Planning Board

Chicopee Planning Board Voting Record and Minutes The Planning Board of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Thursday, October 3, 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 Business A to Central Business District for 4,530 +/- SF of property to eliminate a split-zoned property and allow for mixed use development. Location: Chicopee St. Assessor Map 582, Parcel 4. Applicant: Gleb Liederman, 35 Fletcher Cir. Chicopee, MA 01020 Notes: The Applicant presented his petition to the Board. He explained that his intent is to construct a building with business use on the ground floor and 10 residential living units above. Staff explained that the Applicant’s request is not creating a spot zone as a Central Business District already existed when the Applicant purchased the property. This zone change would expand the existing Central Business District on the property and eliminate a split-zoned property. Motion to recommend approval to the City Council was made by Jay Paul and seconded by Eric Oulette. Vote was 5-0 to recommend approval. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X ITEM 2a: Definitive Site Plan Waiver change scale from 1 / 20 to 1 / 50 for the construction of a 100,000 SF warehouse and manufacturing facility with associated site improvements. Location: Robbins Rd. Assessor Map 109, Parcel 1, Chicopee, MA. Applicant: Trafa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. c/o Shahid Habib, 140 Padgette St. Chicopee, MA 01022 Notes: The Project Engineer from R. Levesque Associates and a Representative for the Applicant presented the plans and reviewed the SPRAC comments with the Board. The Board Members asked a few questions which the Project Engineer was able to answer. Staff reminded the Board that they had to vote on the two requested waivers prior to voting on the site plans. The Board voted favorably on the two waivers then voted to approve the Definitive Site Plans and considered the SPRAC comments to be Conditions of Approval. Motion to approve the waiver of plan scale was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 5-0 to approve the waiver. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X ITEM 2b: Definitive Site Plan with Waiver of Grading and Storm water management plan for the construction of a 100,000 SF warehouse and manufacturing facility with associated site improvements. Location: Robbins Rd. Assessor Map 109, Parcel 1, Chicopee, MA. Applicant: Trafa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. c/o Shahid Habib, 140 Padgette St. Chicopee, MA 01022 Notes: The Project Engineer from R. Levesque Associates and a Representative for the Applicant presented the plans and reviewed the SPRAC comments with the Board. The Board Members asked a few questions which the Project Engineer was able to answer. Staff reminded the Board that they had to vote on the two requested waivers prior to voting on the site plans. The Board voted favorably on the two waivers then voted to approve the Definitive Site Plans and considered the SPRAC comments to be Conditions of Approval. Motion to approve the waiver of a Grading and Stormwater Management Plan was made by Jay Paul and seconded by Cynthia Labrie. Vote was 5-0 to approve the waiver. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X ITEM 2c: Definitive Site Plan for the construction of a 100,000 SF warehouse and manufacturing facility with associated site improvements. Location: Robbins Rd. Assessor Map 109, Parcel 1, Chicopee, MA. Applicant: Trafa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. c/o Shahid Habib, 140 Padgette St. Chicopee, MA 01022 Notes: The Project Engineer from R. Levesque Associates and a Representative for the Applicant presented the plans and reviewed the SPRAC comments with the Board. The Board Members asked a few questions which the Project Engineer was able to answer. Staff reminded the Board that they had to vote on the two requested waivers prior to voting on the site plans. The Board voted favorably on the two waivers then voted to approve the Definitive Site Plans and considered the SPRAC comments to be Conditions of Approval. Motion to approve the Definitive Site Plan with Conditions was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Eric Oulette. Vote was 5-0 to approve the Definitive Site Plans with Conditions Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X ITEM 3: Modified Definitive Site Plan to construct a 20’ x 36’ addition to the existing building that was approved by the Planning Board in 2016. Location: 102 Grove St. Applicant: Mutt Cuts, LLC. c/o Lori Jerusik, 102 Grove St. Chicopee, MA 01020 Notes: The Applicant was in attendance and presented her proposal to the Board. She stated her goal was to be able house a veterinarian in Chicopee since one recently moved to South Hadley. The modifications so the original approved site plan were minimal and therefore SPRAC comments were minimal as well. Planning Staff noted that the four trees that were approved on the original plan had to be planted. The Board voted to approve the Modified Definitive Site plan and considered the SPRAC comments as Conditions of Approval. Motion to approve the Modified Definitive Site Plan with Conditions was made by Eric Oulette 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 Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X X ITEM 4: Waiver of Frontage from Chapter 275-53 frontage from 100’ to 43.49’ to allow for the construction of a two-family house. Location: Montgomery St. Assessor Map 230, Parcel 33. Applicant: Erik Govoni, P.O. Box 61, Chicopee, MA 01021 Notes: The Applicant presented his petition to the Board. He explained that he had obtained a Zone Change for the property and need a Variance and a Special Permit. Staff confirmed this and explained to the Board that this was a multi-step process to be able to make the Applicant’s property a legal two-family building lot. The Board acknowledged there were other reduced frontage lots in the vicinity of the Applicant’s. It was their opinion that safe and adequate access was possible for a lot at this location and there were no objections by any abutters. Motion to approve was made by Jay Paul and seconded by Eric Oulette. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X ITEM 5: Endorsement of Subdivision Plan As-Built – Jean Circle, a 6-lot residential Subdivision approved by the Planning Board in 1999. Notes: Staff visited the site and found that there were three trees that were approved as part of the subdivision that had not been planted. Staff recommended that the approval of the As-built plans be tabled until the required trees were installed. The Board Tabled action on the plan until November 14, 2024. Motion to table to November 14, 2024 was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 5-0 to table. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X ITEM 6: ANRs – West Main Street – Brisa Development LLC. Notes: The plans were not submitted in time for the meeting therefore, no action was necessary. ITEM 7: Minutes from September 12, 2024 Motion to approve was made by Eric Oulette 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 Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X ITEM 8: New Business/Discussion Notes: Staff noted there were a couple of applications slated for the November meeting agenda. ITEM 9: Adjournment next meeting is scheduled for November 14, 2024. Motion to adjourn was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Jay Paul. Vote was 5-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X Eric Oulette, Clerk X Tom Reniewicz X Jay Paul X Meeting adjourned at 7:51 PM.