Zoning Board of Appeals

Zoning Board of Appeals Voting Record and Minutes The Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Wednesday September 9, 2020, 6:30 PM in City Hall Annex, Fourth Floor, City Council Chambers, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Meeting was brought to order by Anthony Gallant at 6:29 PM. Board of Appeals attendance: Member Name Present Absent Excused Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X (In Person) Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X (In Person) Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X (In Person) Regular Gary Stamborski (Zoom) X Regular Christina Loy (Zoom) X Assoc. Matthew Bieda X Planning Department Staff Attendance: Title Name Present Absent Excused Director Lee Pouliot X Assistant Planner Patrick McKenna X James Dawson Development Manager X (In Person) Nathan Moreau Associate Planner X (Zoom) Item 1: VARIANCE (Cont. from 8/12/20 and 8/20/20) from Chapter 275-40 C (7)(a) and 275-40 E (4) to allow for the reduction in interior travel lane width from 24’ to 20’ and reduction in drive access aisle setback from a building from 5’ to 0’ for access to a Marijuana Cultivation and Retail facility. Location: 30 Buckley Blvd., Chicopee, MA 01020 Applicant: Revolution Greencare LLC, same address. Notes: The Applicant’s and their representatives summarized the presentation they made to the Board on August 12, 2020. Staff presented comments from both the Fire and Building Departments per the request of the Board at their August 12, 2020 meeting. Carol Campbell, abutter and owner of Chicopee Industrial Realty attended the meeting via Zoom presented a statement regarding her opinion of the petition. Staff made a favorable recommendation to the Board based on the findings of the Fire and Building Departments. The Fire Department had no issues with the Applicant’s request and the Building Department confirmed that the easement was in existence prior to the City’s Zoning Ordinances requiring drive aisle widths and pavement setbacks from buildings. The Board voted to approve the Variance. Motion to approve was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 4 in favor to 1 opposed. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Christina Loy X 1 Item 2: VARIANCE (Cont. from 8/12/20 and 8/20/20) from Chapter 275-52 area requirements from 10,000 SF to 9,026 +/- SF and depth from 100’ to average depth of 91.77’ for the purpose of subdividing property and allowing existing garage to remain with lot fronting Moore St. Location: 61 Van Horn St. Applicant: Congamond Management LLC, 81 Chestnut Circle, West Suffield, CT 06093 Notes: The Applicants provided a summary of the presentation they presented at the August 12, 2020 meeting. Staff was able to obtain comments from the Building Commissioner, at the request of the Board, who stated in order to subdivide the lot the Applicant would have to secure a Special Permit to allow for an accessory structure (the garage) to remain on a lot without a principal structure. The Board’s opinion was that there was no hardship to warrant the granting of a Variance as the lot deficiency was self-created by the Applicant. The Board voted to deny the Variance. Four votes in favor are required for a Variance to be approved. Motion to approve with a contingency that a Special Permit is obtained and the ANR plan is not submitted until both the Special Permit and Variance steps are completed was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Anthony Gallant. Vote was 2 in favor to 3 opposed. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Christina Loy X Item 3: Minutes from August 12 and 20, 2020 Notes: Staff noted the minutes were not completed and requested the minutes be tabled to the October 14, 2020 meeting. Motion to table was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Carissa Lisee. Vote was 5-0 to table to October 14, 2020. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Christina Loy X Item 4: Discussion Old/New Business  “Meeting –in-a-Box” – Chicopee Comprehensive Plan presentation and discussion. Notes: Staff attempted to present to the Board. However the Zoom connection was very poor therefore Staff decided to email the pertinent information to the Board members for their review and participation. 2 Item 5: Adjournment - Next Meeting October 14, 2020 Motion to adjourn was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Carissa Lisee. Vote was 5-0 to adjourn. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Christina Loy X Meeting adjourned at 7:46 PM. 3