HADLEY — Possible redevelopment of the historic North Hadley Village Hall into five apartments and office use for a local construction company may depend on a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
More than three years after plans were first presented to the Planning Board for turning much of the 239 River Drive building into housing units, the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 9 will act on a request from Rick Bramucci. That request is for five apartments to be put into the 1864 building, along with an office for Bramucci Construction.
Bramucci was one of the buyers of the property acquired from the town in March 2022. Since then, the 1950s addition to the building, previously the North Hadley Fire station, has been space for storing and maintaining equipment.
The town’s fire substation was relocated into a new building constructed north of North Hadley village center.
Originally a two-story schoolhouse, the North Hadley Village Hall was later used as space by the Park and Recreation Department and for a branch library. It is located in a limited business zone next to the North Hadley Congregational Church.
Members of the Planning Board at a May 19 meeting indicated that a variance will be needed for most apartment-style uses, since town zoning generally prohibits multiple dwellings on a property, with 55-and-over projects one of the few exceptions.
Planning Board Clerk William Dwyer said the town bylaws allow apartments in the senior housing overlay district as well as any existing structures wherever they are located in town.
If the apartments would be targeted at seniors, this would require a Planning Board special permit, while any market-rate apartments require the variance.
“They could convert that to senior housing without being too big of a deal, but if they want to put anything else in their, they need a zoning variance,” said Planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski.
In fall 2022, Bramucci presented for putting seven residential units. Those would be one- and two-bedroom homes geared toward families, and not local college students.
The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting starts at 7:15 p.m. at the Hadley Senior Center. There are three other hearings that evening.
One variance request was filed by Christian Rahn of 134 Rocky Hill Road, who wants to put up a small seasonal farmstand with flowers and reducing the setback from 50 feet to 25 feet.
Another variance request was filed by Amy Allen of 20 Mount Warner Road, who wants to put on an addition onto the home will be 32 feet from the rear property line.
Finally, Richard Costello is asking for a variance from the setback at 9 Lawrence Plain Road so a new dwelling cam be built for a family member.
