HADLEY — JP Morgan Chase Bank’s expansion into Hampshire County, with the former Silverscape building in downtown Northampton being converted into a branch, is continuing with the planned construction of a new bank at the edge of the Hampshire Mall parking lot.

The Planning Board on Tuesday received a preliminary presentation showing that a Chase Bank branch could be constructed on the lawn at the corner of Route 9 and South Maple Street, immediately west of Trader Joe’s.

“There will be a drive-up ATM facility associated with it, and there’s also a financial planning component with the Chase Bank branch,” said Josh Kline, a representative for the bank, adding that he’s handled about 18 similar projects over the past year.

As site plans are filed for the project, Kline said the company will be seeking a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals from the required 50-foot front yard setback due to the ongoing reconstruction of Route 9 and the addition of a dedicated turn lane on South Maple Street, and moving that street’s northernmost entrance to Hampshire Mall to the south.

Kline said the state Department of Transportation is taking 18 feet from the setback.

Planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski, though, said since no application was filed before the state’s project getting underway, and the mall was previously compensated for the taking, the new project should meet town zoning rules.

“There’s no reason they can’t comply with zoning,” Maksimoski said. “From my point of view on the Planning Board, I don’t see there’s a hardship. What is the hardship they are going to propose to reduce the front-yard setback?” he asked.

Maksimoski said the site selected for the project might also be part of the drainage system for the mall, but Kline said that there is no formal retention facility there.

Planning Board member Mark Dunn said the site has been used for snow storage. Kline said there should be sufficient places to pile snow elsewhere on the property.

“The site does have additional open space,” Kline said. “There’s still plenty of additional open space available on site.”

Other projects

In other business, planners approved the transfer of a portion of the site at 303 Russell St., behind Harbor Freight Store, from owner Barry Roberts to the neighboring Steve Lewis Subaru, 315 Russell St. The property has a building that was constructed for Rao’s Coffee Roasting that is currently vacant.

Thomas Reidy, an attorney with Bacon Wilson, said he anticipates the Subaru dealership will use the building for service, parts and general storage.

Steve Lewis will have to request permission from planners before using the site.

“We will want to know what he’s doing in there. It is in the aquifer,” said Planning Board Clerk William Dwyer.

The board also approved a 32-square-foot job site sign for the Ideal Movers and Storage building under construction on South Maple Street, but advised that an internally illuminated sign for AT&T at 355 Russell St., with its store moving from 359 Russell St. to a spot between Sport Clips and 110 Grille, will have to be externally illuminated and reduced in size to comply with a 40-square-foot maximum rule for signs on a multi-tenant building.

Planners accepted a special permit application from Em Ike of Laurana Lane to operate a pelvic floor therapy home business that will see 20 to 25 patients per week. That will be subject to a hearing on Feb. 21.

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