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 10, 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 6:30 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 (Zoom) X Regular Julia Sudol X Assoc. Carlos Felix 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 Anna Brittan X Senior Clerk Kristen Pope X Note: Associate Members Carlos Felix and Theresa Devlin voted in place of Regular Members Carissa Lisee and Julia Sudol in their absence. Item 1: Variance from Chapter 275-52 Frontage from 100’ to 50’ and area from 10,000 SF to 5,000 SF to create a new single-family building lot from 248 East St. and leave the house at 248 East St. on a lot with area from 10,000 SF to 6,000 SF. Location: 248 East St. and 0 Oliver St. Assessor Map 105, Parcel 47. Applicant: Richerd Rivet, 209 Prospect St., Chicopee, MA 01020 Notes: The Applicant presented the petition to the Board noting that the proposed house on the “new” lot would be a 2-story house and all minimum setbacks would be met. Staff noted that since the property is owned in common with 248 East Street, subdividing it from 248 East Street would create two non-conforming lots. Several Abutters were in attendance and were all opposed to the petition. Reasons for the opposition were: increased density, increased traffic, safety for school children at a bus stop, and losing privacy. Board members discussed the petition, and they were concerned about setting a precedent to allow smaller lots in the neighborhood. Board Member Anthony Gallant noted that there were 6 or 7 other opportunities for property owners to create smaller lots if this petition was approved. Staff explained that only 23% of the lots in the “neighborhood” were smaller or equal to the size lot proposed and therefore it was not in the majority of lot sizes to consider evoking the local definition of hardship. No other hardship exists to warrant granting the Variance. There was discussion about a particular tree on the property that neighbors did not wish to see removed. However, Anthony Gallant noted that the removal of the tree was at the discretion of the property owner and was nothing the Board could consider. The Board voted to deny the Variance. Staff explained the appeal process to the Applicant and meeting attendees. 1 Motion to approve for the sake of discussion was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Item 2: Variance from Chapter 257-40 C (8) (b) Pavement setback from a street lot line from 8’ to 0’ to allow for the construction of a parking lot. Location: 400 East Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Applicant: Albert A. Lafleur, same address. Notes: The Applicant was not present at the meeting. Staff explained that the petition was the same petition that the Board approved in early 2024 and that it had expired as of March of 2025. Since the Applicant was not present the Board discussed whether to table the petition as is typical practice when an Applicant is not present. However, since the Board Members had approved the same Variance a year prior, they were comfortable deciding despite the absence of the Applicant. The Board voted to approve the Variance. Motion to approve was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Katherine Baldiga. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Item 3: Minutes from August 13, 2025 Motion to approve was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Carlos Felix. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Item 4: Discussion - Old/New Business Notes: Anthony Gallant inquired if the fees being collected for applications were meeting the cost of advertising and mailings. Staff noted that they were. There was no other discussion or new business. Item 5: Adjournment - next scheduled meeting is October 8, 2025 Motion to adjourn was made by Anthony Gallant and seconded by Carlos Felix. Vote was 5-0 to adjourn. 2  Member Voting members Approve Deny Table Abstain Regular Anthony Gallant, Chair X Regular Katherine Baldiga, Clerk X Regular Gary Stamborski X Assoc. Carlos Felix X Assoc. Theresa Devlin X Meeting adjourned at 7:11 PM. 3