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, April 9, 2025, 6:30 PM in City Hall Annex, Fourth Floor, Chambers Conference Room, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Meeting was brought to order by Carissa Lisee at 6:40 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 X Gary Stamborski (Zoom) Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Planning Department Staff Attendance Title Name Present Absent Excused Director Lee Pouliot Development Manager James Dawson Senior Clerk Kristen Pope Item 1: Variance from Chapter 275-52 to create two new reduced sized single-family building lots (A and C) and leave existing house on a reduced sized lot (B). Lot A depth from 100’ to 96.45’, Lot B depth from 100’ to 80.46’ and Lot C depth from 100’ to 81.15’, and Lot B area from 10,000 SF to 8,579 SF. Location: 76 Joy St., Chicopee, MA. Applicant: Hassan Saleh and Edwan Alzuhairi, 50 Searle Rd., South Hadley, MA 01075 Notes: The Applicant and his representative Edward Chapdelaine of Durkee, White, Towne, and Chapdelaine presented the petition to the Board. Originally the lots were separate lots when the subdivision was laid out in the early 1900s. When the lots were purchased, they were combined under the Merger Doctrine and any “grandfathering” of the lots was lost. Therefore, the Applicant must obtain Variances to re-subdivide the lots. The Planning Department received one email form an Abutter who was against the petition stating that three building lots is unacceptable. She stated there would be increased noise since all the trees in the area have been removed. The Abutter also complained that a new house across from hers is not maintained and weeds are growing, and construction vehicles were parked in front of her house. The Board discussed the petition and the concerns of the Abutter and voted to approve the Variance noting the property was multiple lots in the past and was only combined due to ownership change. Staff explained the appeal process for the Variance. Motion to approve was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Julia Sudol. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X 1 Item 2: Variance from Chapter 275-53 to create a new two-family building lot with area from 10,000 SF to 9,600 SF and depth from 100’ to 87’+/-. Location: Shepherd St., Assessor Map 499, Parcel 52A Applicant: Nikita Salagornik, 376 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01013 Notes: The Applicant and his representative John Masuck from R. Levesque Associates, Inc. presented the petition to the Board. They explained the proposal was for the construction of a two-family dwelling. The property is zoned Residential B which allows two-family dwellings dependent on lot size hence the requirement of a Variance. Staff explained that the property was used for storing multiple RVs and housed large amounts of various items for many years. It has since been mostly cleaned up. A couple of Abutters were in attendance who did not like the idea of a house being built directly behind theirs. They were concerned about losing their “view”. They were concerned about the proximity of a new house to theirs. Staff explained the setback regulations for a Residential B building lot, stating the rear setback was 20’. The Board discussed the petition, and it was their opinion that the proposed lot was larger than the majority of the lots in the “neighborhood”. They also explained that the setbacks would be checked for compliance when a Building Permit was applied for. It was the Board’s opinion that the addition of a two-family house on the property would not be a detriment to the neighborhood and voted to approve the Variance. Staff explained the appeal process. Motion to approve was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X Item 3: Minutes from February 12, 2025 Motion to approve was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X Item 4: Discussion - Old/New Business Notes: Staff noted there was one petition to place on the agenda for May 14, 2025. Item 5: Adjournment - next scheduled meeting is May 14, 2025 Motion to adjourn was made by Carissa Lisee and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 4-0 to adjourn. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Carissa Lisee, Vice Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X Meeting adjourned at 7:18 PM. 2