Zoning Board of Appeals

Meeting Minutes ___________Wednesday, June 26, 2024 ZBA Board Chair: John Atwater ZBA Board Members: X John Atwater (Chair) X Anthony Karella X Tim Garceau (Vice-Chair) (Associate member) X Robert Ferris (Associate member) Absent: None MEETING AGENDA Call to Order Public Speak: ZBA Minutes: The Board adopted the minutes from 5-29-2024. Public Hearings: 6:00pm Grayson DeWitt & Lora Fisher-DeWitt – (continued from 4/24/24) Seeking a special permit for the construction of a new garage where a preexisting-nonconforming garage currently exists under section 11.12 of the Easthampton Zoning Ordinance. The property is located at 14 Norton St, Map 152 lot 28. Member Ferris recused himself from this hearing. This left only 3 members, which was not enough for quorum. Member Garceau motioned to continue the hearing to July 10th at 6:00pm, Member Karella seconded, the vote passed unanimously. 6:30pm 385 and 391 Main St via The Community Builders– (continued from 6/12/24) Applicant is seeking a comprehensive permit to create 87 new and rehab 40 existing affordable rental units subject MGL Chapter 40b. The Applicant is proposing 3 new buildings on 55.54 acres. The proposal is located at 385 & 391 Main St (Map 154 lots 31, 32, 32.1, 32.2) in the R35 zoning district. Representing the applicant: Peter Freeman Due to a noticing issue where all abutters had not been notified through mail, the applicant requested that the hearing be restarted. The applicant waived their ability to be granted constructive approval if the hearing is not opened within 30 days of the application. The chair read the following into the record and made the following motion:  It having come to the Zoning Board of Appeals attention that proper abutter notice may not have been provided, I move to treat all prior public hearings on this application as a nullity and to entirely restart the public hearing process including but not limited to (1) submitting the application to other boards and municipal department for comment; (2) publishing in a newspaper as required by law; and (3) noticing abutters and (4) taking all other actions required by law. I further move to that we treat all prior actions of this board relative to the Application, except the acceptance of its filing of the application and accompanying documents by the City of Easthampton, as null and void, and move that the board not consider any information or evidence presented by, any other board or municipal department, the applicant, or the public prior to this vote in any new public hearing on the application. I move to close the public hearing on this application immediately without a determination on the merits of the application itself, and to notice a new public hearing for July 31, 2024 Member Karella seconded this motion. The vote passed unanimously. Member Karella motioned to Adjourn, Member Garceau seconded, the vote passed unanimously.