HADLEY — A proposal to build a new fire substation that piggybacks on a plan to turn the North Hadley Village Hall into apartments was advanced Wednesday night by the Select Board.
The board voted unanimously to send the North Hadley Fire Station Ad Hoc Committee’s plan to construct a fire substation on land next to the hall to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board. The substation proposal coincides with Joel Greenbaum’s bid to construct apartments in the Village Hall, which is currently used to store fire equipment, among other things.
Neither plan conforms to town zoning rules, so separate ZBA approval is needed for each one.
“Both projects work together,” ad hoc committee Chairman John Mieczkowski said Wednesday.
The committee’s plan calls for a 100-by-65-foot building to be built on the parcel of land between the Village Hall and the North Hadley Congregational Church. The structure would be used as a fire substation and to house public safety communication equipment, Mieczkowski said.
It would have parking on three sides that could be used by the church and those using Lake Warner for recreation, he said.
The committee will meet with police and fire officials next month to determine the layout of the building, Mieczkowski said.
Despite Wednesday’s vote, uncertainty remains about the two plans for the historic North Hadley village.
Town officials last month accepted the $72,000 bid by Greenbaum, of Historic Renovations and Rental Properties, for the Village Hall.
But Town Administrator David Nixon told the Gazette that bid was accepted before any talk of dividing the parcel of land to construct the fire substation. The Select Board on July 13 will discuss how to move forward on the matter.
“To accomplish Mr. Greenbaum’s goals, he has to have special zoning just like we’re going to need it for that site also,” Select Board member Donald Pipczynski said. “It’s imperative both get voted on back-to-back at a ZBA and Planning Board meeting.”
That meeting has not yet been set, but officials said the two proposals are scheduled for consideration in about a month at the earliest.
Further details about the specifics of Greenbaum’s plan were not available Wednesday night and Greenbaum could not be reached for comment.
North Hadley Village Hall was put up for sale by bid after Town Meeting approval.
Members of the Historical Commission in May expressed concern over Greenbaum’s plan and asked the Select Board to consider seeking state and federal grants to restore the building, which has fallen into disrepair.
Board member Joyce Chunglo said at the time that residents have opposed putting more town money into the building. Chairwoman Molly Keegan agreed and pointed to the Town Meeting vote.
The Village Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a significant contributing building to the North Hadley Historic District.
The 6,606-square-foot hall was built in 1864 as a school and now houses the Park and Recreation Department, as well as space for the Fire Department and events.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.