City Council - Zoning Committee

CHICOPEE CITY COUNCIL ZONING COMMITTEE APPROVED 4-14-2016 ZONING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Shane Brooks, Chairman Timothy McLellan, Vice Chairman Fred Krampits Frank Laflamme Jerry Roy James Tillotson William Zaskey MINUTES March 17, 2016 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present Brooks, Krampits, Laflamme, Tillotson, Roy, Zaskey Members Absent McLellan Also Present Daniel Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Councilor Labrie, Councilor Lamontagne, Lee Pouliot (Planning Director) Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM In compliance with the Open Meeting Law the Chairman asked if anyone in the audience was recording the meeting. Motion made to postpone until the end of the meeting – motion passed Councilor Laflamme motion to put Item # 1 back on the table – Councilor Brooks 2nd the motion – motion passed ITEM #1 Application for a Zone Change from Business A to Business B for 1.216 acres/53,001 SF of property located at 840 & 856 Memorial Dr. for the purpose of permitting warehousing and storage uses permitted by right under Business B zone. U-Haul would like to propose a climate controlled self-storage facility. 1 Applicant – Jim Blair, U-Haul Marketing Company, President, 499 Montgomery St, Chicopee, MA 01020 Frank Del Monte, 152 Carriage Road, owner of the property was present he stated that the petitioner will be here in ten minutes. Councilor Brooks stated while we wait for the applicant we should hear the public input. Public Input A resident stated he was there representing his ninety five year old mother. She owns property on Granby Road abutting 499 Montgomery Street. There are some concerns putting a storage facility aside of single family homes. This is right up against residential homes. He stated that you will have noise and lights. Councilor Tillotson stated that this is not the typical storage facility. Councilor Brooks stated that I think the intentionality behind us removing use by right in requiring a special permit was to take into consideration some of those things. Our primary target was those areas that were spot zoned in thickly settled residential areas where there’s a portion of property that will be surrounded by four or five residential streets and four hundred houses with this half-acre that was zoned Business B. If someone wanted to throw up a storage unit we’d have traffic driving through a highly residential neighborhood. Where this is it’s a unique situation on a high traveled rotary and this is what we’re tasked with determining to see if it would mix with the makeup of the neighborhood. Frank Delmonte stated that U-Haul will be installing a privacy fence that is sound defending and much higher. Councilor Tillotson stated that he thought another restaurant would be put there. He stated that there was a problem with U-Haul years ago with noise and repairing vehicles. Frank Delmonte stated that all their repairs will be done in West Springfield. Lee Pouliot stated that redeveloping of this property will likely require a public hearing with the Planning Board as well as a SPROC review. Jim Blair arrived and stated that if it’s possible to get the zoning change we were looking to acquire the property with future plans of redeveloping it. Attorney Garvey stated that it is important to know what is going on the property. There are no plans to show. You’re opening up to a new zoning with a big question mark. Councilor Brooks stated that Business A & B are identical in what businesses could potentially go there, except for one exception that a special permit be required for Business B for warehousing and storage. Councilor Tillotson stated that the applicant would have to come back for a public hearing and abutters would be notified. He would have to have plans and specifics of what the building is going to look like and where it will go before we would vote on a special permit. Councilor Brooks added a detailed site plan with setbacks, boundary lines, privacy fencing and it would all be contingent upon the special permit which could be revoked if it didn’t meet criteria. Councilor Lamontagne stated that he has gotten complaints about the fence that runs behind the homes. Jim Blair stated he’s planning on making a better buffer such as tall arborvitaes. 2 Councilor Krampits motion to approve – Councilor Laflamme 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable. 1 abstention Brooks ITEM #2 Application for a Zone Change from Residential A to Business A for 8,102 +/- SF of property at 417 Montgomery St for use as small retail or office space. Applicant Jon Goudreault, 2 Briar Spring Lane, South Hadley, MA 01075 Jon Goudreault stated that currently the property is across from Medical West. I just recently purchased it and I want to clean up the zoning to allow someone to go in there and start a small business. Lee Pouliot stated that this is just a small parcel that would add onto an existing business district. Councilor Labrie stated that this is business zoned and next to other businesses and he does not have a problem with it. Councilor Tillotson motion to approve – Councilor Roy 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 6 – 0 favorable. ITEM #3 Application for a Special Permit under section 275-56 for the purpose of marquee sign located at 456 Front St. Applicant-Petros Mirisis, 70 Rich St., Chicopee, MA 01020 Councilor Tillotson stated the only concern he has is that the lighting doesn’t affect the neighbors; you are right next door to a three family house. Petros Mirisis stated that the sign will light up but it will not flash and it should not affect the neighbors. Committee vote 6 – 0 favorable. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Krampits 2nd the motion – motion approved ITEM #4 Application for a Special Permit under section 275-57 (C) 1 for the purpose of 2nd floor apartment units (2) in a commercial building located at Parcel B Grace Street Assessors Map 419/420 Parcel 80. 3 Applicant-Craig Authier, 201 Nelson St., Chicopee, MA 01013 Craig Authier stated that this is the old nursing home on Grattan, Dellaire and Grace Streets. My Father had bought the whole parcel and he went for a special permit, sub-divided it and sold me the back piece. What I’m looking to do is put a parking lot towards the left side and a small two family with a one bedroom and a two bedroom unit. There will be less traffic compared to a small business that could be detriment to that area. Now that the Nursing Home is gone this should be converted back to residential. Public Input Jim Moreau 19 Grace Street stated that Craig was nice enough to have a meeting with the neighbors to discuss his plans. Our concern is the negative impact as far as the value of our homes and the concern of privacy with our house being directly next to this. There are three windows that look directly down into my bedroom and my office. He has agreed to make some concessions as far as putting up trees to provide a little privacy. They are doing a great job on the building. Councilor Brooks stated that the property is zoned Commercial A-1 which does allow a special permit for up to four apartments. Reports from Departments Planning Department Property is zoned Commercial A-1; up to 4 apartments units allowed in a commercial building with a Special Permit. Request details creation of 2 apartment units. Use (residential) is consistent with surrounding neighborhood. Final development plan including site layout (parking) will require SPRAC review (275-6 ( c) 1 (A)). Otherwise, recommend approval. Health Department No concerns at this time Engineering No information provided for Engineering to comment on. Fire Department Description of storage Complete alarm system in apartments with heat detection in storage area interconnected with common area detection. Adequate egress from dwelling units. Adequate parking for tenants while maintaining access for emergency vehicles. Restrictions Permit to run with land 4 Final development plan including site layout (parking) will require SPRAC review (275-6(c) 1 (A) require 6 foot privacy fence on back western portion of property and adjust windows to minimize impact on neighbors. Additional landscaping as deemed necessary. Councilor Tillotson stated we should leave it as Commercial 1 A. You could end up with something worst. Attorney Garvey read a list of business’s that could apply for a special permit under section 275- 57 (C) 1. Finance, Insurance, real estate services, personal and professional services, welfare and charity services and a four apartment dwelling. Councilor Roy motion to approve – Councilor Brooks 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 6 – 0 favorable. ITEM #5 Minutes – February 11, 2016 – Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Brooks 2nd the motion – motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. 5