HADLEY — Once standing at the southwestern corner of Route 9 and East Street, an 1830 farmhouse and barn were torn down two years ago to make way for a new dentist office, despite appeals from the Historical Commission that the buildings be saved.
With the future of both the former Russell School building and the former Goodwin Memorial Library in town center also somewhat murky, the Historical Commission is proposing that Hadley enact a demolition delay general bylaw that would give members more oversight of any building that is at least 100 years old.
But members of the Planning Board, in receiving a presentation last week for the concept from Courtney Meyer and E Dragon, who co-chair the commission, are expressing skepticism for the concept.
Meyer said the commission is considering the bylaw because it allows time for preservation and renovation before a historic resource is razed, and for other options to be on the table, such as moving the building or integrating it into a larger project.
Any buildings 100 years or older would be subject to the review when a demolition permit is requested from the building commissioner, who would refer the matter to the commission and possibly the Planning Board. The panels would have 45 days to determine if the building can be deemed historically or architecturally significant.
“This is just our way to make sure we maintain the town’s character and sense of place and to save some of our historical buildings that are in town,” Meyer said.
While the delay could be up to a year, some demolitions might proceed immediately, especially if a building is posing danger to public safety, Meyer said.
Members of the Planning Board seemed to have little appetite for supporting such a bylaw, though.
Chairman James Maksimoski said his concern is that some communities with such a bylaw have seen their commissions abuse it. He said commissions can get “very petty” on how a building is preserved, and such a review could prove cumbersome for redevelopment.
He also worries that this would affect too many properties, especially with many homes dating from the World War II era closing in on being a century old.
“I can’t imagine anything built after 1900 is going to be historical in any time in the near future,” Maksimoski said.
Planning Board Clerk William Dwyer wondered what has been lost and why the request was being made. “I’m just not sold on the need for this,” Dwyer said.
Dwyer noted that the Historical Commission once had been more involved in reviewing development projects, but that role has declined as membership waned.
Meyer cited the farmhouse and barn as the impetus and how discouraging it was to see those demolished after commission members had conversations with the property owner.
“We don’t want to see that again for future buildings,” Meyer said.
Meyer said she understands there was also sentiment among some residents that more protection should have been offered the Hooker School before it was demolished in 2019 to make way for the new Hadley Public Library and Hadley Senior Center.
Dragon said the commission could work with other boards to see other great historical areas in Hadley preserved. The goal would be to preserve, through collaboration, between the applicants and property owner and town officials, Dragon said.
Planning Board member Joseph Zgrodnik wondered if the commission might object to Russell or Goodwin being torn down if they prove too costly to rehabilitate and bring back for town use or by private developers.
In fact, Meyer said both are viewed as essential buildings.
“As a commission, those are two of the most important buildings in town to preserve,” Meyer said.
Planning Board member Kishore Parmar said his concern is that homeowners need to know if their homes would be affected by such a bylaw.
Planning Board member Mark Dunn said he wouldn’t dismiss the idea of such a bylaw out of hand, and there’s room to negotiate the language to see what could be developed, especially if the concern is that having such a bylaw on the books would be giving too much authority to the commission.
Should the commission move forward with the proposal, it would next go to the Bylaw Committee before being pitched to the Select Board.
