The Forest Park Civic Association Votes to Contest
the Crystal Avenue Zone Change in Court
and asks the neighborhood to contribute to the Forest Park Legal Defense Fund
At a recent Board of Directors meeting of the Forest Park Civic Association, the owner of the Belmont Laundry, Mr. Sample, and his attorney, Robert Santaniello presented a plan for the properties at #25-27, #29, #33 Crystal Ave. and a portion of #333 Belmont Ave. As presented, the laundry is outgrowing its space on Belmont Ave. and would like to demolish three houses and build a garage on Crystal Ave. for its trucks and a holding tank for the pretreatment of laundry water before it is discharged into the sewer system. The garage would be fenced in on all sides seen from Crystal Ave.
Since the Zoning Ordinance requires that laundries be located in Business B locations, the laundry began steps to get the zoning changed to Business B. The Zoning Ordinance of the City of Springfield states the intent of the Business B district is to have "Business B Districts make provision for a wide range of highway oriented automotive and heavier service type business activities, which ordinarily require either highway or light industrial locations." (Taken from the City of Springfield Zoning Ordinance, Article XI, Section 1100).
The Zoning Committee of the F.P.C.A. held a meeting at the Forest Park Library on April 1, 1998. At that time 11 residents and homeowners on the street voted unanimously to oppose the zone change. On May 6,1998, the Planning Board Meeting was scheduled for a hearing on the petition. Although the hearing was postponed, because of a legal technicality, 27 residents showed up to voice their opposition. On June 3, 1998 the Planning Board in a 3-2 vote supported the zone change. The City Council has since voted against the neighborhood and for the zone change with all of the City Councilors voting for it, except for Tim Ryan and Barbara Garvey.
At first glance, it might appear that tearing down the three derelict houses would be an improvement, but closer inspection shows that this business use intrusion onto a street, which is totally residential, will not be favorable.
Concerned Citizens of Springfield is a non-profit group of neighbors who have been fighting blighted properties and rehabilitating rundown properties for resale to owner-occupants. These three homes owned by Belmont Laundry for over 50 years, are candidates for rehabilitation. When asked whether they would prefer to live next to or across from a commercial property or an owner occupied home, the residents were clearly in favor of maintaining their street as a residential street. The residents cited increased traffic on Crystal Avenue, unattractive blight from having a commercial garage face Crystal Avenue, as well as having already lived with a commercial intrusion of Food Mart.
Walk by or talk to our neighbors on Crystal Avenue and you will meet neighbors who want to have a safe and attractive street free of a commercial use. They deserve better than what Belmont Laundry has planned for them.
As of August 1, 1998, Mayor Albano has not signed the zone change into law and he has indicated that he is opposed to it. If he should veto the zone change, there appear to be enough votes to override the veto, as only City Councilors Barbara Garvey and Tim Ryan voted for the neighborhood and against the zone change.
The Residents of Crystal Avenue and the board of the Forest Park Civic Association will contest the zone change in court.
We urge you to contact our City Councilors as well as the Mayor to tell them that you are opposed to the zone change; that you are opposed to a commercial zone directly next to a home. After all, would you like it, if it were proposed next to your house? Encourage the City Council to assist this longtime Springfield business to locate and expand in a district zoned appropriately!
We also need your immediate help financially to fight this spot zoning change in court.