SOUTH DEERFIELD — After four months of lengthy discussion, the Planning Board has closed public input for Mark Wightman’s proposed 55-and-over Sugarloaf Street subdivision and approved a few waiver requests — moving the project toward a final determination.
“We’re at a great point. We have a lot of information. We’ve heard from experts, and a lot of residents — we have a lot of input,” Planning Board Chairman John Waite said during Monday’s board meeting, before board member Henry “Kip” Komosa moved to close the site plan’s public hearing.
Wightman’s project, called The Condominiums at Sugarloaf, calls for 70 individual residences housed in 35 buildings around a loop road on 22.8 residentially zoned acres at the base of Mount Sugarloaf, beside Mountain Road.
After the hearing, the board, by majority vote, approved three waiver requests — to allow the project to substitute iron rods or pins instead of required stone as property markers, to allow drains to be built outside of town distance requirements, and to allow a smaller-than-required distance between intersection.
“If you’re going to grant all of these waivers you might as well take all of these subdivision regulations and throw them out,” said Planning Board member Max Antes, who voted against the waiver.
Waite noted the board made its decision based on comments submitted by town officials, two third-party reviewers, and more than 50 residents in attendance.
“In my view, the applicants have supplied all required information. This is something that has been carefully reviewed by town boards and officials, and by the engineers,” said Franklin Regional Council of Governments Senior Land Planner Patricia Smith, charged with reviewing the project’s definitive site plan. Smith also cited letters from public safety officials voicing approval for the project.
Since the project was first proposed last September, it has received criticism from abutters and support from those interested in seeing the town’s tax base increase. Waite acknowledged the differing opinions and noted that the Planning Board’s only job is to make sure developers follow town laws.
“Is this sprawl or smart growth? It depends on who you talk to. I’ve been on this board for a number of years, we’ve had very few houses built. So this is a big deal,” Waite said.
“Studies have been done professionally and fairly. We know there are 215 people who signed a petition, and we’ve heard that. And senior housing — we still could use affordable housing. This is not a replacement; we’ve heard that. This should not divide people in town — but it’s change. And we know it’s hard for some people.”
While the project is moving through local government, its designs must also receive state approval because Sugarloaf Street is a state road. Wightman said state approval might happen soon. After three and a half hours of discussion, at around 10:30 p.m., the board voted to continued the site plan review to next month’s meeting, May 18.
