Hadley Planning Board to review 34-unit senior housing proposal on Middle Street

HADLEY — Site plans and a special permit for a proposed 34-unit senior housing development in town center will be considered by the Planning Board next month.

Planners on Tuesday, April 7, were presented a brief overview of the 55-and-over project by Sovereign Builders of Northampton that would be constructed on about 5.5 acres of land at 42 Middle St.

Jeff Squire, a principal with Berkshire Design Group, told the Planning Board that the development would feature 17 duplex units.

Berkshire Design has a signed contract with Tighe & Bond for a required peer review, which would be done in time so the hearing can begin in May, either on May 5 or May 19.

Squire said there are no substantial changes in the plans from when first presented last summer. The property is part of the senior housing overlay district and a short walk from the Hadley Public Library and the Hadley Senior Center.

The only current 55-and-over project developed is East Street Commons, but the board recently approved plans for a project at the Hadley Village Barn Shops, with demolition of some structures this month. Another has been proposed for the former Babb Farm at the corner of Rocky Hill Road and North Maple Street.

Changes to Gohyang restaurant building

Planners were also presented plans for the possible overhaul of the exterior of Gohyang, a Korean restaurant at 111 Russell St.

Brandt Gould, who is the contractor for the project, said he will be renovating the interior kitchen that is split by a bathroom, and has until mid-August to do construction and get the work done. The business will be closed during that time.

Gould said the restaurant now takes up the entire building, which previously has also included a food market, singing rooms and a real estate office.

“These people want a good-looking, but contemporary-looking, facade,” Gould said.

Planning Board Clerk William Dywer said the changes, as shown, with a large sign near a new roofline, would be significantly different from what is there.

But board member Jpopseh Zgrodnik said town bylaws don’t allow the roof line to be built higher to accommodate the sign.

Dwyer also said that if the investment in changes at the property are more than a third of the building’s assessed value, that would trigger compliance with the village overlay district requirements, including horizontal siding and a peaked roof.

New businesses

In other business, the board:

• approved signs for Posada’s Tavern at 206 Russell St., most recently used as Mi Tierra. The restaurant, specializing in El Salvadoran and Mexican cuisine, is expected to open in May. There is also a Posada’s Cantina in Hatfield and a Posada’s Tavern in Greenfield.
• approved final signs for Birdcode restaurant at 344 Russell St., in the Hadley Corner plaza anchored by Starbucks and in space formerly used by GNC. Expected to open over the summer, Hadley Corner LLC President Gene Crowley said that the restaurant will bring fried chicken sandwiches and nuggets to a part of Route 9 that already has Popeye’s and will soon have a Dave’s Hot Chicken. “It’s the new war,” Crowley said. “It’s not the drug stores anymore, it’s not the bookstores anymore, it’s more coffee and it’s more chicken, that’s what you’ve got coming.”
• advised a representative from Hadleaf cannabis dispensary, 251 Russell St., that the company will need to get a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals for its request for large, noncompliant signs. The representative said the larger signs are needed so the business can overcome financial struggles and draw in more customers, observing five times as many people are shopping at the nearby The Heirloom Collective.
• advised Christian Rahn, a Rocky Hill Road resident, that he will need a Zoning Board of Appeals variance so that his wife can operate a farmstand selling flowers next to a newly constructed looped driveway where customers would park.