New Owners for Black Walnut Inn

Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, July 11, 2024

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. It can be viewed here.

Present
Craig Meadows, Everald Henry, David Sloviter, and Philip White.

Staff: Chris Brestrup (Planning Director), Rob Morra (Building Inspector), and Jacinta Williams (Planner)

After owning and running the Black Walnut Inn at 1184 North Pleasant Street for over 30 years, Daniel Burbine plans to sell the 10-room bed and breakfast to Justin and Meaghan Killeen, owners of the Old Mill Inn in Hatfield. Managers Gail and Darren Chevalier will live in the carriage house on site. No changes are planned to the site, which is listed on the Massachusetts Cultural Information System of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

The new owners, represented by Attorney Tom Reidy of the Bacon Wilson law firm, requested a change in the previously-issued special permits that state that the permits expire with change of ownership. Reidy asked that the permit be modified to require the new owner to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for approval of the management plan, but not the complete special permit. He also asked for an updated site plan to be approved, since the previous site plan included a second parking area off Meadow Street that was never built.

There was no public comment on the modification of the permit and little discussion among ZBA members. The permit and site plan modification were approved unanimously.

Hearings on Red Gate Lane and North Whitney Street Postponed
According to Reidy, Jonathan Klate requested that the public hearing on his request to sell a flag lot at 47 Red Gate Lane for construction of a single-family home be postponed until October 10 to give him a chance to continue to speak to neighbors about his plans.

Mathena Morrissey asked that her proposal to convert a single-family home at 180 North Whitney Street to a non-owner-occupied duplex be postponed to July 25. Both of the postponements were approved.

Upcoming ZBA Hearings
In addition to Morrissey’s proposal for North Whitney Street, the July 25 ZBA meeting will include an update on the Shutesbury Road solar project and an application for a renewal of the permit for the Lane Quarry at the Notch.

On August 8, the ZBA will deliberate on Curt Shumway’s application to convert the University Motor Lodge to a social dormitory. Also, Attorney Caroline Murray will give the board a presentation on Chapter 40B affordable housing in preparation for the permitting of Way Finders East Street and Belchertown Road projects, which will begin in September.

On August 22, Attorney Jonathan Murray will outline the general aspects of solar permitting for the ZBA.