West Springfield ZBA approves plan for new car dealership

Date: 3/17/2021

WEST?SPRINGFIELD – The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met on March 8 to conduct three hearings.

Homeowners were approved to add an additional 1,200 square feet to their existing garage. City Planner Allyson Manuel said the owners must wait through a 20 day appeal period, and then they can apply for their building permit and start construction.

The second hearing was on a variance from the sign and landscape requirements of the zoning ordinance. James Balise plans to demolish the current Mazda dealership located at 635 Riverdale Street and build a new Kia dealership. Mazda moved operations to Columbus Ave. in Springfield.

The board approved Balise, and he and his architect Jon Allard will go before the Planning Board for a complete site plan review for the proposed dealership.

As of press time, there is no scheduled hearing for Balise and the Planning Board.

The third hearing was to allow for the construction of a single-family dwelling on the vacant land at the rear of the property known as 442 Westfield St., which fronts Burke Avenue. According to the agenda, a variance for the same relief was previously denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals on Oct 29, 2020. Initially, the applicant wanted to build a duplex.

The hearing to build a single-family home was denied because the board felt there were no hardships.

During the public speak portion of the hearing, one resident, Kara Masters-Drollett, shared that when she and her husband purchased their house, they were told the property was not buildable. Board Chair Chet Zymroz acknowledged that when the property owner purchased the lot in 2016, he was told that it would not be buildable.

Manuel shared that for the applicant to come back for the same variance on the same property, they will have to prove specific and material changes in the conditions and follow the procedures outlined in MGL Chapter 40A Section 16. Otherwise, there is a two-year waiting period before they can reapply.