BERNARDSTON — The Windmill Motel’s plans to operate a liquor store to supplement the hospitality business appear to be moving forward, with the Zoning Board of Appeals voting at its most recent meeting to approve a special permit for owner Vrajeshkumar “VJ” Patel to remodel one of the former motel rooms into a liquor store.
Patel, who opened the Windmill Motel at 497 Northfield Road (Route 10) on March 1 after a period of extended dormancy, will designate a 300-square-foot room to sell alcohol while he works to open an attached restaurant serving American cuisine. He said he hopes to have the restaurant operational by the fall.
“He’s going to take one of the rooms and turn it into an office/package store,” ZBA Chair Dan Devine said in an interview. “It will be manned by his office staff.”
The liquor store proposal had previously been denied in March due to what Devine described as a “little glitch in the licensing process.”
“[Patel was] given approval to start renovating for the package store area a bit early by mistake,” he explained. “Paperwork just needed to be straightened out.”
Jim Hawkins, a building commissioner who provides services to Bernardston through the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), explained in March that Bernardston’s zoning bylaws allow only one principal use on a building lot. At the time, he explained the Windmill Motel had two — for the motel and the restaurant — which predated the bylaws and were grandfathered in. As a liquor store would constitute a third principal use, Patel’s plans required further review by town officials.
Patel told the Greenfield Recorder he is excited to get special permit approval from the ZBA and the town has been very helpful. He previously noted he has been in the hospitality industry since immigrating to the United States from India nearly 30 years ago.
He mentioned he needs to add a handicap ramp and other features.
“I’m looking forward to working with more development,” he said.
At the same meeting on June 11, Devine said, the ZBA also issued Patel a special permit to operate a U-Haul rental business to further supplement his income.
“He’s got big bills, like everybody,” Devine said. “He presented himself real well at the meeting.”
The board approved Patel’s plans for the liquor store despite opposition from Police Chief James Palmeri, who wrote a letter to express his concerns.
“Introducing high-volume retail alcohol sales to this specific site poses severe safety, health, and logistical risks to both the motel guests and our broader rural area. This particular rural motel functions as a vulnerable micro-community,” the chief wrote. “The immediate area completely lacks essential public infrastructure; there are no grocery stores, medical clinics, pharmacies or reliable public transportation options within walking distance.
“Because many motel residents experience temporary housing insecurity and rely entirely on walking, they are functionally isolated,” he continued. “Introducing a liquor store into an environment completely deficient of basic life-sustaining resources is an irresponsible planning decision. It creates immediate, easy access to alcohol while providing absolutely no access to critical social support services.”
However, Palmeri assured the Recorder that he has since met with Patel, who lives on site, and has no concerns about his intentions. He said Patel has proven to be a successful business owner and he looks forward to the motel and restaurant’s development.
