EAST LONGMEADOW –  The Town Council met on Feb. 13 and continued a hearing regarding the creation of a zoning map amendment and rezone of parcel 18-38-0, otherwise known as 330 Chestnut St. in East Longmeadow.  This was a continuance of the Jan. 23 public hearing, and featured the first reading of the zoning map amendment bylaw.  

The re-zoning of 330 Chestnut Street will allow for the property to be redeveloped as a mixture of market rate apartments and condominiums with co-located retail establishments. The parcel of land recommended is 40.35 acres.

Thomas Florence read, “The purpose of the mixed use district are to A: revitalize struggling areas and spur economic development. B: To promote a village-style mix of retail, restaurant, offices, civic uses and providing more housing opportunities and choices. C: to promote pedestrian and bicycle travel and a sense of community. D: to encourage economic and increasing revenues.”

He continued to read that toward those ends, the Planning Board is authorized to the review of site plans in the mixed-use district.  For the specific details, regulations and boundaries, go to minute 17 on ELCAT’s YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiLx1xTnDkg&t=2602s.

Property developer John Taikina of M & M Realty explained his vision for the property, and noted that East Longmeadow residents can expect a property that is of the same caliber and quality of his Garden State Park property in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  Taikina said at the second reading he would bring photos of that property for the Town Council to view as a visual of what the property could look similar to.

“This project will be different with how you put it together with planning and such, but at least people will get a general idea of materials used, landscaping, rooflines, windows, that would probably be very helpful so people could look at those projects in Cherry Hill,” Council Vice President Michael Kane said.

“Lots of brick, lots of composite siding, we have to bring ‘suburban Jersey, Philadelphia,’ to ‘New England quaint,’ which is my preferred motif here. People keep saying something like Mashpee commons,” Taikina explained.  “In terms of scale, Cherry Hill is a little taller than what we’re talking about here, but you can get the sense of the quality, the clubhouse, the amenities, we’ll have a concierge there. The clubhouse is staffed from eight in the morning till nine at night, opens at six in the morning for people who work out and exercise.”

For those who would like to view the Cherry Hill property, search “Garden State Park Cherry Hill, New Jersey.”  Keep in mind, the Cherry Hill property is of a much larger scale coming in at 225 acres, whereas the East Longmeadow property is roughly 40 acres.

Taikina shared that the property would contain 90 percent housing and 10 percent retail: it’s predominantly a residential project. Taikina also stated that they feel they’re predominantly serving seniors, empty nesters and new couples as opposed to families, as families tend to need more space than the property would offer.

“We call it concierge living, it’s a high end rental, starting at  $1,800 to $2,000 a month for a unit, $2 a square foot,” Taikina said.

In addition, as the property owner Taikina noted he would be taking care of the water, sewer, garbage, snow plowing, lawn mowing, and electrical.

“It’s a very high-end product, very high-end finishes, first-class landscaping, beautiful. That’s our standard, is beautiful,” Taikina explained.

Town Council member Donald Anderson commented, referencing the days that he sat on the Planning Board and that he did not feel the Planning Board should have the discretion to waive a traffic study, or any other pertinent studies that could show the property’s effect on the town.

“I think we need some tougher language, and I’ll defer back to the Planning Board, you’re aware of the elements that can be waive-able and perhaps reel them back, and say ‘a project of this magnitude the Planning Board shall not waive the traffic study and any other studies that you feel are appropriate,’ architectural review and things of that nature,” Anderson said.

Both Taikina as the developer and Richards representing the Planning Board said that Andersons request should not be a problem.

To listen to the publics comments, questions and concerns of signage, set-backs, specific verbiage, the housing market and special permitting, go to minute 49 of ELCAT’s video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiLx1xTnDkg&t=2602s.

Taikina stated he would prefer to operate under a bylaw as opposed to a special permit.

“Special permits have the uncertainties that we would prefer to address now as part of the bylaw process, and not have that,” Taikina said.
The Council stated the public comments would be considered.  

“A very large amount of extremely valid questions have come before us in the last 40 minutes,” Council member Kathleen Hill said.  She then asked if the Planning Board would be able to discuss these concerns at their next meeting prior to the Feb. 27 hearing continuation. Richards said he would go before the Planning Board Chair, inform him of what took place at the hearing and see if they could put it on the agenda.

The Town Council moved to continue the Public Hearing regarding the creation of the mixed-use district for a second reading to the Feb. 27 meeting at 6:40 p.m.