GREENFIELD — Months after the proposed expansion of the industrial development zone near Route 2 was first voted down by City Council, the Planning Board plans to reinitiate the discussion with a revised proposal.

The board and Planning and Development Director Eric Twarog discussed the revised plan Thursday evening, which reduces the original proposal by five parcels, or 7.22 acres, for a total of six rezoned parcels over 40.98 acres on the French King Highway. The rezoned parcels would be changed from General Commercial, which provides for mixed retail, to Planned Industry, which is meant for manufacturing and industrial development.

Changes to the proposal stem from City Council’s concerns regarding the city’s need for housing. The new plan would leave the five parcels across from Stop & Shop on King and Gill roads in the General Commercial zone, which allows both retail and residential uses.

“The rationale behind this change was to limit the impact of the zone. … Those lots were too small to do Planned Industry development anyway,” argued Planning Board Chairman Charles Roberts. “We’re not suggesting anything different there than a slightly augmented map.”

Twarog said the changes came after consulting with Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, who introduced the original rezoning plan in summer 2022. He noted the new zoning changes retain some retail options, while still proposing an expansion of the industrial area that could fit “two or three major expansions.”

Roberts said his perception of City Council’s feedback was that the changes needed to be more “inclusive of the zoning, rather than exclusive.”

With the board in agreement to reinitiate the zoning change, it is planning to hold a public information session on March 16 to refamiliarize the public with the proposal.

Despite seeming to be a shoo-in when first presented last year, the zoning change failed when brought to City Council for a vote in December 2022. After At-Large Councilor Penny Ricketts asked to reconsider the motion, the “no” vote carried in January.

In conducting an autopsy of the failed vote, Planning Board members said they could have better clarified why they were seeking to rezone those parcels and this information session, along with the required public hearings, is a chance to do so.

“I do think that there’s an opportunity to represent the idea in a thoughtful and measured way,” commented Planning Board alternate member Amy McMahan. “I do think there’s the possibility you get a different outcome.

Vice Chair George Touloumtzis agreed, noting that “added clarity” can help people work through their hang-ups on the proposal.

Resident Al Norman, the only member of the public in attendance at Thursday’s meeting, agreed and suggested the Planning Board members each present their thoughts on “why this is important to the community” at the information session and public hearings.

“People have got to understand it’s coming from you,” Norman said. “I think that would make a difference.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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