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, December 11, 2024, 6:30 PM in the RiverMills Senior Center, Classroom 30, First Floor, 5 West Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Meeting was brought to order by Gary Stamborski 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 275-54 frontage from 75’ to 61.49’ to create a single-family building lot from 1601 Westover Rd. Applicant: Carol McCarthy, 116 Gelinas Dr., Chicopee, MA 01020 Notes: The Applicant was present and presented her petition to the Board. She provided the Board with some history on the property stating it has been in her family for over three generations. The Board discussed the petition at length determining if the variance request was in the interest of the neighborhood and if the proposed lot size would “fit” with the established pattern of development in the neighborhood. Staff noted that the property is zoned Residential C therefore single-family dwellings are allowed on lots with 75’ of frontage. Board Members were concerned about setting a precedent allowing reduced sized lots in the neighborhood but ultimately determined the chances of other reduced size lots being proposed was very limited due to existing development. Abutters were present however none were opposed. Staff explained that four votes in favor of the petition were required for the Variance to be approved. Motion to approve was made by Katherine Baldiga and seconded by Gary Stamborski. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X 1 Item 2: Variance from Chapter 275-52 frontage from 100’ to 61’+/- and area from 10,000 SF to 7,386 SF to allow for the construction of a single-family house. Location: 1230 Montgomery St. Assessor Map 583, Parcel 13. Applicant: Donald J. Ruel, 72 Parenteau Ct., Chicopee, MA 01020 Notes: A representative for the Applicant was in attendance to present the petition to the Board. He explained that originally the Applicant wanted to construct a garage on the property to house an electrical shop. Plans for the electrical shop had been approved by the Planning Board several years prior. For personal reasons the Applicant decided not to pursue the electrical shop proposal and proceeded to move forward to obtain approvals to create a single-family residential building lot. Staff noted the Applicant was successful in obtaining a Zone Change and a Waiver of Frontage; his final step is the Variance approval. The Board discussed the proposal and determined that since the property is surrounded by residential uses that a single-family house would be the best use with the least impact on the neighborhood. Motion to approve was made by Theresa Devlin and seconded by Julia Sudol. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Item 3: Minutes from October 9, 2024 Motion to approve was made by Katherine Baldiga and seconded by Theresa Devlin. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Item 4: Discussion - Old/New Business *Notes: Staff advised the Board that no new applications were submitted therefore there would not be a meeting in January 2025. Item 5: Adjournment - next scheduled meeting is February 12, 2025. (*See notes above.) Motion to adjourn was made by Theresa Devlin and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 4-0 to adjourn. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Meeting adjourned at 7:06 PM. 2