NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The administration is seeking a zoning amendment that would promote development of the former St. Francis' Church property.

 

The City Council tentatively set a joint public hearing with the Planning Board for Aug. 14.

 

"We felt rather than make a zoning change, we felt that the whole zoning section should possibly be looked at as it could impede development in other areas," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey at last week's City Council meeting. 

 

Macksey confirmed that there is a party interested in the property at the corner of Union and Eagle streets. 

 

"When they came forth and spoke to us, we looked at the whole zone and thought there may be other areas that could be impacted," she said.

 

The amendment would allow the Planning Board to eliminate or modify the maximum setback by special permit in the Central Business District Zone, with the exception of Main Street. 

 

The mayor said her understanding was that way back, it was preferred that parking be mostly behind buildings. 

 

"The idea was to keep buildings up near the streets so that the main street doesn't have a 200 parking lot before you get to the building," said Building Inspector William Meranti. "But it doesn't work that well on Union Street ... You wouldn't want your front door of Dunkin' Donuts sitting right on the sidewalk and then they had to park behind the building to come to the front. It doesn't make any sense."

 

Councilor Jennifer Barbeau questioned the process, asking if it was the applicant or business that should be making this amendment request.

 

"It seems like we're cutting steps and I'm not really sure that that's following procedure," she said. "And you know me, I love procedure." 

 

Meranti responded that he believed "that it's proper to go either way actually."

 

An applicant could bring it forward with their attorney or the city can change it, whether through a councilor or the mayor's office, he said. 

 

Councilor Ashley Shade agreed.

 

"With this particular change, yes, that business was just looking for it for themselves. That would be the right process. But it looks like the administration is looking for us to do this for any type of business," she said. "In that situation as a permanent thing, not just a one-time exception."

 

The St. Francis property is now vacant after the rectory was removed last year; the church, once the largest Catholic church in New England, was demolished in 2016 over structural concerns of the 150-year-old building. 

 

The property was sold to a Springfield real estate developer in 2018 for $1.3 million and has been on the market for commercial development.