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 10, 2024, 6:30 PM in City Hall Annex, Fourth Floor, Chambers Conference Room, 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 Julia Sudol X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Thomas Tetreault X Assoc. Theresa Devlin 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: Variance from Chapter 275-52 to create a new reduced size single-family building lot from 37 Monroe St. and leave existing house on a reduced size lot. New lot frontage from 100’ to 60’and area from 10,000 SF to 7,500 SF. Existing house lot frontage from 100’ to 65’ and area from 10,000 SF to 8,110 SF. Applicant: Richard J. and Catherine A. Deska same address. Notes: The Applicants presented their petition to the Board. They stated/acknowledged that there had been no changes to the property since they last requested the same Variance in 2016. That Variance was denied. Several residents spoke in opposition to the petition stating that parking on the street was problematic since it is only allowed on one side of the street. Abutters noted that conversions of houses to multi-family residences was adding more vehicles to the street. The Board was also in receipt of a letter from a resident who could not attend the meeting but wanted the Board to be aware they were opposed to the petition. Board members discussed the petition and were concerned about setting a precedent of allowing smaller lots to be allowed in the neighborhood. There are a few opportunities where property owners could consider subdividing their larger properties if this petition was approved. Board Members were also concerned about subdividing a minimally nonconforming lot into two significantly nonconforming lots. Additionally, there did not appear to be any legitimate hardships to warrant the granting of the Variance. The Board voted to deny the Variance. Motion to approve was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Gary Stamborski. Vote was 2 in favor to 3 opposed. 1  Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Gary Stamborski X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Thomas Tetreault *X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X *Thomas Tetreault abstained since he is a direct abutter. Item 2: Minutes from May 8, 2024 Motion to approve was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Carlos Felix. 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 Gary Stamborski X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Thomas Tetreault Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Note - Thomas Tetreault was not required to vote on the minutes since Carlos Felix and Theresa Devlin voted in place of the two absent/excused Regular Members. Item 3: Discussion - Old/New Business Notes: Staff noted there was at least one Variance application to be heard in August. Item 4: Adjournment - next scheduled meeting is August 14, 2024 Motion to adjourn was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Gary Stamborski. 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 Gary Stamborski X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Thomas Tetreault Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Meeting adjourned at 6:57 PM. 2