Pittsfield ZBA Approves Furniture Store, Hotel Signs, Chickens, Office Space
 The ZBA approved three special permits and one sign exception on Wednesday. |
Michael and Deborah Beligni were approved on Wednesday night to alter the use of the property from a business office to retail.
The change is required because the south side of Elm Street, where the property sits, is zoned for residential use and only a special permit allows the commercial use.
"It is a very far cry from an exclusively residential area," said attorney Katherine Chester, who represented the Belignis, as she cited a car wash, restaurant, and other stores across the street from 118 Elm St.
The couple bought the property last July for $83,000 from John Valli. It was used as a tax office on the ground floor and a residential unit upstairs.
The Belignis plan to keep the upstairs apartment and don't expect the retail to be detrimental to the area. The plan is to sell new and used furniture and home goods. They have 11 off-street parking spaces and won't be receiving many deliveries — and none from large tractor trailers.
"This would be a use that will have almost no impact on traffic," Chester said.
The ZBA did, however, worry about the business being open at night, when the surroundings one are closed. ZBA member John Fitzgerald added a condition that the store be closed by 5 p.m. Chester said the store is eyed to be open from 10 a.m. until 4 or 5 p.m. during the week and only for a half day or so on Saturdays,
"I think it is a good use for the property," said ZBA member Thomas Goggins.
On the northwestern side of the city, the board gave resident Eric Percy approval to keep six chickens on his Berkley Street property. The land is a large parcel on an unaccepted paper street off Wilson Street.
Percy has been raising chickens for some seven months without the special permit needed. A neighbor had complained that he had a rooster and the building inspector found the chickens.
Percy told the board that he has only six chickens and no rooster, the feed is secured, and the waste is disposed of properly. No neighbors attended the hearing to oppose the plan and the board said the land is large enough that it won't cause problems with neighbors.
"There is a review so if the neighbors have any problems, they can complain to the Board of Health and it will be our jurisdiction again," Fitzgerald said.
The city set guidelines on backyard poultry in 2012 after a rise in the activity. Since then, the Zoning Board of Appeals has handled multiple permit requests, some approved and others denied.
On Wednesday, the board also approved the owners of the April Lane housing project to construct an office and the handicapped parking spaces to accommodate it. The entire housing project is set to be rehabilitated using private and government funds.
"This project is in need of this infusion of capital and management," said attorney Donald Dubendorf. "We've enjoyed a lot of support from City Hall."
There are more than 100 units in the low-income housing project but there is no office for management. The property was built out before zoning regulations eliminated that type of project so a special permit is needed to alter the existing layout.
The board was in favor of not only granting the special permit to add an office but the project as a whole. Board member Esther Bolan said a management office for such a property is needed "now more than ever" and was supportive of the addition.
"The project as a whole is worthwhile," Goggins said.
Lastly on Wednesday, the board issued an exception for Hotel on North's compliance with sign regulations. The company is requesting more than five signs and one more than 8-feet 6-inches above grade.
"The signage is attractive. It is unintrustive," said attorney Michelle Butler.
The boutique hotel is currently under construction and will feature a hotel, bar, and restaurant. To help identify the location of those different businesses, which will be operated independently, the building owners say they need many signs. Additionally, the company is planning two overhanging signs — a marquee in front and and canopy in the rear.
Tags: new business, chickens, signage, special permit, ZBA,
