for manufacturing and industrial development.
Those in attendance Tuesday night signaled their support for the rezoning, which they say could increase Greenfield’s tax base, while also providing high-wage jobs.
“We need to diversify our tax base,” said resident Jesus Leyva. “If we want Greenfield to be a successful community, we need to promote economic growth and housing.”
This revised proposal is reduced by five parcels — or 7.22 acres — from the initial idea brought forward in September 2022, which ultimately failed when it was brought to a City Council vote in December 2022, with several councilors citing concerns about housing. The new parcel leaves those five parcels across from Stop & Shop on King and Gill roads in the General Commercial zone, which allows both retail and residential uses.
“City Council voted it down for a number of reasons, but one of them was about the opportunity for housing and how maybe zoning this as Planned Industry could potentially be a loss for housing,” explained Planning Board Chair Charles Roberts. “We feel [the revised plan] was a compromise and it still pushes forward the initiative we believe in on the Planning Board.”
Planning and Economic Development Director Eric Twarog noted Tuesday that approximately 90% of land in the city allows some form of housing. Planning Board member David Chichester added “there’s a lot going on” in the city in regards to housing developments.
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner echoed Leyva’s points and said rezoning these parcels creates a “great opportunity” to expand the Interstate 91 Industrial Park.
“We are running out of space in the current industrial park; this is an ideal location for expansion and it is really critical that we create a tax base that is geared toward commercial and industry,” Wedegartner said. “I think it is a win-win situation all around, to approve this zoning and let the Economic Development Department and the Mayor’s Office go forward with whatever we can do to promote this property.”
Zoning Board of Appeals Chair David Singer also signaled support for the proposal, which he said is a positive change for the city.
“I support what’s been said so far,” Singer said. “I hope you vote ‘yes’ and the City Council also votes to pass this.”
Resident Al Norman, who has supported the zoning change throughout the process, said Greenfield is falling behind some of its neighboring communities when it comes to tax revenue and this zoning change could tip the scales back in the city’s favor.
Norman specifically noted that Deerfield, which has a significantly smaller population that Greenfield, has much higher industrial tax revenue than the city. He added that the move of NUPRO, a company that develops polyurethane film, to Merrigan Way in South Deerfield in late 2022 shows companies are looking for industrial space in Franklin County.
“We cannot afford to let these decent-paying jobs slip through our fingers,” Norman said. “We are not a one-trick pony. Housing and retail needs do not have to come at the expense of livable-wage jobs.”
With the public hearing complete, the Economic Development Committee will consider the zoning proposal at its June 13 meeting, with proposal coming before the full City Council on June 21. It will need a two-thirds majority, or nine votes, to pass.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.