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Date: 9/26/2023
CHICOPEE — Speeding in the city of Chicopee seems to be an ongoing issue, however, City Council Vice President Robert Zygarowski is reminding residents that if a sign is not posted, the speed limit is 25 miles per hour, following the City Council’s acceptance.
During the Sept. 19 City Council meeting, Zygarowski referenced the number of speed signs being installed, but is unsure as to how people cannot see them.
He went on to share a monthly report from the Chicopee Police Department. During the month of August, the department took 547 reports, made 80 arrests, there were 121 crashes, 5,910 calls for service and 256 citations issued.
“They’re out there ticketing people and just beware,” Zygarowski said.
He added that at a previous meeting, it was mentioned that if there are no signs posted about speeding, the City Council has accepted the 25 mph throughout the city. “Just because you’re going down a side street [doesn’t] mean you can go 100 miles per hour because there’s no sign. We’ve accepted it at all the entrances to the city — about 25 miles per hour,” he said. “Also, if you see something, say something, and help the Police Department.”
Drive-thrus
Another issue that was brought up during the meeting was drive-thrus.
Ward 6 City Councilor Derek Dobosz co-sponsored this item with Ward 9 City Councilor Mary Beth Pniak-Costello.
Dobosz noted that some drive thrus in the city — like Chick-fil-A — have been done well, and some have been done poorly, such as the Dairy Queen on Keddy Boulevard that recently closed.
Dobosz said he would support a discussion on drive-thrus, as some other communities have more thorough and advanced discussions and approvals for it.
Pniak-Costello said, “What I’ve learned during my short tenure here is that drive-thrus are a problem in some cases and they’re too close to the residential housing.”
She shared that this was a concern at Dairy Queen, as it was on a small lot and the drive-thru allowed for the line to back up onto Memorial Drive and Keddy Boulevard, affecting quality of life.
Pniak-Costello thanked Dobosz for co-sponsoring this with her, as he has agreed for a long time that drive-thrus in Chicopee need to be reexamined.
The City Council approved the motion.