Planning Board

Chicopee Planning Board Voting Record and Minutes The Planning Board of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 7 PM Chambers Conference Room, 4th Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 Meeting was brought to order at 7:00 PM. Planning Board Attendance Member Present Absent Excused Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Nathan Moreau, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X Planning Department Staff Attendance Title Name Present Absent Excused Director Lee Pouliot X Development Manager James Dawson X Assistant Planner Patrick Collins X Associate Planner Nick Kiser X ITEM 1: Ordinance Amendment to add Chapter 275-73 James Street. Full text available at the Department of Planning & Development and Conservation. Applicant: Derek Dobosz (former Ward 6 Councilor) and Councilor Mary Beth Pniak-Costello (Ward 9) Notes: Councilor Pniak-Costello presented the petition to the Board. She cited heavy traffic and safety as reasons for the request. It was noted that one resident had concerns as well. Tim Reilly of the City Law Department spoke and provided the Board with a summary of legal precedent. There was no public comment on the matter. The Board voted to recommend denial of the proposed amendment. Motion to recommend denial was made by Michael Sarnelli and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 6-0 to deny. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 2: Zone Change from Residential B to Business A for 51,835 SF of property to allow for first floor restaurant with residential uses on upper floors and associated site improvements/parking. Location: 22 Grove Ave. and Grove St. Assessor Map 125, Parcels 26 and 29. Applicant: Ridvan Turan, 185 Grove St., Chicopee, MA 01020 Notes: The Applicant presented his plans for the property to the Board. One Abutter spoke who was concerned about traffic and noise issues. He noted these concerns were already occurring due to other businesses in the immediate area. The Board discussed the proposal and voted to recommend approval. Motion to recommend approval was made by Michael Sarnelli and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 6-0 to recommend approval. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 3a: Definitive Site Plan Waiver #1 – Waiver of Section 2-26A GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: 1’ = 20’ Scale – Location: New Ludlow Rd. and Ludlow Rd., Assessor Map 779, Parcels 5 & 6; Map 747, Parcel 1; and Map 762, Parcel 8. Applicant: Marion Excavating Co., Inc. c/o Todd B. Marion, 749 New Ludlow Rd., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: The Board decided to take Waivers 1-5 (Items 3a – 3e) out of order and voted on them together as a unit prior to the Board taking action on the minutes (Item 9). ITEM 3b: Definitive Site Plan Waiver #2 – Waiver of Section 2-26C EXISTING CONDITIONS PLAN: Existing topography showing two foot (2’) maximum contours - Location: New Ludlow Rd. and Ludlow Rd., Assessor Map 779, Parcels 5 & 6; Map 747, Parcel 1; and Map 762, Parcel 8. Applicant: Marion Excavating Co., Inc. c/o Todd B. Marion, 749 New Ludlow Rd., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: The Board decided to take Waivers 1-5 (Items 3a – 3e) out of order and voted on them together as a unit prior to the Board taking action on the minutes (Item 9). ITEM 3c: Definitive Site Plan Waiver #3 - Waiver of Section 2-26E GRADING AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN: Detailed cut and fill areas indicated - Location: New Ludlow Rd. and Ludlow Rd., Assessor Map 779, Parcels 5 & 6; Map 747, Parcel 1; and Map 762, Parcel 8. Applicant: Marion Excavating Co., Inc. c/o Todd B. Marion, 749 New Ludlow Rd., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: The Board decided to take Waivers 1-5 (Items 3a – 3e) out of order and voted on them together as a unit prior to the Board taking action on the minutes (Item 9). ITEM 3d: Definitive Site Plan Waiver #4 – Waiver of Section 2-26F UTILITY PLAN: Site lighting and accessory lighting. Location: New Ludlow Rd. and Ludlow Rd., Assessor Map 779, Parcels 5 & 6; Map 747, Parcel 1; and Map 762, Parcel 8. Applicant: Marion Excavating Co., Inc. c/o Todd B. Marion, 749 New Ludlow Rd., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: The Board decided to take Waivers 1-5 (Items 3a – 3e) out of order and voted on them together as a unit prior to the Board taking action on the minutes (Item 9). ITEM 3e: Definitive Site Plan Waiver #5 – Waiver of Section 2-26H CROSS SECTIONS. Location: New Ludlow Rd. and Ludlow Rd., Assessor Map 779, Parcels 5 & 6; Map 747, Parcel 1; and Map 762, Parcel 8. Applicant: Marion Excavating Co., Inc. c/o Todd B. Marion, 749 New Ludlow Rd., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: The Board decided to take Waivers 1-5 (Items 3a – 3e) out of order and voted on them together as a unit prior to the Board taking action on the minutes (Item 9). ITEM 3f: Definitive Site Plan for Contract Construction use as a contractor’s yard and associated site improvements. Location: New Ludlow Rd. and Ludlow Rd., Assessor Map 779, Parcels 5 & 6; Map 747, Parcel 1; and Map 762, Parcel 8. Applicant: Marion Excavating Co., Inc. c/o Todd B. Marion, 749 New Ludlow Rd., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: *Board Member Jay Paul recused himself from the meeting and exited the room due to his association with the Applicant, he abstained from the vote. A representative of R. Levesque Associates presented the petition to the Board. It was explained that the Applicant received an Order of Conditions from the Conservation Commission. SPRAC comments were reviewed. Councilor Pniak-Costello spoke. She posed questions about a Cease-and-Desist Order. She also read correspondence from an Abutter into the meeting record. Neighbors expressed concerns about dust control, material storage, and noise. The Owner is required to control dust with a water truck spray system. One neighbor was happy to hear that all concerns were being met while another neighbor expressed concerns for dust, noise, and vibrations from the equipment impacting the state of his home. Planning Staff explained the significant effort between the Board and the Property Owner of Marion Excavating on complying with neighborhood concerns. The Board voted to approve the Definitive Site Plan and considered the SPRAC Comments as Conditions of Approval. Motion to approve with conditions was made by Michael Sarnelli and seconded by Eric Oulette. Vote was 5 to approve, 0 opposed, and 1 abstention*. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 4: Preliminary Site Plan to construct a pre-engineered metal building with associated site improvements. Location: 41 Robbins Rd., Chicopee, MA 01020 Applicant: KOI 2 KOI Associates LLC. c/o Christopher P. Lapinski, 9 Wellesley Cir., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: A representative of Sherman and Frydryk presented the Preliminary Site Plans to the Board and reviewed the SPRAC comments. Possible Waivers of Site Plan regulations to be applied for with future Definitive Site Plans was discussed. Applicant Christopher Lapinski questioned a SPRAC comment from Fire Department regarding the building sprinkler system. The Board voted to approve the Preliminary Site Plans and considered the SPRAC comments Conditions of Approval that are to be addressed in future Definitive Site Plans. Motion to approve the Preliminary Site Plans and consider SPRAC comments Conditions of Approval to be addressed in future Definitive Site Plans was made by Michael Sarnelli and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 6-0 to approve.  Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 5: Waiver of Frontage from 100’ to 99.2’ to allow a three-family house to remain on a reduced frontage lot and allow residential development on legal sized adjacent lots. Location: 19 Beaumont Ave., Applicant: David Labrie, 187 Nelson St., Chicopee, MA 01020 Notes: *Chairperson Cynthia Labrie recused herself from the meeting and exited the room since her husband is the Applicant. She abstained from the vote. The Applicant presented his petition to the Board and provided a brief history of the property. He explained that after creating two legal sized single-family building lots adjacent to the subject property the remaining frontage was short approximately 10 inches of being a legal two-family building lot. The Board discussed the petition and voted to approve the Waiver. Motion to approve was made by Jay Paul and seconded by Eric Oulette. Vote was 5 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention*. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 6: Liquor License to allow for a new Restaurant All Alcohol License. Location: 703 Grattan St. Applicant: Lucky Strike Ibic, Inc. d/b/a Lucky Strike Restaurant, 703 Grattan St., Chicopee, MA 01013 Notes: A representative of the Applicant presented the petition to the Board. It was explained that obtaining a Purchase and Sale agreement took a substantial amount of time and that the establishment was under new ownership. The Board discussed the petition and voted to recommend approval to the License Commission. Motion to approve was made by Michael Sarnelli and seconded by Jay Paul . Vote was 6-0 to recommend approval to the License Commission. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 7: (Tabled from January 4 and February 1, 2024) Covenant Reduction and Acceptance of As- Built Subdivision Plans – Sycamore Lane and Morgan Circle. Applicant: Grandview Development Associates, LLC and A.H.H. Inc. c/o Craig Authier. Notes: It was noted that the City Engineer and Planning Department had some concerns regarding As- Built plans and approved Subdivision Plans that have yet to be resolved. Motion to table to the April 4th 2024 meeting was made by Michael Sarnelli and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 6-0 to table to April 4, 2024. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 8: ANRs – Staff noted there were no ANR plans to act upon. NOTE: The Board voted on the five Waivers of Site Plan Regulations associated with Agenda Item #3f at this time. The Board decided to act upon all five requested Waivers as one unit since they were related to one another. The Board discussed the five waivers and voted to approve all five. *Jay Paul recused himself from the meeting and exited the room due to his association with the Applicant. He abstained from the vote. Motion to approve the requested five Waivers of Site Plan Regulations was made by Michael Sarnelli and seconded by Eric Oulette. Vote was 5 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 9: Minutes from February 1, 2024 Motion to approve was made by Tom Reniewicz and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 5-1 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 10: New Business/Discussion Notes: There was no New Business or Discussion. ITEM 11: Adjournment next meeting is scheduled for April 4, 2024. Motion to adjourn was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 6-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Cynthia Labrie, Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Michael Sarnelli X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X Meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM