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LEICESTER, Mass. — Leicester residents voted against re-zoning amendments for property owners on Pleasant Street on Tuesday night at a packed Special Town Meeting, with many voicing concerns that the change would pave the way for a CVS Pharmacy at the center of town.
Failing to achieve the necessary two-thirds vote, the motion was defeated. The vote was 245 in favor to 144 against. The vote was counted by both a hand tally and a secret ballot.
The article would have amended the zoning map by changing the designation of four Pleasant Street parcels near the center of town (11C, 12C, 13C and 14C on Assessor's Map 20D) from Residential 2 classification to Central Business.
According to property owner Darlene Eager, the sole purpose of the article was so that Eager Realty and Benoit Lighting "could be included in the business zone that four other properties adjacent to us are in."
"We are currently required to get special variances to run our businesses, and to deny two property owners the ability to run a business at a time when the town is faced with a budget shortfall for 2013 goes really beyond all reason," Eager said. "The zone change is critical to our survival and the town's."
Yet many residents could not look past the possibility that the zoning change would allow for a sale of some of the properties to CVS, and Len Ivel brought forward a petition signed by 150 residents against such a development.
"The article to change the zoning, as I understand it, is intended to facilitate a particular development," said Ivel. "At the housing for the elderly, the CVS representatives were there defining what it was they intended to do as a result of this zoning change, so I don't understand how you can possibly separate the two issues."
The planning board had recommended disapproval of the article, citing the likelihood of it resulting in "demolition of historic structures, whether for the potential pharmacy proposal or other commercial development."
Sandra Benoit, owner of Benoit Lighting, was disappointed with outcome, saying the zoning change had nothing to do with CVS, but was simply to help her run her business.
"I have no intentions of selling my business. I want to stay here in Leicester, but obviously the people here don't want me here," she said. "Right now, I can't have a flag outside that says 'open,' and I cannot increase the size of my sign without a variance."
Comments (5)
Another thought on how to reduce traffic on route 9: reopen commuter rail service West of Worcester. If there were reliable train service, even one or two trains a day in each direction, people could leave their cars at home in the Brookfields, Spencer and Leicester and take the train into Worcester and beyond. Remember, there used to be passenger service into Worcester. Why not revive that? You could be in Worcester in 5 or 10 minutes from Rochdale if that were done.
There are several reasons "why" this article failed, and SHOULD have failed:
1. Once the historic nature/buildings of our town (center in this case) has been demolished, it is gone forever as well as the country atmosphere.
2. Everyone knows that this was a smokescreen to allow CVS to gain control of this land. Everyone who owns buildings in this zone saw $$$ in their eyes, come on be honest, do you think we were born yesterday?
3. The businesses who are operating in this zone presently are NOT sustaining ANY loss of business due to the present and proper zoning!
4. No matter WHAT politicians and CVS try to say, the traffic flow with a CVS type retailer in that location would be devastating, you cannot improve the situation without a RELOCATION of route 9 as predicted in the 1st Master Plan for Leicester. (new route 9 would pass behind Tractor Supply and run SE to south of Hillcrest CC and ultimately join Stafford Street near the the Worcester line.)
5. We have spent tax dollars to build a new route 56 for business, we have run water, gas and sewer west from the center along route 9 to Walmart and beyond to entice business, and there CERTAINLY is plenty of room along that corridor.
6. CVS was originally seeking the land and buildings on main street at Water street , the Mill included. But, games are being played here also, some by a Realtor who low-balled one owner by $350K from their ORIGINAL offer several years ago, and when CVS disagreed to fund the difference,, they sought the center area instead. Was the Realtor thinking of what was best for the town? Of course not, $$$ rules folks, and greed IS KING!
CVS "will" come to Leicester because they do not want the competition to come here first, and they certainly will.
Get the marketing going for what we have to offer in the excellent areas that are best suited for businesses in Leicester, think outside box people.
You said "new route 9 would pass behind Tractor Supply and run SE to south of Hillcrest CC and ultimately join Stafford Street near the the Worcester".
I don't like that idea, and would definitely vote against it. Have you ever traveled on Stafford Street in the winter, with ice and snow? It can be treacherous. It doesn't make sense to cause out of town drivers to get routed onto dead horse hill. That's simply asking for trouble.
Agreed, people kept talking about supporting a business that hasn't been there for several years.
Also, I was at this meeting and the planning board hearings, at which it was stated several times that the light store could easily get a variance to solve their sign issue.
I keep hearing about this concerning two businesses. Eager Realty has been gone for a couple of years. SO let's talk about honesty here!!!!!