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, August 13, 2025, 6:30 PM at the RiverMills Senior Center, Classroom 30, 5 West Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020 Meeting was brought to order by Anthony Gallant 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 Gary Stamborski X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X* *Theresa Devlin attended the meeting via speaker phone. Planning Department Staff attendance: Title Name Present Absent Excused Director Lee Pouliot X Development Manager James Dawson X Item 1: Variance from Chapter 275-61 E (3) to allow two residential units on the first floor of a building with a commercial use (laundromat) in Central Business District (CBD) zoning. Location: Chicopee St. Assessor Map 582, Parcel 4. Applicant: Nova Home improvements, Inc. c/o Gleb Leiderman, 764 Springfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030 Notes: The Applicant was present and presented his petition to the Board. The proposal is to construct a three-story building on the property that contains a commercial use (laundromat) along with two residential units on the ground floor with residential units on the upper floors. Based on current Central Business District zoning regulations residential units are not allowed on the ground floor of a commercial building, thus the variance request. Staff noted that action has been taken by the City Council to re-zone this area to Business; the outcome is to be determined. Staff recommended in favor of the petition as it will help to alleviate the current housing crisis by allowing flexibility for residential units. Motion to approve was made by Ketherine Baldiga and seconded by Julia Sudol. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X 1 Item 2: Minutes from June 11, 2025 Motion to approve was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 4-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Item 3: Discussion - Old/New Business Notes: No old/new business was discussed. Item 4: Adjournment - next scheduled meeting is September 10, 2025 Motion to adjourn was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 4-0 to adjourn. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Meeting adjourned at 6:47 PM. 2