City Council - Zoning Committee

City of Chicopee City Council Zoning Committee Approved 12-11-2024 Members George Balakier, Chair Gary Labrie, Vice-Chair Samuel Shumsky Timothy Wagner Robert J. Zygarowski MINUTES November 14, 2024 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium, 3rd floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 and via Zoom. Members Present: Balakier, Labrie, Shumsky, Wagner (zoom), Zygarowski Also Present: Timothy Reilly (Associate City Solicitor) The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM Some of the audio was inaudible. In compliance with the Open Meeting Law the Chairman asked if anyone in the audience was recording the meeting. Hearing none the meeting continued. Roll Call: Councilor Yes No Absent Abstained Out of Chair Balakier X Labrie X Shumsky X Wagner X zoom Zygarowski X Motion passed. Item #1 Special Permit application under Chapter 275-67 for the purpose of developing existing property for residential and commercial use. Project shall include the addition of ten (10) new apartments on the second level of the existing structure. Apartments consist of six (6) one bedroom, three (3) two bedroom and one (1) studio units. First level will be renovated to accommodate commercial establishments. Waiver requested – applicant request a waiver for traffic impact study located at 232 Exchange Street. Applicant – Albert Babadzhanov, 232 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 1 Albert Babadzhonov was present. He provided a summary of his business plans. The applicant stated he would like to start as soon as possible, and it would take him about six months to complete. Councilor Balakier stated that this is a mill district we have the ODRC review and that’s all the departments that are involved Conditions 1. Motion to approve Special Permit application that applicant must comply with all requests and conditions of the ODRC review regarding the subject property. 2. Satisfactory response letter from the Planning Director that all conditions have been met regarding the ODRC review. Building Rehab Project – 232 Exchange Street ODRC Review (24-1103) Departmental Comments – October 17, 2024 (Revised November 8, 2024) Planning Department: 1. The Planning Department defers all building and fire code compliance regarding the internal renovations to the Building and Fire Departments. 2. Planning supports mixed-use, residential based rehabilitation of this building. 3. Per Chapter 275-40, based on the proposed ten (10) residential living units, 15 parking spaces are required to accommodate the residential use of the building. The Planning Department notes I discrepancy between the proposed floor plans and the project narrative report. The plans show nine (9) residential units and the narrative reports ten (10) residential units. The plans were reviewed as ten (10) residential units. 4. Applicant to confirm the number of available off-street parking spaces. If the available spaces does not meet the requirement, the Planning Department supports the waiver request under the flexible parking standards (2,3,4, and 10) since this is a rehab of an existing downtown building. 5. Existing parking lot to be restriped and directional arrows added. 6. If any future site improvements are to be advanced the Applicant will be required to submit site plans for review which will include addressing the City’s Stormwater Ordinance. Engineering Department: 7. There were no Site Plans submitted with this application. No site improvements are proposed with this application, as was confirmed at the October 17, 2024 SPRAC meeting. As no site improvements are proposed, the Engineering Department has no comments on this application. 2  If any site improvements are proposed at a later date, any such improvements shall be reviewed by the Engineering Department for comment. Water Department: 8. In order to add fire sprinklers to the building, a new fire line is required. Fire sprinklers cannot be tapped off domestic water lines. 9. The Water Department recommends denial at this time as this submittal is missing any construction plans for a new fire line, so the plan submittal is incomplete. 10. The proposed fire line to building is to be sized by a licensed Fire Engineer. Chicopee Water Department requires a written, stamped letter from the Fire Engineer depicting the size of fire line and that the size will be sufficient for fire suppression. 11. Please include in the Grading & Utility Notes: All materials are subject to our approval and should meet Water Department Specifications as outlined in our “Construction Standards and Materials Specifications.” i.e. Water Mains shall be class 52 ductile iron. All materials shall be new and of the type currently being used by the Chicopee Water Department. This can be found on The City of Chicopee web site under Water Dept. along with Water Department Fee Schedule and Permit Documents. 12. Please include in the General Notes AND Grading & Utility Notes: Chicopee Water Department is a non-member utility of DIGSAFE and you MUST contact us directly 72 hours prior to excavation at 413-594-3420 for water mark outs. 13. Please include in the Grading & Utility Notes: All water gate and service valves are only to be operated by Chicopee Water Department Personnel. 14. Please include in the Grading & Utility Notes: Water Main Shutdown Requests must be submitted in writing to Assistant Superintendent Michael Beliveau, (mbeliveau@chicopeema.gov) at a minimum of 5 business days. The contractor is responsible for notifying affected residences/businesses at a minimum of 2 business days ahead of time. 15. Please include in the Grading & Utility Notes: Any service boxes or gate valves must not be paved over. Any concerns please call Water Department. 16. The Proposed Fire Service and Existing Domestic Lines must maintain a minimum of a 4-foot distance from each other at all times. 17. Water lines must be kept 10 feet from sewer and 5 feet from all other utilities. Utility crossings are to have a minimum of an 18” clearance on all sides of the water utility. 18. Water Service Application Form must be submitted a minimum of 10 business days prior to starting water work. 3 19. Any and all changes to the water utility must be submitted via updated plans and submitted to the Water Department for approval. 20. Contact the Chicopee Water Department for all service line details and to add to the construction plans. 21. Plumbing plans are required to be submitted to the Cross Connection Coordinator for cross connection and backflow review. The building will be subject of a plumbing survey upon completion. 22. Backflow Permit must be submitted for backflow inspection. Fire line backflow will need to be tested yearly. Police Department: 23. Recommends approval Fire Department: 24. Provided documents show code review SUMMARY- full code review will be required to be submitted at time of permit application- as summary is not sufficient for this level of alteration. 25. Sprinkler system shall be required – location for FDC. 26. FD shall require a stamped plan by a P.E. that demonstrates FD access in accordance with 527 CMR 1.00 chapter 18 – Will require Fire Department Access to be labeled “no parking”. 27. A Fire Safety Plan for Construction/Renovation/Demolition in compliance with NFPA 241 shall be required and submitted at time of permitting application. 28. As fire alarm system is required – panel location. 29. Dumpster location during renovation. Permanent location shall be included on plans at time of building permit submittal. 30. FD Shall require annunciators/remote annunciators at all main entrances. 31. FD shall require a legend of all the addressable detectors and zones. Building Department: 32. Developer will need a code review from a design professional to address the following  Fire Sprinklers  Fire Alarm system  ADA compliance through 521 CMR (designated parking, access, elevator? etc…)  Fire rated walls between commercial and residential areas 4  33. Porches need to be assessed for structural stability. 34. Concern that work has started prior to obtaining any permits. Water Pollution Control: 35. Recommend installation of a backflow prevention device as building is connected to a combined sewer system. Community Development: 36. Community Development submitted an email stating they have no comments. Assessors: 37. The Assessors Office submitted an email stating they have no comments. Chicopee Electric Light: 38. Developer to remain in contact with CEL engineering about intended loads. School Department: 39. The School Department submitted an email stating they have no comments. Health Department: 40. The Health Department submitted an email stating they have no comments. Commission for the Disabled: 41. No written comments were submitted. Conservation Commission: 42. This project is not within any Conservation Commission jurisdictional areas. City Council (Ward 2) 43. No comments provided by the Ward Councilor. Councilor Shumsky motion to close public input – Councilor Balakier 2nd the motion. Roll Call: Councilor Yes No Absent Abstained Out of Chair Balakier X Labrie X Shumsky X Wagner X zoom Zygarowski X Motion passed. 5 Councilor Labrie motion to approve the special permit with restrictions – Councilor Balakier 2nd the motion. Roll Call: Councilor Yes No Absent Abstained Out of Chair Balakier X Labrie X Shumsky X Wagner X zoom Zygarowski X Motion passed. Councilor Zygarowski motion to approve the waiver – Councilor Balakier 2nd the motion. Roll Call: Councilor Yes No Absent Abstained Out of Chair Balakier X Labrie X Shumsky X Wagner X zoom Zygarowski X Motion passed. ITEM #2 Minutes of October 30, 2024 Councilor Shumsky motion to approve – Councilor Balakier 2nd the motion. Roll Call: Councilor Yes No Absent Abstained Out of Chair Balakier X Labrie X Shumsky X Wagner X zoom Zygarowski X Motion passed. ITEM #3 Councilor Zygarowski motion to approve – Councilor Balakier 2nd the motion Adjournment Roll Call: Councilor Yes No Absent Abstained Out of Chair Balakier X Labrie X Shumsky X 6  Wagner X zoom Zygarowski X Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM 7