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University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 1960 A case history in zoning: the Holyoke, Massachusetts experience. Michael P. Curran University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Curran, Michael P., "A case history in zoning: the Holyoke, Massachusetts experience." (1960). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 2574. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/2574 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. It UMASS/AMHERST j III ill III III Hill 312066 0317 5520 8 FIVE COLLEGE DEPOSITORY L* Ao t HISTORY i!M ZONING: THE HOIYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS EXPEIRISNCE A CASE HISTORY IN ZONING: THE HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIENCE by Michael P. Curran Bachelor of Arts University of Massachusetts 1957 Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts November I960 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS INTRODUCTION ^ Chapter I THE METROPOLITAN AREA 5 Topography Demography Economy II THE CITY OF HOLYOKE 11 History Contemporary Scene III THE DEVELOPMENT OF ZONING 39 United States Massachusetts Holyoke IV THOSE CONCERNED WITH ZONING 62 Public Bodies Private Groups V CASE STUDY OF A ZONE CHANGE REQUEST .... 79 VI CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 97 APPENDIX BIBLIOGRAPHY I35 iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page 1. Springf ield-Holyoke Metropolitan Area ... 10 A 2. Map of Ireland Parish 1831 13 A 3* Plan of Holyoke 1853 17 A 4. Path of Holyoke Canal System 20 A 5. General Location of Industrial, Commercial and Residential Districts 33 A V PREFACE When I undertook this project, I did so with a vague realization that I would be operating under something of a handicap. Municipal records are not nearly as well kept as are the records of the higher echelons of government. Munic- ipal service has not to date attracted the type of career employee who is often found at other levels of government and who works through various political periods. I soon learned, however, that the information which was available from public records was even less than I had expected. Fortunately, I also found that the people who have been involved with the zoning ordinances in Holyoke were, whether now in or out, always willing to help me. This study would not have been possible had it not been for the splendid cooperation I re- ceived from these people. The files of the Holyoke Trans- cript-Telegram were an unparalleled source of information without which my task would have been hopeless. Though I am certain I must have become a terribly familiar sight, I was always welcomed and generously given every measure of assistance by the staff of the Transcript-Telegram. I want to especially thank William J. Dunn, Chairman of the Holyoke Planning Board for the many times he allowed me to interrupt his busy work day to discuss the subjects of planning and zoning in Holyoke. Francis Mackay, Planning ii Engineer for the Planning Board, was always willing to dis- cuss ray probleras with rae and to help rae in any way possible. Mrs. Eleanor Murphy, secretary to the Planning Board, raost graciously allowed rae full access to her records and notes. James Shea, Assistant City Clerk, guided me through the records of the Clerk’s office and was invaluable in helping me through that maze. Tom O’Donnell, Clerk of Committees of the Board of Aldermen, generously spent a good deal of his time with me, and for me, checking the records of the aldermanic committee meetings. Others to whom I am indebted are: Austin Kenifeck, Chairman of the Board of Appeals; Douglas Ferguson, President, Board of Aldermen; William Millane and John Driscoll, former members and former chair- men of the Planning Board; Conrad Hemond, former Executive Director Holyoke Chamber of Commerce; the present staff of the Chamber of Commerce; George V. Wallace, President of the Hadley Falls Trust Company; and Mayor Samuel Resnic. iii INTRODUCTION Dxiring the decade 1910 - 1920, the United States changed from a nation which was basically rural to one in which a majority of the people lived in urban areas. Today two-thirds of our citizens live in communities of more than 2,500 people: and the rate of change is actually increasing as the suburbs continue to spread out from the central cities. This spread of urbanization has unfortunately been accompanied by an extension of urban blight and decay. Pub- lic officials at all levels of government increasingly aware of the problem have taken a series of steps designed to cope with and eventually eliminate it. They find that their most effective tools are contained in a program of sound munici- pal planning. As originally conceived municipal planning was con- cerned only with the development of the ’’city beautiful”. In recent years its scope has been expanded to include social, economic and governmental problems as well as the purely physical. The broad objectives of city planning today are to develop the resources of the community in such a way that the health, safety, convenience and general wel- fare of the public are maximized. The planner attempts to co-ordinate and to bring into harmony the social, economic and political aspects of the community through the power of 1 . 2 the municipal government, so that the neighborhood becomes, or remains, an attractive place in which to live and work. The planner in his study of the community attempts what is known as a Master Plan. This master plan usually contains at least these three parts 1. "WHAT DO YOU HAVE?” a land use study which cata- logs all the uses to which the land in the community is being utilized at the time the study is taking place 2. ”WHAT DO YOU WANT?" a land use study which es- timates the "ideal” use for all land in the community and which projects the needs of the community into the future. 3. "HOW CAN YOU ACHIEVE IT?” This is a complicated phase of the master plan, but for our purposes the first essential is a zoning ordinance which establishes districts in each of which land uses are regulated. The assembly of such dis- tricts will in time result in the community’s land use pattern following the "ideal” as proposed in step 2. Competent planning cannot be achieved without due regard for the zoning phase. Through the use of the zoning ordin- ance the community attempts to insure that each new land use makes a contribution towards transforming the present com- munity into a better one. The regulations may be compared For our purposes I am citing only the land use aspect of the Master Plan. A full study would also include such things as: population forecasting, economic base study, traffic flow patterns, educational and other community facil- ities requirements, and financing. - 3 - with the blueprints used in building a house: Just as the house is composed of rooms, each of which is intended for a specific use, so do the zoning districts combine to form the city. Because the zoning ordinance has such great potential value to a community, it is unfortunate that it is probably the least understood and most misused of all municipal powers and rights. The average citizen knows little of and cares less for the provisions of his local zoning ordinance. If at any time he thinks his rights are in jeopardy he is apt to go off, poorly prepared and with objections which are irrevalent, to any public hearing in which he may be in- volved. He may have good reason for objecting to a proposed change, but if he is not interested enough to know the law he will probably be unsuccessful. On the other hand, it also happens that a vociferous minority may band together and by objecting to a move for personal reasons, thwart the public officials from acting for the public good. Misunderstanding and pure ignorance of local zoning regulations are not limited to the general public. In far too many cases the local officials who are entrusted with the development and enforcement of zoning, through a combination of misunderstanding, ignorance and fear, close their eyes to the needs of the community. When sorely needed changes are discussed they either definitely refuse to act, or delay and hesitate unnecessarily before doing so. In other cases the delay and hesitation may be caused by local officials who are seeking their own personal ends. They have no desire - 4 - for any change that will block their own aims. They seek or effect moves only for their own aggrandizement. Unfamiliarity with the zoning ordinance extends also to the builders and developers of the community. This un- familiarity may however be an affected pose used in an attempt to disregard or to bypass certain provisions of the zoning regulations. In either case it does not speak well of the type of people who are developing our communities. Too often the minimum requirements set by the planning board are used as the sole criterion for development. The focus of this study is the subject of zoning in the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts. I have chosen Holyoke for the purpose of this study for three reasons: 1. It is the city of my birth and has been my home all my life, a community with which I am thor- oughly familiar, and one in which I have a number of personal acquaintenances who have been willing to assist me in securing information necessary to this project.

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