Planning Board

Chicopee Planning Board Voting Record and Minutes The Planning Board of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 7 PM Chambers Conference Room, 4th Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 or RiverMills Senior Center, Classroom 30, 5 West Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020 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 (Zoom) X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. X Andrew Desrochers, Clerk 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 Associate Planner Anna Brittan X NOTE: The Board voted to take Items 1 and 2 out of order since the Applicant for Item 1 was not present at the start of the meeting. The vote was 5-0 to take Items 1 and 2 out of order. ITEM 1: (Tabled from August 7, 2025) Preliminary Site Plan to renovate existing building into mixed- use space and construct a new mixed-use building on the property with associated parking and other site improvements. Location: 185 Grove St. and 22 Grove Ave., Chicopee, MA. Applicant: RT Commercials, LLC, 185 Grove St. Chicopee, MA 01020. Notes: The Applicant was not present after the Board heard Item 2 of the agenda and therefore voted to table Item 1 to October 2, 2025. Motion to table to October 2, 2025 was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by Rajesh Sanghvi. Vote was 5- 0 to table Item 1 to October 2, 2025. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Rajesh Sanghvi X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 2: Waiver of Frontage from Chapter 275-52 frontage from 100’ to 50’ to create a new single-family building lot on Oliver St. (Assessor Map 105, Parcel 47) from property associated with 248 East St., Chicopee, MA. Applicant: Richard Rivet, CFC Development, 209 Prospect St., Chicopee, MA 01013 Notes: Applicant Richard Rivet of CFC Development presented the petition to the Board. Mr. Rivet explained his plan for the property that includes a 1,400 SF, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house. Staff reminded the Board that when considering a Waiver of Frontage, they are tasked with determining if safe and adequate access can be provided to a house at the proposed location and if the petition is in the interest of the neighborhood. Abutters in attendance were opposed to the petition, citing neighborhood congestion, privacy, traffic and safety concerns for children at a bus stop. The Board voted to approve the Waiver. Motion to approve was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Eric Oulette. Vote was 4 in favor to 1 denial. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Rajesh Sanghvi X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 3: ANRs – Burnett Rd. / Murphy Ln – Linda Costa Notes: Staff explained the ANR to the Board noting it was a transfer of a piece of property from one owner to another. No substandard sized lots would be created. Motion to approve was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Andrew Desrochers. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Rajesh Sanghvi X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 4: Minutes from August 7, 2025 Motion to approve was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by Andrew Desrochers. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Rajesh Sanghvi X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 5: New Business/Discussion Notes: Staff noted that the Board had several items on their upcoming October 2, 2025 agenda including a new Preliminary Site Plan and a Waiver of Frontage along with the tabled item and other business. ITEM 6: Adjournment next meeting is scheduled for October 2, 2025. Motion to adjourn was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Eric Oulette. Vote was 5-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Rajesh Sanghvi X Andrew Desrochers X Meeting adjourned at 7:21 PM.