Zoning Board of Appeals

CITY OF EASTHAMPTON ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 50 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027 Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 24, 2023 Board ✓ John Lisa Jaffe ✓ Matthew Robert Ferris Members: Atwater Waugh ✓ (associate (chair) member acting as full member) ✓ Steven ✓ Anthony Tim Lytwyn Karella Garaceau (Vice- (associate Chair) member) City officials: Eli Bloch, Assistant Planner; Other attendees: Geoff Arthur Meeting commenced at 6:00pm. Administrative Items ❖ Correspondence/Requests for comment from other boards, committees, officials, etc. ➢ New Associate Member Robert Ferris was introduced to the Board. ❖ Public Comments / Public Speak ➢ ❖ Meeting Minutes: Member Karella made a motion to approve the minutes from 02/15/2023, member Lytwn seconded All voted in favor. Member Karella made a motion to approve the minutes from 04/26/2023, member Lytwn seconded All voted in favor. Public Hearings 1. Geoff Arthur - seeking a special permit to change the use of a pre-existing non-conforming non- residential structure in accordance with sections 11.13 and 13.1 of the Easthampton Zoning Ordinance. The structure is nonconforming due to insufficient front and rear-yard setbacks. The proposal is to convert the building from mixed retail/residential to an all residential use with 6 units. Subject property is located at 42-44 Pleasant St (parcel ID 136-142) and zoned Neighborhood Business (NB). Geoff Arthur presented the following information: • The property has been owned by the same family since the 1930’s. • The ground floor retail space was leased from 2011-2021 before being closed by the Building Commissioner. • There would be a total of six one-bedroom units. • Some architectural features of the storefront would be maintained while still providing privacy for the residents. The Board discussed access to the site. Geoff Arthur stated that there was a central staircase that served all of the units and that all of the staircases exited onto the sidewalk. 1 of 2 Zoning Board of Appeals Member Lytwyn asked if street parking was available, and if they are considering further expansion. Geoff Arthur stated that on-street parking was available with a fifteen-minute limit and that no expansion was planned and the site would not allow for it. Member Ferris remarked that the parking situation was very tight. Geoff Arthur stated that it was the best they could provide. Chair Atwater stated that if the change of use makes the parking more compliant than it currently is as a retail use. The Board discussed lighting. Chair Atwater stated that the applicant was responsible for lighting their site. The Board decided to add a condition that the site shall be adequately lighted in accordance with the zoning ordinance. Motion to Approve the Special Permit Member Waugh made a motion to approve the special permit. Member Karella seconded the motion. All members of the Board voted in favor. Associate Member Rob Ferris voted due to the absence of Member Jaffe. In favor Opposed Absent John Atwater ✓ Matt Waugh ✓ Lisa Jaffe ✓ Anthony Karella ✓ (Acting Chair) Steven Lytwyn ✓ Tim Garaceau (Acting ✓ as full member) Robert Ferris ✓ (associate member) Announcements & Discussion of the Board Assistant Planner Bloch announced that this was his last meeting with the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Board congratulated him on his new job. Member karella made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Member seconded, all voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM Next meeting June 28, 2023 2 of 2