HADLEY — The town’s Planning Board is asking the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to resume its work plan that could lead to creating a so-called smart growth zoning district along the Route 9 corridor.

Following a pause of several months due to a funding shortfall, board members voted 4-0 Tuesday to authorize Kyle Finnell, PVPC’s senior land use and environment planner, to continue efforts to bring a proposed zoning change to town voters under the state’s Chapter 40R program. That program “encourages communities to create dense residential or mixed-use smart growth zoning districts, including a high percentage of affordable housing units.”

In 2024, the work done by Finnell and the Smart Growth Steering Committee included identifying a section of Route 9, mostly east of where the Norwottuck Rail Trail crosses the state highway and to the Amherst town line, for increased housing density and a potential for mixed-use developments. The committee also conducted a survey of residents, getting feedback about the positives and negatives of putting more housing in the commercial zone.

That work was done under a District Local Technical Assistance Grant. That money dried up, though, and neither the town nor PVPC has received word on an application for a $22,500 Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Planning Assistant Grant that would bring the work to the finish line.

In December, the Select Board approved dipping into Hadley Affordable Housing Trust funds to be used in the interim to complete the Chapter 40R work, if no other money is available.

Under Finnell’s plans, he will prioritize Chapter 40R zoning rather than other tasks the Planning Board could request, such as revisions to the town’s inclusionary bylaw that promotes development of affordable housing. The Planning Board is already working on amending the original senior overlay district to possibly allow a multiple-unit 55-and-over project at the Village Barn Shops site at 41 Russell St.

The remaining smart growth zoning work includes drafting a zoning bylaw amendment and conducting extensive community engagement. Finnell explained that about 80 hours of PVPC labor is available, with 55 of these hours to be rededicated to smart growth planning, and the remaining 25 hours for other tasks.

One plan shows having three or four focus group sessions and three or four larger listening sessions, along with one townwide input session, with another public meeting before a zoning change is brought to Town Meeting. The first initiative will be to restart monthly meetings with the steering committee.

Planning Board member Mark Dunn, who has been chairing the steering committee, said responses to the survey led to drafting a frequently asked questions response to inform the public and assuage fears about types of future development.

Dunn said the committee heard from many in town who want to downsize and stay in Hadley, but there are limited options for doing that.

Finnell said he appreciated that the Planning Board was willing to keep this project alive.

Under such a district, 20% of the housing must be provided for people making 80% of the area’s median income. Communities that adopt such districts get an upfront payment from the state, between $10,000 and $600,000, depending on how many projected units could be built, and an additional $3,000 payment for each unit that is brought online.

Northampton, Easthampton and South Hadley have had success in seeing developments through this zoning.

Finnell thanked the steering committee for its invaluable efforts and contributions, as well as the Planning Board. “I do appreciate the support,” Finnell said.

Other business

In other business, the Planning Board approved revisions to an exterior illuminated sign for the offices of Hampshire Meadow, which will offer pediatric, general and cosmetic dentistry from a new building at 101 East St., at the corner of Route 9. The project has included the recent demolition of a historic farmhouse that was within feet of the state highway.

Hampshire Meadow owner Cyrus Safizadeh, who runs the dental practice at 207 Russell St. in a plaza a short distance to the east, said he has secured financing and closed on a loan, meaning construction can commence on what he describes as “a nice corner” lot.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.