Published: 3/25/2016 6:42:50 PM
AMHERST – Trustees for the Jones Library and directors of the Amherst Historical Society are expected to formally seek a zoning change for the 67 Amity St. lot where the Strong House Museum is located.
Library trustees will meet with representatives from the society at 4:45 p.m. Monday, in the Amherst Room at the Jones Library, 43 Amity St., requesting that the Select Board add two articles to the warrant for annual Town Meeting, which begins May 2.
These articles are needed in case the library, which is planning an expansion and renovation, purchases a portion of its neighboring property for this project. Should the Strong House lose any portion of its land, it would fall out of compliance with town zoning.
The first article would create a restrictive covenant for 67 Amity St. that limits the use of the uses at the property to those customarily associated with a not-for-profit historical museum and a public library, while the second article would rezone the parcel from general residence to general business.
Library Director Sharon Sharry and Select Board member James Wald, emeritus president of the historical society, recently spoke to the Planning Board about the proposed zoning change.
Planning Board Chairman Stephen Schreiber said his board has not yet taken a position on whether to recommend the proposed zoning change.
Any zoning change requires a two-thirds vote of approval by Town Meeting.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.