MONTAGUE — Property owner Chris Couture clashed with the Planning Board over the potential implementation of mixed-income housing on First Street during the board’s “Smart Growth Overlay District” public hearing on Tuesday.
Couture said he owns a parcel at “the grassy end of First Street” within one of two areas being considered for redevelopment as Smart Growth Overlay Districts, defined by Massachusetts General Law as “dense residential or mixed-use smart growth zoning districts, including … affordable housing units … in areas of concentrated development such as existing city and town centers, and in other highly suitable locations.” While Couture said the other proposed district — located at 11 and 15 Power St. parcels where Railroad Salvage had been — might be suitable for housing, he firmly contested the notion that First Street should be used for anything but commercial space.
“My biggest concern is that general business in downtown Turners (Falls) is evaporating and I don’t want to see it,” Couture said.
Early in the discussion, the Planning Board and Town Planner Walter Ramsey clarified that the town is not removing existing zoning regulations or forcing development on Couture’s property. Rather, the designation would merely grant additional flexibility for development that a private landowner may or may not choose to take advantage of.
“It does not pose an encumbrance to a private property owner because the underlying zoning is still in effect,” Ramsey explained, noting that there are entire towns designated as Smart Growth Overlay Districts.
“Your parcel is still free to do what you want to do with it,” Planning Board Chair Ronald Sicard said.
Couture stood firm in his opposition, however, insisting that he was “getting slighted” by the plan. Initially, Couture said, he “had a plan for the whole strip” regarding First Street’s commercial development before personal and world circumstances got in the way.
“I have plans to develop it at some point,” Couture maintained.
He also framed Montague’s hopes to implement housing as a “precursor” to the town’s “big scheme” to eventually acquire his property, citing past instances in which he was “ghosted” and “completely ostracized” in agreements with the town. This, he said, included a time in which he was denied curb cuts by the town after sidewalks were installed adjacent to his property. Sicard, arguing that these grievances were too far off-topic, opted to “continue this more behind the scenes.”
Other residents present at Tuesday’s meeting endorsed the idea of installing mixed-income housing after discussion with Couture concluded. Laura Heisig, a resident of the Patch neighborhood where the Power Street parcels are located, said the property “really lends itself to affordable housing.”
“I like the idea of developing more affordable housing,” resident Jackie Stein agreed. “I like the town having more control over the character of that.”
The proposal to implement Smart Growth Overlay Districts will come before Annual Town Meeting on May 7.
Reach Julian Mendoza
at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.