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 11, 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 6:33 PM. Board of Appeals attendance: Member Name Present Absent Excused Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular X Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair (Zoom) 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 Note: Associate Member Thomas Tetreault voted in place of Regular Member Gary Stamborski who was excused from the meeting. Carlos Felix was not required to vote since all other Regular Members were present. Item 1: (Tabled from August 14, 2024) Variance from Chapter 275-52 to create a new reduced sized single- family building lot from 148 Joy St., Chicopee and leave existing house on a reduced sized lot. New lot frontage from 100’ to 75’, area from 10,000 SF to 6,750 SF and depth from 100’ to 90’. Existing house lot area from 10,000 SF to 9,000 SF and depth from 100’ to 90’Applicant: Mark Ryaboklyach, 1321 Piper Rd., West Springfield, MA 01089 Notes: The Applicant presented his petition to the Board. He explained his desire was to build a new house on the proposed new lot and eventually demolish the existing house and construct a new house on that lot as well. The Applicant stated he did not intend to live in either house. Several Abutters were in attendance, all of which were opposed to two houses on the property. They cited sewer problems during heavy rain events that would be exacerbated with the addition of more houses, and congestion on the street. The Abutters were accepting of the removal of the existing house and the construction of one new house on the property. The Board discussed the proposal and determined the lot depth was set when the neighborhood was initially developed and therefore could not be changed. However, the proposal to subdivide the property into two reduced size lots would take one minimally nonconforming lot and create two very nonconforming lots. It was the Board Member’s opinion that subdividing the property into two smaller lots could set a precedent in the neighborhood for smaller than allowed lots. The Board also concluded that there was no legitimate hardship to warrant the grating of the requested Variance and voted to deny the Variance. 1 Motion to approve for the sake of discussion was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 5-0 to deny. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Carlos Felix Assoc. Thomas Tetreault X Item 2: Minutes from July 10, and August 14, 2024 Motion to approve was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Julia Sudol. Vote was 5-0 to approve both sets of minutes. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Carlos Felix Assoc. Thomas Tetreault X Item 3: Discussion - Old/New Business Notes: Staff noted there were a few new applications logged in for both the October and November meetings. Item 4: Adjournment - next scheduled meeting is October 9, 2024 Motion to adjourn was made by Anthony and seconded by Thomas Tetreault. 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 Julia Sudol X Assoc. Carlos Felix Assoc. Thomas Tetreault X Meeting adjourned at 7:21 PM. 2