"Albatross" House Won't Become An Office

Despite a homeowner's plea to allow her to sell a West Springfield Road home to a local insurance group, the Springfield Zoning Board of Adjustment refused to permit a commercial business to operate at the residential property.

Springfield's zoning board rejected a bid to make 575 W. Springfield Road the new home for Cellucci Foran Insurance Inc. in a 3-1 vote Sept. 27.

Since Shayna Golda's father died in 2010, she's been unable to sell the six-bedroom home, which she calls an "albatross." The large home is across the street from Halderman Field and next to Life Christian Fellowship Church and Daycare, both of which generate a lot of traffic, she said.

Cellucci Foran Insurance Inc. agreed to buy the home and relocate its company there from the plaza at 130 S. State Road if zoning would allow it. The five-person office said only roughly five to seven clients visit in person weekly and that the property would be vacant weekends and nights.

Partner Tom Foran, a volunteer Springfield firefighter, said the firm wanted to stay in town.

"We want to own our own property in Springfield. I have a vested interest in Springfield. The fire department is important to me. I'd like to be able to quickly respond to calls," he said.

Golda said the area's traffic and property's size makes it hard to market the home to families. Originally built as a group home, the property doesn't make sense for a single family with one or two children, she said. In two years, she's never received an offer before the local insurance group approached her.

"When church is in session, there is no getting in or out of the driveway. When sporting events happen, there's no getting in or out of the driveway... The house is an albatross. I don't know what I will do with it," she said.

Her Realtor, Mary Lousie Butler, said the home doesn't fit the needs of families.

"I don't believe Springfield Road was a busy area when it was originally built, but now it is," she said. "And as a Springfield resident, I don't want any more vacant properties in my township." 

The zoning board opted to enforce the letter of the law. As the house is zoned in the "A" residence district, the property owners had to prove a hardship. The ZBA decided not enough evidence existed to issue a variance.

ZBA member Robert Rushton voted in favor of rejecting the bid.

"There are a number of places in commercial areas available in Springfield. They may be more expensive, but they are for sale," he said. "This property was meant to be residential."

Edward Kelly, an alternate ZBA member who did not vote, questioned the precedent in allowing the business in a residential area would create.

"Would this make it easier for any of the other properties on Springfield Road to claim a hardship and want to change to commercial?" he asked, which the applicants admitted it probably would.

Golda testified that neighbors behind and next to the property supported the insurance group. However, they did not appear at the Springfield Township Building last Thursday.

The only neighbor who did speak on it, David Begley from 555 W. Springfield Road, was opposed.

"It's a residential neighborhood and it should stay one... I don't want an insurance agency on my street," he said.

ZBA members Edward Porter and Bernard Stein joined Rushton in opposing the project. Nancy Thomas cast the only vote allowing it.

Editor's note: An earlier version incorrectly listed a Springfield field and has since been updated.