HADLEY — Ambulances that serve Hadley and Holyoke could soon operate from a renovated garage on Route 9.
Before Action EMS can move its vehicles to the former Hadley Auto Service site at 97 Russell St., though, the Planning Board will need to approve site plans for the project, which, in addition to the building, contains a 49-space parking lot that will be used as overflow parking for the neighboring Esselon Cafe.
How soon this happens remains in question as planners at a site plan review hearing Tuesday said that voting in favor of the project plans will not happen if Esselon’s customers continue to park on West Street along the historic Town Common instead of in private lots. Parking on the public way is a violation of the existing site plan that requires containing vehicles on site, according to planners.
“Get the parking onto the property,” Planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski said during a site-plan hearing Tuesday. “I personally will approve nothing less.”
The insistence by Maksimoski and other board members came despite an appeal from Fire Chief Mike Spanknebel, who said the ambulances will need to operate from a building during the cold weather months after being displaced from a garage at the corner of Russell Street and Cross Path Road that will be converted into Exotic Auto’s new space.
“This is a critical response for our area,” Spanknebel said.
“I’m not going to sit here and approve this just because we need an ambulance,” Maksimoski said.
Randy Izer, a surveying consultant and the town’s moderator, told the Planning Board he sees no violation of Hadley zoning bylaw in having customers use town streets for parking, and that Esselon owner Mark Krause should not be held responsible.
“He is not encouraging them to do that, he is trying his best to not have them do that,” Izer said.
Thomas Reidy, an attorney with Bacon Wilson, PC of Amherst, said Krause has made a substantial effort to comply. “He’s posted signs on the inside of the restaurant directing patrons where to park,” Reiy said.
There also will be a new sign that directs people to the overflow parking. “All in all we think it’s a really good solution,” Reidy said.
Planning Board member Mark Dunn questioned whether the added parking is a red herring. While it looks good on paper plans, Dunn said, it may not function well if drivers can’t get to it, having to cross in front of Esselon and the garage, as other vehicles may be entering and exiting the property.
Reidy appealed for a quick decision so the ambulances can move to the site but was rebuffed by Planning Board member Joseph Zgrodnik, who said the town already gave concessions to allow Steve Lewis Subaru to use a portion of the garage for repairs, and that a paint shop has begun operating, as well.
Select Board member Joyce Chunglo told planners that she will bring the parking issue to the Select Board to discuss whether no parking signs can be installed that would prevent parking within 100 to 200 yards of Esselon. The idea would be to encourage customers to use the overflow parking by making their walks to the business longer.
After the meeting, Krause said in an interview that he believes the issues are close to being resolved and that approval can come when the hearing continues Sept. 7.
“We need to find a way to get this done. We will do everything in our power to take care of this,” Krause said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
