Westfield – In a second public audience on April 15, Robert Levesque, by R. Levesque Associattes, representing Benjamin Savotchka for Irina & Family, successfully approached neighbors’ concerns at a proposed vehicle sales facility in 198 Lockhouse RD.
The plan includes the construction of five structures to be used for motor vehicle sales with space and repairs of incidental offices. The improvements associated with the site include a front parking area with 12 spaces for employees and 22 vehicle sales spaces, underground utility installation, construction of a new stormwater management system, site classification, landscaped areas and lighting.
The buildings to be built will include an addition of a retail sales office to an existing house, an additional extension to an existing garage, a new garage at the back of the property and other smaller buildings.
Leves who said that in response to the concerns of Lockwood Road residents, the proposal was changed to include plantations and an 8 -foot fence at the northern end of the property that would go down to a 6 -foot fence on the back. After more discussion at the meeting, the plan was modified to install the 8 -foot fence from the 20 -foot setback to the rear property line and installing a 3 -foot fence on the first 20 feet, to fulfill the ordinance.
Other changes in the plan included increasing the size of the space sample spaces on the front of the building to allow the visualization of recreational vehicles for sale. All mechanical work on cars and vehicles of vehicles for sale will be limited to the rear of the property or inside the garages.
Retail business hours will be from Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., mechanical vehicle work will be limited to Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., without any repair work on weekends.
Levesque said that an ancient pine stand on the facade of Lockwood Road will be eliminated for the age and the line of vision, another concern expressed by the neighbors and the counselor Kristen Mello, who attended the sight.
Neighbors, including Jason Leach in 210 Lockhouse Rd., Said they did not oppose business, but they wanted to be protected from noise and lights, especially on weekends when they are at home. “I don’t want to hear, see -smell it,” said Leach.
Savotchka said that there will be no activity on Sundays, as the family attends the church and accepted only to have hours on sale on Saturdays. Mechanical repairs will be on the south side of the new garage that will be built on the back, oriented to the neighbor’s courtyard.
Other conditions for the permit include all the lighting, except for the security lights that turn off at 21:00, including an enlightened pylon sign that must be approved before installing and a construction phase plan to be approved along with the signaling.