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, July 14 2021, 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 6:30 PM. Board of Appeals attendance: Member Name Present Absent Excused Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Christina Loy X Assoc. Vacant Assoc. Vacant Assoc. Vacant Planning Department Staff Attendance Title Name Present Absent Excused Director Lee Pouliot X Assistant Planner Patrick McKenna X Development Manager James Dawson X Associate Planner Nathan Moreau X Item 1: VARIANCE from Chapter 275-52 Frontage from 100’ to 75’; Depth from 100’ to 90’ and area from 10,000 SF to 6,750 +/- SF to create two new building lots for single-family houses. Location: Arnold Ave. (Assessor Map 192, Parcels 38 and 39). Applicant: Patricia Kowal, 57 Blanchwood Ave., Chicopee, MA 01013 Notes: Staff reported the Applicant requested to table the hearing on this petition to October 13, 2021 to allow her attorney to be present. The request was read into the record of the meeting. The Board voted unanimously to table the hearing on the petition to October 13, 2021. Staff announced the date upon which the Board would hear this agenda item and notified the public in attendance there would not be another mailing of the meeting notice that the announcement was the notification. Motion to table was made by Christina Loy and seconded by Anthony Gallant. Vote was 5-0 to table to October 13, 2021. 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 from Chapter 275-52 Frontage from 100’ to 64.59’ +/- and area from 10,000 SF to 6,094 +/- SF to construct a single-family house. Location: Munger Rd. (Assessor Map 110, Parcel 13) Applicant: Hector Quiles, 14 Fuller St., Palmer, MA 01069 Notes: The Applicant Hector Quiles presented his petition to the Board informing the Board he purchased the property, on behalf of his business, at a City auction. Board Member Christina Loy asked the Mr. Quiles if he was aware the deficient size of the lot rendered it “not a building lot” when he purchased it. Mr. Quiles affirmed he was aware hence his filing of Variance and Waiver applications. Several Abutters were in attendance at the hearing; all of which were in opposition to the petition. The Abutters were concerned about the width of Munger Road and adding additional traffic as well as the lot simply being too small. Abutters noted the road becomes narrower in winter with snow. Staff confirmed Munger Road was approximately half the width of a standard road Right-of-Way. Mr. Quiles noted he could make adjustments to the plan to accommodate more parking. Board Member Anthony Gallant was concerned that the property was purchased by the Applicant knowing it was deficient dimensionally and that allowing such a Variance to be approved would set a precedent for future development. Board Member Carissa Lisee posed the question of “What else can be done with the property” but agrees with Mr. Gallants concerns. The Board determined there were no legitimate hardships and based on neighborhood opposition they voted to deny the petition. Motion to approve for the sake of discussion was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Gary Stamborski. Vote was 5-0 to deny the petition. 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 June 9 and 17, 2021 Notes: Board members noted one correction needed to be made. Staff noted the correction would be made prior to filing with the City Clerk. The board voted to approve the minutes with the noted correction. Motion to approve with the noted correction was made by Christina Loy and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 5-0 to approve. 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 2 Item 4: Discussion - Old/New Business Notes: Staff noted as of July 14, 2021 there were no new petitions submitted but there was a week remaining in the filing period. Staff also noted ad fees should be greatly reduced since meetings are returning to in-person and the need for “Covid-19” legal ads was ending. Staff noted that information regarding remote attendance is included in the Abutter notices and any public that wishes to attend meetings remotely can request login credentials. Item 5: Adjournment - next meeting August 11, 2021 Motion to adjourn was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Christina Loy. 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 6:59 PM. 3