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Board of Appeals
Regular Members
- Anthony Gallant, Esq., Chairman
- Carissa Lisee, Vice Chairman
- Katherine Baldiga, Clerk
- Gary Stamborski
- Christina Loy
Associate Members
- Matthew Bieda
The Zoning Board of Appeals meets regularly as necessary on the 2nd Wednesday* of every month at 6:30 p.m. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.
*Holidays and inclement weather may affect meeting dates.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic all Zoning Board of Appeals meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Public in-person attendance is not allowed until further notice. In order to accommodate public comments on submitted applications any newly opened applications will be continued to a later date to allow the Zoning Board of Appeals to receive public comments in a timely manner.
If interested please submit letter of interest and resume to the Mayor's Office for consideration.
*Holidays and inclement weather may affect meeting dates.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic all Zoning Board of Appeals meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Public in-person attendance is not allowed until further notice. In order to accommodate public comments on submitted applications any newly opened applications will be continued to a later date to allow the Zoning Board of Appeals to receive public comments in a timely manner.
Note: Board of Appeals currently has two (2) Associate Member Volunteer Seats Available
If interested please submit letter of interest and resume to the Mayor's Office for consideration.
Board of Appeals Powers
It is the Board of Appeals responsibility to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the applicant for a permit that there is an error in any order or decision made by the Building Commissioner. Appeals to said Board may be taken by any person aggrieved by reason of his or her inability to obtain a building or occupancy permit or enforcement action from any administrative officer under the provisions of this chapter, by the Lower Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission, by any person, including an officer or board of the City or of any abutting City or town, aggrieved by any order or decision of the Building Commissioner or other administrative official.
This board must authorize, upon petition, variances from the provisions of this chapter. All of the following conditions must apply to each case. The Board of Appeals is authorized to grant a variance where, owing to conditions especially affecting such parcels or buildings but not affecting generally the zoning district in which it is located, a literal enforcement of provisions of the law would involve substantial hardship, financial and otherwise, to the appellant. The desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good, such a variance may be granted without deviating from the intent or purpose of this chapter. The special conditions affecting the land which causes the hardship is related to soil conditions, shape or topography of the land or structures and such variance does not authorize any use or activity which is not otherwise permitted in the district in which the land or structure is located.
It is the Board of Appeals responsibility to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the applicant for a permit that there is an error in any order or decision made by the Building Commissioner. Appeals to said Board may be taken by any person aggrieved by reason of his or her inability to obtain a building or occupancy permit or enforcement action from any administrative officer under the provisions of this chapter, by the Lower Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission, by any person, including an officer or board of the City or of any abutting City or town, aggrieved by any order or decision of the Building Commissioner or other administrative official.
This board must authorize, upon petition, variances from the provisions of this chapter. All of the following conditions must apply to each case. The Board of Appeals is authorized to grant a variance where, owing to conditions especially affecting such parcels or buildings but not affecting generally the zoning district in which it is located, a literal enforcement of provisions of the law would involve substantial hardship, financial and otherwise, to the appellant. The desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good, such a variance may be granted without deviating from the intent or purpose of this chapter. The special conditions affecting the land which causes the hardship is related to soil conditions, shape or topography of the land or structures and such variance does not authorize any use or activity which is not otherwise permitted in the district in which the land or structure is located.
2021 Board of Appeals Meeting Dates & Filing Deadlines
Meeting Date | Submission Deadline* |
---|---|
January 13th | December 14, 2020 |
February 10th | January 20th |
March 10th | February 17th |
April 14th | March 24th |
May 12th | April 21st |
June 9th | May 19th |
July 14th | June 23rd |
August 11th | July 21st |
September 8th | August 18th |
October 13th | September 22nd |
November 10th | October 20th |
December 8th | November 17th |
* Please note applications MUST BE submitted by 4:00 pm on posted Submission Deadline.