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Date: 7/19/2023
CHICOPEE — The Chicopee City Council met on July 6 and unanimously approved the zone change of the proposed Tesla dealership site on Burnett Road.
The council received a favorable report from the Zoning Committee for a zone change application from industrial garden planned unit development type No. 1 to industrial for 2.58 acres of property at Burnett Road for the purpose of eliminating the existing split zone property.
Ward 4 City Councilor George Balakier said the property has about 7.1 acres which comprises two parcels — one zoned industrial garden planned unit development zone and the other zoned industrial.
During the Zoning Committee meeting, Planning and Development Director Lee Pouliot provided dimensional and other requirements for industrial garden planned unit development as well as industrial.
“In [Pouliot’s] professional opinion, he felt that to combine it and eliminate the split zoning property — just switch it all to industrial — was the right way to go,” shared Balakier.
Balakier said most zoning members agreed with that, along with most members of the Planning Board.
Ward 3 City Councilor Delmarina López noted that the change or difference between the two zones came down to the number of trees. Ward 7 City Councilor Bill Courchesne added to that point and said once he realized it came down to trees and would not affect any residents, it changed his mind, and he was in favor of it.