Planning Board

Chicopee Planning Board Voting Record and Minutes The Planning Board of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Thursday, May 2, 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 Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz 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: Zone Change from Residential A and Business A to Residential B with Mill Conversion and Commercial Center Overlay District for the entirety of the property to allow for consistent zoning and eliminate a split-zoned property for the purpose of residential development. Location: 0 and 445 Chicopee St. (Assessor Map 442, Parcels 90 and 91) Applicant: Chicopee Property Management, LLC c/o Risa Teall, 112 East St., Granby, MA 01033 Notes: Rob Levesque presented the petition to the Board and gave a brief history of the property. Mr. Levesque also explained the Applicant’s proposed use of the property. The Property is split zoned Business A and Residential A. Staff explained the reason for the zoning on the property stating that the Residential A portion was a paper street and by default all rights of way and streets, be they actual paved streets of paper streets, were zoned Residential A when original zoning was laid out in 1940. Several Abutters spoke on the issue. All of which were opposed to the proposal for various reasons including but not limited to; traffic, congestion and the possibility of families with children occupying the proposed residences and the City having to pay to educate the children. One Abutter was against anything being built on the property. Others stated they did not at to look at duplexes across the street from their homes. The Property Owners rebutted stating the property had been vacant for many years and it was their right to develop their property per what was allowed in the zoning regulations. Mr. Levesque stated there were no definite plans as to exactly what would be built at this time and the zone change was just the first step in getting the property redeveloped. The Board voted on the Residential B and the application of the Mill Conversion and Commercial Center Overlay District separately. Vote for change to Residential B base zoning. Motion to approve was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Rajesh Sanghvi. Vote was 3-2 to recommend approval to the City Council. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X Vote for the application of the Mill Conversion and Commercial Center Overlay District. Motion to approve was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Rajesh Sanghvi. Vote was 3-2 to recommend approval to the City Council. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 2: Definitive Site Plan to construct a 12,000 SF pre-engineered metal building with associated site improvements. Location: 41 Robbins Rd. (Assessor Map 111, Parcel 5 and Map 133, Parcels 1 & 2), Chicopee, MA 01020. Applicant: KOI 2 KOI Associates LLC. c/o Christopher P. Lapinski, 9 Wellesley Cir., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: Staff explained that the Board would not be able to make a decision on this project since the Zoning Board of Appeals had to render a decision on a Variance to waive the City Sewer attachment requirement and the Conservation Commission had to close its hearing on the NOI for the property. The Board inquired if the Applicant could present the project plans to them and asked if there were any SPRAC comments. Staff indicated that the Applicant could present the project if they desired. However, the Applicant was agitated that the Board would not be able to make a decision at that time and stated that they would rather just come back at the next meeting (June 6, 2024) as he left the meeting. The Board voted to table the hearing to June 6, 2024. Motion to table to June 6, 2024 was made by Jay Paul and seconded by Rajesh Sanghvi. Vote was 5-0 to table to June 6, 2024. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 3: Liquor License Alteration of Premises to allow for the addition of an outdoor patio. Location: 185 Grove St., Chicopee, MA. Applicant: Falls Pizza Inc. d/b/a Falls Pizza, same address. Contact: Cornelius Phillips, III, 185 Belmont Ave., Springfield, MA 01108 Notes: Attorney Phillips presented the Liquor License request to the Board. The Applicant was in attendance. They indicated that the proposed patio would add space for approximately 35 people to dine outdoors. The Board had no discussion and voted to recommend approval of the Alteration of Premises. Staff expressed its appreciation tot eh Applicant for the business’ success at its new location. Motion to recommend approval was made by Thomas Reniewicz and seconded by Rajesh Sanghvi. Vote was 5-0 to recommend approval to the License Commission. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 4: (Tabled from January 4 and February 1, March 14, and April 4, 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: Staff explained that the Applicant still had not responded to letters sent to him by the Planning Director and suggested denying the request since it had been tabled every month since January 2024. The Board voted to deny the request and stated the Applicant can resubmit once he responds to the Planning Director’s letters and is ready to proceed. Motion to deny was made by Jay Paul and seconded by Rajesh Sanghvi. Vote was 5-0 to deny. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 5a: ANRs – 41 Robbins Road – Koi 2 Koi, Inc. Notes: Staff explained the ANR to the Board stating it was simply a merging of all the Applicant’s parcels into one contiguous property. Motion to approve was made by Jay Paul and seconded by Cynthia Labrie. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 5b: ANRs – 0 West Main St – Brisa Development Notes: Staff explained the ANR to the Board. Motion to approve was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 6: Minutes from April 4, 2024 Motion to approve was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X ITEM 7: New Business/Discussion Notes: Staff informed the Board that the Open Space and Recreation Plan would be on the June 6, 2024 agenda and that a QR code would be sent out on the meeting agenda as well as emailed to the Board Members. ITEM 8: Adjournment next meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2024. Motion to adjourn was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Rajesh Sanghvi. Vote was 5-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Rajesh Sanghvi X Meeting adjourned at 8:06 PM.