Agawam Council Approves 9-0 Rezoning of Feeding Hills Parcel for Senior Care Homes

Select Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Agawam City Council votes 9-0 to rezone a Feeding Hills parcel for senior care homes. The council approved ZC 2026-3 Monday, rezoning a 1.6-acre lot at 430 North West Street from Business B to Residence A-2 to allow ChandaCare Inc. owner Chantel Bernard to build two senior care homes for older adults with disabilities and one owner-occupied residence. Abutters Vitaly Yusenko, an attorney at 20 Coyote Circle, and neighbor Madison O'Connell of 452 North West Street had asked the council to delay action, with O'Connell arguing that keeping the business designation would preserve planning-board review of any future use.

Councilor Mercadanti backed the change on fiscal grounds, saying he had been assured the properties would not seek 501(c)(3) status, while Councilor Hendrickson warned that leaving the parcel zoned business risked a commercial tenant "you're gonna like even less." The council also advanced a fence-height ordinance on a 9-0 first reading and set an August 3 public hearing on a proposed temporary moratorium on data centers.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.