Planning Board

Chicopee Planning Board Voting Record and Minutes The Planning Board of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 7 PM in the RiverMills Senior Center, Classroom 30, 5 West Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020 Meeting was brought to order at 7:00PM. Planning Board Attendance Member Present Absent Excused Michael Sarnelli, Chair X Cynthia Labrie, Vice Chair X (Zoom) Andrew Desrochers, Clerk X Eric Oulette X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. 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 Anna Brittan X Note: The Board voted unanimously to take the agenda items out of order and hear Item 4 first since there was a large number of interested residents attending for that item. After Item 4 was heard the Board continued the hearing with Item 1. Note: City Councilors Brooks, Costello, and Goff (via Zoom) were in attendance. ITEM 1: Zone Change from Business A to Residential B for 12,400 +/- SF to eliminate a split-zoned property and create uniform zoning across the entire property. Location: 519 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA Applicant: Chelyka Diaz, same address. Notes: The Applicant presented her petition and explained she wanted to eliminate the split-zoned property and change the Business A portion to Residential B. The property is contiguous to a larger Residential B district; therefore, the change would not create a spot zone. The change would create uniform zoning across the property and allow the use of the property to conform with zoning and lot size regulations. Motion to recommend approval was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by Andrew Desrochers. Vote was 7-0 to recommend approval to the City Council. Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 2: Zone Change from Residential A to Business A for 9,780 SF to eliminate a split-zoned property and create uniform zoning across the entire property to allow for a restaurant. Location: 749 James St., Chicopee, MA Applicant: Duy Nguyen, 37 Webster St., Hudson, NH Notes: The Applicant presented the petition to the Board. His intent is to create uniform Business A zoning across the entire property for a future restaurant use and eliminate the split-zoning on the property. The change would not create a spot zone as it is contiguous to a larger Business A district that extends westward on James St. Several abutters were in attendance and voiced opposition. Councilor Costello inquired about any Special Permit possibility. Planning Director Lee Pouliot explained that wasn’t an option. Motion to recommend approval was made by Cynthia Labrie and seconded by Rajesh Sanghvi. Vote was 7- 0 to recommend approval to the City Council. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 3: Definitive Site Plan for the renovation of an existing building into a mixed-use structure with associated parking, site, and stormwater improvements. Location: 185 Grove St. and 22 Grove Ave., Chicopee, MA Applicant: RT Commercials, LLC same address. Notes: Jeff Squire from Berkshire Design Group stated that the applicant had rescinded the idea of an eatery and is moving ahead with office space/residential use of the property. Mr. Squire reviewed the SPRAC Comments with the Board. The Planning Board removed SPRAC Comment #1 from the report. The Board voted to approve the Definitive Site Plan with the Condition that all SPRAC Comments be addressed on a revised plan set prior to the issuance of Building Permits. Motion to approve with conditions was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by John Paquette Jr. Vote was 7-0 to approve the Definitive Site Plan with Conditions. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 4: Liquor License for a new Annual Wine/Malt package store license. Location: 185 Exchange St., Chicopee, MA Applicant: 185 Exchange Street Food Corp d/b/a Key Food, same address. Notes: Applicant Anthony Diaz provided the Board with a brief description of his business, Key Foods, as a full grocery. He explained his desire is to provide one-stop shopping with the sale of beer and wine. Several Abutters and members of the public voiced strong opposition to the liquor license request. Residents had concerns about crime, quality of life issues, panhandling, loitering and public safety if a license was allowed at this location. Neighboring business owners had concerns about a negative impact on their businesses. City Councilor Brooks of Ward 2 cited his professional background in identifying an “oversaturated area”. He voiced his opposition. Several residents noted that there is also a church, not far from Key Foods. One resident provided copies of a Boston Globe article relating to the Applicant’s past business practices and lack of transparency. Residents, business owners, and Councilor Brooks were in agreement that granting this license would be counterproductive to the revitalization of downtown. Note: Due to a technical issue with the Zoom connection the meeting was paused for approximately 5 minutes while the issue was resolved. Motion to recommend denial to the License Commission was made by Andrew Desrochers and seconded by Thomas Reniewicz. Vote was 4 to recommend denial and 3 to recommend approval to the License Commisison.. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 5: ANR – Beaumont Ave – Andrew Crane / Frank Laflamme Notes: Staff explained the ANR to the Board. Motion to approve was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by Andrew Desrochers. Vote was 7-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 6: Minutes from October 2, 2025 Motion to approve was made by Andrew Desrochers and seconded by John Paquette Jr. Vote was 7-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. X Andrew Desrochers X ITEM 7: New Business/Discussion Notes: No formal new business. Staff reported to the Board that the State Legislature is currently considering a bill to formalize site plan review. If passed, it could add legal weight to an “Approval” from the Board. ITEM 8: Adjournment next meeting is scheduled for December 4, 2025. Motion to adjourn was made by Eric Oulette and seconded by Andrew Desrochers. Vote was 7-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Michael Sarnelli X Cynthia Labrie X Eric Oulette X Tom Reniewicz X Rajesh Sanghvi X John Paquette Jr. X Andrew Desrochers X Meeting adjourned at 8:22PM