WEST SPRINGFIELD – Pyramid Co., owner of the Holyoke Mall, is looking to build apartments on nearly 18 acres of land it owns near the West Springfield-Holyoke line.

The West Springfield Town Council hosted a public hearing on Jan. 18 on a proposal to change the zoning of the parcel at 711 Whitney Ave. from Residence A-2 to Residence C. The land has never been developed, said Town Council President Edward Sullivan.

Around 1995, Pyramid asked the town to change the zoning so that it could build an additional parking structure to accommodate the mall’s expansion. At the time, “the West Springfield Town Meeting body voted down the proposal,” said Sullivan.

Now, over 25 years later, Pyramid wants to build “high-end” apartments on the vacant land. Sullivan said “the number [of units] is yet unknown and will depend on their studies of the land,” accounting for topography, the presence of wetlands, and so on.

The council is set to vote on the proposed zone change during its next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 7.