Manny's drops plans for store

By Angela Carbone

04/30/2008- The Republican

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Manny's TV & Appliances won't be opening a store on Elm Street any time soon.

The local chain withdrew without prejudice a request for a variance from the city's Zoning Board of Appeals Monday after the board members said the project appeared not to meet the criteria needed for a variance.

Manny's applied to the board in hopes of opening a retail store at 1380-1406 Elm St. Raymour & Flanigan, which had operated a store there, still owns the property.

 Advertisement
 

  
 
West Springfield's zoning ordinance requires one parking space for every 200 square feet of retail space. The amount of space intended for retail use at the site would require 130 spaces. The plan showed 106 spaces.

Board of Appeals Chairwoman Lisa M. Beauvais said yesterday Manny's has proved itself locally to be a good business neighbor.

"Manny's has a good reputation," she said.

The issue was that the applicant failed to prove there was a hardship as required when seeking a variance, she said.

"We did not find a hardship," she said. "If there was one, and we didn't find one anyway, it was self-imposed."

Raymour & Flanigan created a hardship in 2004 when the company sought a reduction in the number of spaces required specifically of furniture stores, Beauvais said. In response to the company's petition, the City Council created a new parking standard for furniture stores. At the time, city officials noted the criteria change would limit the building to a furniture store, warehousing or office space.

Raymour & Flanigan officials said they that they understood the limitation but that they planned to stay on the site. However, the company moved operations to a building it built on Riverdale Street late last year.

City Council President Gerard B. Matthews, a former member of the Board of Appeals, said the board has specific and limited criteria.

One criteria is that the shape of the lot creates a hardship.

"The shape of the lot was being offered, but only for the loss of a few spaces," said Matthews, who attended the hearing. "Even with that, they still didn't meet the parking requirements."

The lot simply isn't big enough to accommodate the required parking for the size of the building and retail use, Matthews said.

Manny's was under a time constraint because the businesses in Holyoke and Westfield would close if the Elm Street business could open, Matthews and Beauvais reported. Manny's could have opened with a smaller retail space, but the aim was to make the West Springfield store Manny's flagship.