HADLEY — The town’s Planning Board, which reviews development projects in town and proposes zoning amendments related to land use, is seeking a new member.

The five-member elected board is currently down a member after Michael Sarsynski on July 18 resigned immediately, with nearly two years remaining on his five-year term.

Appointed after the November 2013 death of John Devine, who was in the midst of his 27th year on the board, Sarsynski subsequently was elected to a two-year term in the spring of 2014, then won reelection to five-year terms in both 2016 and 2021.

“For personal reasons he will no longer be able to continue on the Planning Board,” said Planning Board Clerk William Dwyer.

The board intends to send a letter to Sarsynski thanking him for his service.

The remaining members also announced they will try to identify a resident interested in completing the term. Planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski said he would prefer to have the position filled, even if it means giving someone an advantage in advance of the town election.

“Seeing that we’re a five-member board, as much as it would seem that we’re endorsing somebody, I’m looking to appoint somebody for the nine months until the next town election,” Maksimoski said.

Because special permits for development projects need four affirmative votes, Dwyer said this means with a four-member board, if one person is absent or unable to attend, these could be held up.

“If one of the remaining members of the board is not able to make a meeting, (then) we’re not throwing everything into chaos,” Dwyer said.

Those interested in serving will have until Aug. 30 to express interest, with possible discussion and interviews with any candidates on Sept. 3, with the board then making a recommendation to fill the vacancy for the Select Board’s Sept. 4 meeting. Any appointment would come as a joint vote between the two boards and fill the position until May.

An application is on the town website and can be filled out and brought to Town Hall, or sent via email to planning@hadleyma.gov.

While the board is losing 10 years of experience with Sarsynski’s departure, the remaining members have served a combined 132 years, with their tenures dating to 1975, 1983, 1987 and 2019.

Anytime Fitness

In other business, the Planning Board approved two signs for Anytime Fitness to locate at 454 Russell St., in the Campus Shopping Plaza between Stop & Shop and Liquors 44.

The exercise studio will use space previously occupied by Petco.

Anytime Fitness had been at 135 King St. in Northampton from the fall of 2017 to fall 2023, and also has locations in Southampton, Belchertown and Westfield.

The board waived additional site plan approval and approved the signs and final renderings for Dave’s Hot Chicken, at 5 South Maple St. The new eatery will include changes to the structure of the building by removing the pitched shingled roof.

Plans also show the fast-food restaurant adding two non-illuminated chicken heads totaling 64 square feet and having a Greek god mural on one side of the building.

The board also gave the OK for The Skinny Pancake restaurant, at 379 Russell St., to revise plans for its storage shed. The business is anticipating an Oct. 1 opening.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.